The Digital Surgery (computer questions/problems here)

[BaaBaa.]

I've got an old Dell Latitude D400 running on XP Professional, it's unwanted and virus ridden.

I'm trying to get on it in safemode so I can clean it up, it'll be fine for me for when I'm in Thailand, check the forums, Banking etc.

BUT.....it's been lying around that long that the password has been forgotten, I've given the administrator account a password but I can't work out how to log in as Administrator.

I get the normal "log on to windows" screen, I've tried the ctrl+alt+del 2 times and I've changed the username to Administrator and entered my password.

Any ideas?

And no, it aint nicked, my brother left it at mine to look at about 6 months ago but has now got a new laptop and between him and his mrs have now forgotten the password.

[Big Boy]

Does this help? http://www.techenclave.com/guides-and-t ... -1224.html

[BaaBaa.]

Does this help? http://www.techenclave.com/guides-and-t ... -1224.html

Cheers BB but unfortunately not, this things been knocking around for years, it was my brothers mrs mothers beforehand and the disk has been lost. It's been passed on down a long line of computer illiterates.

The specs on it are as good your £250 netbooks now though so it's worth recovering.

[PeteC]

More clues. Pete

http://www.wikihow.com/Break-a-BIOS-Password

If you Google 'breaking dell passwords" there's much more on the subject. Pete

[BaaBaa.]

More clues. Pete

http://www.wikihow.com/Break-a-BIOS-Password

If you Google 'breaking dell passwords" there's much more on the subject. Pete

That's my last resort Pete.

Hopefully Buksi or someone will know how to get in before I have to get the tool kit out.

[buksida]

This will get you past the Admin password: http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.php?w ... ront_id=12

You need to boot to the disc and run the winpass tool to reset the admin login.

Personally though I would just format it and re-install from scratch, it will probably take just as long as cleaning it up and you'll have a faster machine in the end.

[BaaBaa.]

I've just got a new netbook so will finally have something for when I'm in Thailand.

What's the general opinion on these Aircards?

http://www.ais.co.th/mobileinternet/AirCard.html

Would you just get the Edge version as it's 2000 baht cheaper?

AIS or DTAC?

[Spitfire]

I use an EDGE, it's OK, for most general surfing, like the mobile convenience of it all. Fine, unless you want to start downloading movies and the like.

Remember that 3G is a bit of a mute point here at the moment and still lots of reports of them (these sticks in your link) not working in lots of places in LOS.

If you are going into rural areas then you want to use an AIS card, better connectivity, DTAC seem to offer better deals on hours where I am but when you leave the cities the connection can be suspect.

[Norseman]

Some months ago I bought a USB Vodafone EDGE modem with a AIS simcard installed in the 3rd floor of Market Village.
As Spifire says, the speed isn't much to talk about but you will get on the net with the staggering speed of 460,8 kps.
This post is "airborne" and written on my laptop by the way.
The Vodafone will set you back a couple of thousand Baht, but it's working well even in remote areas of Buriram and Korat and gets the small jobs done nice and easy.

[migrant]

Excuse the dumb question, but with one of these thumb drive looking things I don't need to tether to my phone?

Thanks!!

[Spitfire]

No, it's an independent modem through a Net Sim card, looks identical to a normal sim card (usually about 50 baht or thereabouts), just pop it in the stick with some credit and off you go. It's (the EDGE stick) got all the relevant software needed already in it, so it just downloads it all onto any computer/notebook it is pugged into and off you go. No phones involved.

Just for price wise awareness, I bought 100 hours from DTAC for 199 baht last week. Not sure how it compares to AIS as haven't checked for a while, maybe Norseman can tell us as he's using AIS.

AIS is definitely better though for the rural areas.

[Norseman]

I think the prize is 1 Baht pr minute with AIS, but I can be wrong.
When I charged it I filled it up with 500 Baht and it still works.

However; the EDGE MD950 Vodafone USB card modem cost me 1590.- Baht.
NOT around 2000 as I said earlier in this thread.

[BaaBaa.]

350 baht for 100 hours if I remember correctly.

I've used it for my phone before.

If you ring them up Noreseman they do data packages, it works out much cheaper.

[BaaBaa.]

Here you go!

[Norseman]

Yes you are right BaaBaa, but I bought a data package, and have no idea of the prize Pr. minute and I don't worry too much about it.
After all it's not expensive but very useful for my modesty needs.