Subj : Re: installing Linux on Win2000 HD, boot order mixed up, nothing working
To   : microsoft.public.win2000.setup,comp.os.linux
From : LJ
Date : Sun Aug 01 2004 04:26 pm

John wrote:

> We have a computer with Windows 2000 on it, on which we have forgotten
> all passwords to all accounts (including BIOS setup), effectively
> rendering this machine useless. However, there is not anything on this
> computer which we want/need to keep. Therefore, we have decided to try
> to install Fedora Core 2, as the Windows 2000 install CD has gone
> missing. Sounds simple enough, BUT:
> 
> The password resetting tool from
> http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html failed to detect
> the partition it needed to reset the password on, so that was no help on
> getting into win2000.
> 
> The boot device order prevents booting from the CD drive as long as
> there is a bootable hard drive there...and being locked out of the BIOS
> prevents any alteration to this configuration. (unplugging the hard
> drive lets us boot the FC2 CD fine...but then there's no HD to install
> onto...) I've considered flashing BIOS to gain access to the boot device
> order, but I'm not sure of the manufacturer or any other necessary
> information for that.
> 
> We have tried using a Windows 98 boot disk from one of our other
> computers to reformat the drive (format c:) so as to enable booting from
> the CD, but to no avail. ("boot failed" is the informative error message
> it gives.)
> 
> Does ANYBODY have ANY ideas on how to accomplish this task? Would
> something like swiping a magnet over the drive work and just require
> that it be formatted again, or would it be ruined then?
> 
> Thanks for any suggestions!
> 
> John
I would suggest taking out your bios battery and jumping the 2 connectors 
with a paperclip or similar item =) works for mine. btw its just a small 
round flat battery usually close to the side of the board.

.