Windows XP setting

frank.lui · 23-05-2010, 15:06

A question about windows XP setting. I sometime ago, left a job. As part of the deal, I was allowed to take away the company laptop with me as a 'gift'. After a while, I found a problem. The laptop setting is still the previous employer's and I cannot change anything such as password, install software, etc. It keeps as 'you need to log-in company network first....'.
I would like to know if there is any thing I can do to get rid of such thing. I do not have the XP software CD and all other stuff. So re-format is not an option.

Let me cut things short, how can I gain the full control of this 'gift'?

Thanks in advance!

Wayfair · 23-05-2010, 15:15

Have a look on the bottom or side for the Xp serial, or use jellybean to find it, borrow or download a copy of the Xp version it's running and use the serial you have.

All the other stuff! should be easy to find if you give us a hint.

Apart from that, then, err no.

frank.lui · 23-05-2010, 15:22

You mean reinstll XP?
Other stuff are the softwares such as office 2007, project, etc. Reinstall XP would wipe out them all?

idi banashapan · 23-05-2010, 15:22

even if you get to be a local admin on the machine, it will always be part of the work domain, which may cause issues in the future, especially if there are a number of group policies set on the machine and you are not confident in GP management on the machine. to remove the machine from the domain, it will need to be attached to it, and you'll then also need credentials of an account that has permissions to remove the machine.

imo, reformat is the best option to completely remove anything the company may have done in one easy, relatively quick step. as wayfair said, there should be a serial for XP on the underside of the machone. being company (or ex-company) it will likely be XP professional. get yourself an OEM copy of that and away you go (provided the serial on the underside is for OEM - usually this is the case as the machine will have been supplied by the manufacturer with an OS on to start with). get the drivers off the net, job done. will take you no more than a couple of hours to have it rebuilt to your own specifications!

the office app that is on there will likely be a VL copy, so you are not actually authorised to use it if you don't work for the company anyway. you could always contact the company and ask about their licensing for products, but if you were allowed to use it, they should have supplied you with the code.... dowload 'Open Office'. it's free and does a great job for it!

frank.lui · 23-05-2010, 15:58

Thanks for the part of XP, very clear. I do have the XP tag at the bottom.
About the software such as Office 2007, it is not VL copy as ex-company uses office-2003. My laptop is the only one computer uses 2007 so I guess the license goes with the machine and that is the reason I asked for this computer because I am dealing with customers using 2007. Any hints to sort it out?
About Open Office, does it work with Ofice 2007 and Project 2007?

23-05-2010, 15:58

you was allowed to take the laptop home as a "gift" and its still all set up with company details hmmmmmm . Long live hooky street ,viva hooky street ,say magnifique hooky street

frank.lui · 23-05-2010, 16:31

Zing, have you ever experienced a company shut-down? And you expected the IT to set up something for you when he was looking for job? That is a bit insane, isn't it?

Paul K · 23-05-2010, 16:32

The license doesn't go with the machine as far as office is concerned, if they purchased it seperately you may well find they have already installed it and used the key again on another computer. Unless you have the packaging and receipt for the license it doesn't belong to you.
At best you will have to just accept you have to boot from an install CD and reload the laptop from scratch. Best hope they haven't BIOS locked it too, weird that you cannot log in locally to the unit, we do at work when they screw up on the network.

23-05-2010, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank.lui

Zing, have you ever experienced a company shut-down? And you expected the IT to set up something for you when he was looking for job? That is a bit insane, isn't it?

you never mentioned anything about a company shut down all you said is you left a job and then you put "gift" which when read the user assumes you meant something else lol

if you worked IT how come you do not know the score anyway?

Can you create a new user?if you do is that locked down the same way ?

vanman · 23-05-2010, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by zing

if you worked IT how come you do not know the score anyway?

?

he didnt say he worked in IT.
he said !

Quote:

And you expected the IT to set up something for you when he was looking for job? That is a bit insane, isn't it?

frank.lui · 23-05-2010, 17:29

Zing, you definitely did not experience such things before. The company handed over the computer to me as, legally named as 'ex-gratia'. If it is a gift, I probably need to pay tax on it. Sorry, I did not know in this website 'gift' has very different meaning.

I did not work for IT before otherwise I would not ask such question. I never said I worked in IT in this thread. What I said was in such dreadful situation, you would never ever ask company's IT people to reinstall anything for your 'ex-gratia'. That would be insane

I cannot create a new user, tried and failed.
I cannot log-on to local as well, although I rememered I did it before.
Anyway, I am quite clear of what I can do. I probably use it as is and being the last employee for ever.

speedfreak · 23-05-2010, 17:31

To be fair to Zing, when I read "gift" earlier I thought the same as zing, anyway.....

Hom3r · 23-05-2010, 17:48

Were I worked they gave you the option to buy on a "1st come 1st service" to buy all the office furniture & electrical stuff.

If I had had the room I would have bought the A3 colour laser, all PCs & laptop would have been provided without an OS, so I guess the OP was a jammy bugger

23-05-2010, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank.lui

Zing, you definitely did not experience such things before. The company handed over the computer to me as, legally named as 'ex-gratia'. If it is a gift, I probably need to pay tax on it. Sorry, I did not know in this website 'gift' has very different meaning.

I did not work for IT before otherwise I would not ask such question. I never said I worked in IT in this thread. What I said was in such dreadful situation, you would never ever ask company's IT people to reinstall anything for your 'ex-gratia'. That would be insane

I cannot create a new user, tried and failed.
I cannot log-on to local as well, although I rememered I did it before.
Anyway, I am quite clear of what I can do. I probably use it as is and being the last employee for ever.

you are right I have not experienced these things before

Why dont you try a live linux disc then you can see if open office is compt with all your office files,then if it is you can format and use open office on the new format

I am sorry I got it wrong but it was the way you highlighted gift with the tags that in type makes imo the reader assume you meant something else and tbh it did look fishy to me. Well my bad and I apoligise for that

berkut · 23-05-2010, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank.lui

Thanks for the part of XP, very clear. I do have the XP tag at the bottom.
About the software such as Office 2007, it is not VL copy as ex-company uses office-2003. My laptop is the only one computer uses 2007 so I guess the license goes with the machine and that is the reason I asked for this computer because I am dealing with customers using 2007. Any hints to sort it out?
About Open Office, does it work with Ofice 2007 and Project 2007?

Most companies have a Microsoft Volume License agreement for their Servers, PC's and Laptops. This normally covers both the OS installed and any other Microsoft software used, however it is dependant on the specific license agreement the company has, if it is in the agreement you can normally use a newer version of the software. You may find that your IT people settled on Office 2003 as a standard for the company.

Although you have been allowed to have you laptop as a gift, you are not legally allowed to use the installed software under the Volume License Agreement as the license cannot be transferred to you. This will include the OS and any other Microsoft software installed. Volume Licenses cannot be transferred to individuals.

When anyone in my company leaves and gets to keep their laptop, IT reload the default factory configuration that the laptop had when it was purchased i.e. Windows XP Pro or whatever and no Office. This is why we keep images of each model of machine that is purchased to enable the machine to be put back to factory settings.

I am afraid you are between a rock and a hard place on this.

As stated before your best option is to obtain an OEM CD of the OS that is mentioned on your CAL on the bottom of the laptop and install it.

As for Office 2007, Project, etc I would suggest trying Open Office and Open Proj as these will do what you need unless you use a lot of Macros in Microsoft Office then you will have issues.

If you absolutely must have Microsoft Office, Project, etc then I am afraid your only choice is to buy them... which is quite expensive.

Berkut