donating abandoned comp - administrator?

Hello folks,
A tenant, when he vacated, left a Pentium II, 6G HD, XP Home machine, with lots of personal information on it (ugh, when will they ever learn), and good software. I want to securely delete that personal information, retain the software on the machine and donate the machine to a charity. I can't contact the tenant to find out his Administrator password. I can get into it as "guest", but I can't change or delete anything. So, help? I tried the usual passwords, like his name, his girlfriend's name, but no go. How can I get in as an Administrator? Tenants have left machines before, and I have reformatted, but the only OS I can install is Win98; this one has XP and I can't think that a charity could use anything else right now (except Vista), so: what I have to do is delete the personal info, clean it up and donate.
Thanks in advance,
Chas

I don't believe you'll get any help on this board on cracking an Administrator Password. I think your only way out is to somehow contact that guy and get it--new address? phone number? where does he work? mutual friends may help?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dneilson

I don't believe you'll get any help on this board on cracking an Administrator Password. I think your only way out is to somehow contact that guy and get it--new address? phone number? where does he work? mutual friends may help?

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Isn't that the precious thing. I have a computer that I can donate (I was thinking to Women's Community House, a shelter for abused women and children) and it could be landfill, or it could be put together with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor which I am also ready to donate, and maybe help a family to get their life back together. I'm not talking about "cracking" an administrator password for some nefarious project. I just want to donate a computer..
Respectfully yours,
Chas

That's the policy and it's that way for good reason. Perhaps your motives are pure, but those of an observer may not be. After all, whatever the reason - you ARE talking about cracking a password.

Wipe the drive and donate the hardware. If it can be used, the donee will be happy to get it with or without the operating system.

I notice you've been a member since June 2000 with 411 posts so you've been here quite a while. Your type of question has repeatedly been asked through the years--you must have missed every one or you wouldn't have asked that question because the answer is always the same. Read the AUP, it's very clear.

Passwords, Sorry as stated, no one will be able to help you.

Locking the thread.