No NT Administrator Account

[mjb2727]

We have an NT 4 system that has recently begun having a network connectivity issue. Someone tripped over the network cable, the computer shut down instantly, and now it keeps giving and Event ID 7000: "The 3Com 3C90x Adapter BC Driver service failed to start due to the following error: A device attached to the system is not functioning." So it is not connected to the network.

The problem is that there was no local Administrator account set up on this computer like other computers on our network. The only admin account is a domain admin account. But, I can't log in to the domain account since there is no connection.

I know it is not a hardware problem because I replaced the entire computer including the network card. Actually, I pulled the hard drive out and put it into a new computer which has the exact same hardware. So, the hard drive is the only thing that is the same. I also plugged the network cable into a laptop to make sure it wasn't the cable or the nearby hub. The connection is fine. So, it must be a software/driver type issue (how that can happen from someone tripping over the cable is beyond me - unless it had to do with the computer shutting down abruptly).

Anyway, I can't fix the driver issue without being able to log in as Administrator. Formatting this hard drive and starting over is an extreme last resort. Is there any way I can fix this problem? Thanks.

 

[ReddLefty]

With NT, changing computers, even if hardware seems identical, won't always work. Sometimes, the Shared IRQ's are not the same, depending on how the BIOS assigns them to your PCI slots. In your original system, your 3Com could be on IRQ9, yet in the new one, the slot you have it in (or the IRQ on that same slot) could now be IRQ10.... Since NT does not have Plug and Pray, your card won't work... also, you should still be able to log in with the Domain Admin or Server Operator accounts (seeing it's a server). If you don't have those passwords, then I suggest you find the person who does and have them log you in. All domain controllers have a local security table for exactly these reasons (when you can't communicate with the PDC) and if it's not a server, you cannot delete the original local administrator (you can rename it, but you can't delete it).

I hope this helps...



"In space, nobody can hear you click..."

 

[wolluf]

As Reddlefty says - there will be an administrator account (even if its been renamed). Try the boot disk/Cd from

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

- you can reset NT passwords with it - so should be able to reset Administrator user.

PS. Could it just be a broken/loose network card (tripping over its cable may have unseated/damaged it)?