Disentangling network set up

[Guest paoloricardo@gmail.com]

A friend was given a laptop which had previously been connected to a

local network. It still has network domains and the previous user's

login. We cannot access the 'My Documents' folder since the setup

assumes we must be connected.

 

Is there any way I can 'un-network' the various settings and establish

the laptop as a standalone, unconnected PC?

 

I am not a networking expert and did not want to change/delete

anything for fear of messing things up.

[Guest sgopus]

RE: Disentangling network set up

 

get a new copy of XP, make sure you have all the drivers needed for the

hardware, wipe the previous install and install new.

 

"paoloricardo@gmail.com" wrote:

> A friend was given a laptop which had previously been connected to a

> local network. It still has network domains and the previous user's

> login. We cannot access the 'My Documents' folder since the setup

> assumes we must be connected.

>

> Is there any way I can 'un-network' the various settings and establish

> the laptop as a standalone, unconnected PC?

>

> I am not a networking expert and did not want to change/delete

> anything for fear of messing things up.

>

[Guest paoloricardo@gmail.com]

Re: Disentangling network set up

 

On Oct 8, 3:24 pm, sgopus <sgo...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> get a new copy of XP, make sure you have all the drivers needed for the

> hardware, wipe the previous install and install new.

>

> "paolorica...@gmail.com" wrote:

> > A friend was given a laptop which had previously been connected to a

> > local network. It still has network domains and the previous user's

> > login. We cannot access the 'My Documents' folder since the setup

> > assumes we must be connected.

>

> > Is there any way I can 'un-network' the various settings and establish

> > the laptop as a standalone, unconnected PC?

>

> > I am not a networking expert and did not want to change/delete

> > anything for fear of messing things up.

 

Is that the only way to do it?

[Guest Malke]

Re: Disentangling network set up

 

paoloricardo@gmail.com wrote:

> On Oct 8, 3:24 pm, sgopus <sgo...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>> get a new copy of XP, make sure you have all the drivers needed for the

>> hardware, wipe the previous install and install new.

>>

>> "paolorica...@gmail.com" wrote:

>> > A friend was given a laptop which had previously been connected to a

>> > local network. It still has network domains and the previous user's

>> > login. We cannot access the 'My Documents' folder since the setup

>> > assumes we must be connected.

>>

>> > Is there any way I can 'un-network' the various settings and establish

>> > the laptop as a standalone, unconnected PC?

>>

>> > I am not a networking expert and did not want to change/delete

>> > anything for fear of messing things up.

>

> Is that the only way to do it?

 

Basically, yes. The laptop was a domain member. There will be many

restrictive settings, etc. that will be difficult, if not impossible, to

undo. Your friend should do this the right way.

 

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What

you will need on-hand

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest paoloricardo@gmail.com]

Re: Disentangling network set up

 

On Oct 8, 11:11 pm, Malke <ma...@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> paolorica...@gmail.com wrote:

> > On Oct 8, 3:24 pm, sgopus <sgo...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> >> get a new copy of XP, make sure you have all the drivers needed for the

> >> hardware, wipe the previous install and install new.

>

> >> "paolorica...@gmail.com" wrote:

> >> > A friend was given a laptop which had previously been connected to a

> >> > local network. It still has network domains and the previous user's

> >> > login. We cannot access the 'My Documents' folder since the setup

> >> > assumes we must be connected.

>

> >> > Is there any way I can 'un-network' the various settings and establish

> >> > the laptop as a standalone, unconnected PC?

>

> >> > I am not a networking expert and did not want to change/delete

> >> > anything for fear of messing things up.

>

> > Is that the only way to do it?

>

> Basically, yes. The laptop was a domain member. There will be many

> restrictive settings, etc. that will be difficult, if not impossible, to

> undo. Your friend should do this the right way.

>

> http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html- Clean Install How-Tohttp://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows- What

> you will need on-hand

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ -http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

Malke: thanks. I'll follow your advice.

[Guest EncinoMan]

Re: Disentangling network set up

 

On Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:11:04 -0700, Malke <malke@invalid.invalid>

wrote:

>paoloricardo@gmail.com wrote:

>

>> On Oct 8, 3:24 pm, sgopus <sgo...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>>> get a new copy of XP, make sure you have all the drivers needed for the

>>> hardware, wipe the previous install and install new.

>>>

>>> "paolorica...@gmail.com" wrote:

>>> > A friend was given a laptop which had previously been connected to a

>>> > local network. It still has network domains and the previous user's

>>> > login. We cannot access the 'My Documents' folder since the setup

>>> > assumes we must be connected.

>>>

>>> > Is there any way I can 'un-network' the various settings and establish

>>> > the laptop as a standalone, unconnected PC?

>>>

>>> > I am not a networking expert and did not want to change/delete

>>> > anything for fear of messing things up.

>>

>> Is that the only way to do it?

>

>Basically, yes. The laptop was a domain member. There will be many

>restrictive settings, etc. that will be difficult, if not impossible, to

>undo. Your friend should do this the right way.

>

>http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To

>http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What

>you will need on-hand

>

>Malke

This is not necessarily true. It could be just as simple as going to

My Computer/Properties/Computer Name tab/Change button. Then move it

from a Domain to a workgroup you designate. Reboot and it will be

done. Now you may still be unable to access the My Documents folder,

but at that point just login as Adminstrator and take Ownership of

those folders, and voila, it's done.

 

Of course the Domain policy may keep the OP from being able to do

this, but usually not.

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: Disentangling network set up

 

paoloricardo@gmail.com wrote:

> A friend was given a laptop which had previously been connected to a

> local network. It still has network domains and the previous user's

> login. We cannot access the 'My Documents' folder since the setup

> assumes we must be connected.

>

> Is there any way I can 'un-network' the various settings and establish

> the laptop as a standalone, unconnected PC?

>

> I am not a networking expert and did not want to change/delete

> anything for fear of messing things up.

 

 

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers

but perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest

course of action would definitely be to format the hard drives and start

fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may

have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because

the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware, or

misconfigured the networking.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

 

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot