[hwally]

I recently acquired a Dell desktop computer that hadn't been used in a few years. It worked fine when I first got it. A couple of days ago when I tried to sign in access was denied. I did some research and tried the cmd net user and fount Guest and LogMeInRemoteUser listed I then found their passwords using net user ..../random and could log in as Guest. When I logged in it was a stripped down version of what I had before. I have AVG and can run a scan but no infections show up. I also run cc cleaner and nothing shows up. When I try to access system restore access is denied. I'm told I need to log in as administrator. When I type in administrator and the password access is denied. I also can't access safe mode. I push f8 and nothing happens. I am able to get into set up and I found there was no admin or system passwords set up so I created them. Still no access. I'm not connected to the internet with that computer. I'm using a MAC. I have read your malware tutorial but seem to be denied accesss to the areas I need to enter.

 

[hwally]

Ok, I have more info. The woman who gave me the dell also has a computer owned by the same guy and she is denied access to anything that would alter anything on the computer. Her computer is running windows 2000 pro. The guy who owned these computers designed parts for airplanes. I'm wondering if he may have had some sort of a security setup to keep people out of his files. When I went to her computer in set up, the passwords for supervisor and user hadn't been set up. How do I gain access as administrator? When I go to user accounts in control panel I can't access any of the info. On log In I tried putting in administrator as user and the new password I created in set up but no luck. Is it possible I'm just running into some sort of intense security instead of malware. Also, would a recovery cd work in a case like this? If so do you recommend any one over another. Thank You.