* * * * *

    I ain't got no password. You ain't got no password. They ain't got no
                   password? Where the heck's the password?

Yesterday [1] I was given the previous sysadmin's computer, running Windows
XP Professional. Well, I'm given to understand that there are some support
issues that require the use of Windows (cough frontpage cough) and it's not
like this is new to me; so instead of using X-Windows [2] to prop open a
dozen xterms I use Windows to prop open a dozen putty.exes [3].

So when I sat down to use M's (the previous sysadmin) former computer she was
already logged in. I did briefly think about changing her password just prior
to leaving yesterday, but not knowing how to actually go about changing the
password, I figured I could leave it until today. I'll just leave myself
logged in and everything should be okay. Right?

Right?

You do see where this is going, right?

Today, I sat down in front of the computer, and right there was the Windows
XP login window, asking me for M's password.

Sigh.

And none of the adminstrative passwords I've been given over the past few
days worked. C couldn't even log in.

As I left the office tonight (the cubicle isn't nearly as depressive looking
now that I've cleaned it up—now it has this Zen emptiness going for it) the
XP installation CD (Compact Disc) was reformatting the harddrive (a different
one—M's machine had important files on it and an XP reinstall is always
destructive it seems—also, note to self: check to see if the cover is already
off a computer before blindly removing screws out the back).

I've also learned the depths of my loathing of web-based adminstration. Of
course you [the web-based administration program] couldn't create a sub-site—
this computer doesn't have DNS (Domain Name Service) on it you XXXXXXX piece
of XXXX! Now create the sub-site! Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggggllll!

Fortunely, I didn't have to deal with the phone all that much today.

[1] gopher://gopher.conman.org/0Phlog:2004/11/10.1
[2] http://www.x.org/
[3] http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html

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