Alrighty, this is gonna be hard to explain, but...here it goes.

I've noticed that in the library at my school there is this computer that has NT/2000 (not sure which, but I hear they are pretty similar). It seems that before the OS boots, there is a login prompt. It doesn't show the win2k/NT icon, and I pressed delete while it was turning on, but I couldn't get to the BIOS (I have no clue what kind it is).
Once I get onto the desktop (with the password the admin types in), I cannot reach the command prompt to use the netview command, or nbtstat. I was looking around security and underground sites for some sort of explanation, but I can't seem to find one.
I was messing around at the login prompt, but I couldn't find any combo that would give me access, other than the User/Pass combo the school admin gives. I know for a fact that that computer is networked to the server that controls the school computers, as well as the router. If I could gain more access to this computer, than I could exploit the network, but I can't find anything.
I am lookin for help. If anyone knows of any programs that I could try, or any commands...anything. I wanted to try booting from a floppy, but I don't have any NT boot disks handy. Anyway, If you have something, help me out....
Skippy

I'm not going to help you hack your school's network, but I'll give you some suggested reading to get you on the road to knowing NT/2k:

Securing NT/2000 For the Internet
Hacking Exposed: Third Edition
and there's plenty more...

Those two are definitely good security related books.

I have the third edition. I'm reading through it still....(every day as a matter o fact), but It doesn't tell me anything about the specific program that I am dealing with. I went all through the 2K/NT stuff, before it, and after as well.
I'm not asking you to help me hack my school network (/me smiles evily).... I just need an Idea of what in the **** that program is. If someone can tell me that, I'll look for the stuff to combat it.

Hey skippy, I'm not sure what program you're referring to but as far as NT/2000 'security' goes it's fairly easy to get in through the back way, jsut search google for info on it. Lots of docs on exploits,and shit. I'm no hacker, actually pretty dumb when it comes to that stuff but I read whatever I can, and maybe just maybe someday I'll be 1337.

Well, Im pretty sure you knew this but if not...

In WinNt / Win2k the "command" prompt is "cmd"
heh
So goto Start -> Run -> cmd

VS. Windows9x where it is command

Neo = reet Windows monkey

both "cmd" AND "command" work anyway.
in fact, cmd is to be used with the GUI where as command doesn't.

neo... I can't get to the commmand prompt, or anything else regarding the system information. Thats why I thought It was soo strange. I tried to make talk with the admin lady, but she's...er.... a little weird, and I don't know what it is. If I did, I could find exploits for it....

Either the registry is edited or, most likely, there is a local policy, or even more likely than that, you are login on to a DC and a GPO is being taken into effect.

Heh, umm... I was just remembering how one of the new Windowz OS's doesnt even need dos anymore... But i think thats Xp... Otherwise maybe they set the command.com's security to No access except for the admin's.

Windows isn't an operating system, it sits ontop of DOS which is an operating system . DOS will always be a part of windows, otherwise there whoudn't be ANY dos executable files... The second DOS isn't a part is the second hexxagon wont work for me, and then myfriend is when i buy a tech9 and drive to washington...

Windows 2000/XP does not use MS-DOS whatsoever. There's still a command-line, but it's not DOS based.

This isn't a WinXP comp, but supposedly, taking the DOS prompt out of WinXP gave it a lot more stability. (It's only for idi0ts who can't use unix or linux.) I think it was stupid on their part cos' not everyone is computer illiterate. I guess they thought the smart ones would go open source I think that they did it partly cos' no one who was computer lame could do anything to secure their computers, unless they used Norton and Blackice. (I mean come on... a software firewall?)

Does WinXP even use the same file system as 9x?

I don't think they edited the registry, the chick who runs all the computers... I don't think she knows much about what she's doing. If it was edited, I don't think she did it.
I want to get an NT boot disk (I'll bother my sister to send me one down. (I haven't got access to an NT computer that hasn't been weirdly configured.) I'll see if it works..but something tells me it won't.