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.

haha... I'll just pop the boot disk in, turn it on, ask her to put in the password like nothing is any different, and see if it boots from the floppy. I'm guessing though that the permissions wouldn't change cos' it's the same account. If I had the admin account.....

It's soo ****ing weird. The login comes before the os boots up. Thats why i'm thinking that it won't work.

I can't believe I heard this from Gizmo's mouth.

Windows 3.1 and earlier were not OS's. DOS was the OS and windows was the GUI. DOS ceased to be the main OS when Windows 95 came out. However, it was still DOS was that executed first when you booted the computer. DOS was the starter, and Windows was the engine. When Windows started up - DOS shut down. After that point, Windows had virtual DOS environments to fool DOS programs into running.

Then Windows ME came along. It skipped the DOS startup altogether. No longer could you reboot into DOS mode - cause DOS is never executed. This is also true of Win2K and later.

But in fact, Windows was a real operating system since Win95.

If anybody wants to hear more technical info on what makes an OS, and therefor the main core difference between DOS and Win3.1, and Win3.1 with Win95, then let me know.

windows sucks, case closed :'(

err...this isn't about whether or not it's an OS, cause It does suck (yer right about that gizzy).
The real issue here is the tech stuff I need help on (even though I'm guessing the both of you have deep seated hate towards Windows I know the both of you are far more knowledgeable than I, and I also know this means you can help me figure it out
I read something last night about passwording yer BIOS. I knew it could be done, but I hadn't thought about it before and I've never actually seen a computer with password protection on its BIOS. I know it would be easy to crack, but I don't even know if thats what the **** is up with the computer.....

hehe...

Actually, I don't hate windows at all.

But anyway, if you want to know what a password protected BIOS looks like then go home, get on your computer, go into the BIOS setup using whatever key-combo is relevent for your computer, then set a password and reboot. After doing that, you can tell US if it's a BIOS prompt or not.

I'm still not positive why everyone hates windows. It's all about which version you run. I personally run Win2k, and it's very stable and loving to me. Dual boot on this system with Slackware...I still use Win2k more. (i've got a slack server also)

The reason you probably can't reach the command prompt is because she has you on a restricted account. When you create an account in Win2k, you can go ahead and choose multiple programs, folders, and other things that you don't want certain groups or users to access. So all she'd have to do is make it so command.bat or whatever it is, is denied for you.

I'm not sure of ways around it, but this is most likely the reason that you can't get in. As far as getting into the bios, I'm not sure what your reason would be, but try some keys other than del. This won't work when the little white bar loads on Win2k, but you have to do it when it's checking RAM and such, RIGHT WHEN YOU BOOT UP. Try F1, F2, TAB, and maybe even backspace if my memory serves me right.

Hope this helps a bit.

I'm running XP, just so I can review it, so far I give it 7/10 stars... Uptime: 2 days, windows was installed 2 days ago, so I'll report back after its been a week hehe...

I've frozen my Win2k within the first week of running it. But uh, damn, those AMD processors run a little hot...

I haven't overclocked my AMD 1.3 T-Bird, but the assholes who built my computer built it without fans. That's right. I've got a 1.3 T-Bird shut up in a case running at about 95 degrees, along with a GeForce2 which they snuggled up real nice against the card for my equalizer.

I should really buy some fans and move that hardware around. But I'm lazy.