BleepingComputer.com: 2 Questions

I have no idea where to put these questions so i settled for here.

1) My mom upgraded here computer at work and so i took her old computer off here hands (only a year or 2 old). She seemed to think it had a virius or something on it. My first question is, we couldn't find the power cord that went with it, So i just pluged an old one i had into it and it seemed to work fine. Is that ok? The last thing i need is an electical fire at my house. It seems to be pretty standered. It has the 3 prongs that are in the shape of a triangle. So is this something that is a problem.

2) I turn it on and it asks me for here password and although, i do know what it is, it well not log me on bc it wants me to connect to her offices' network but cant. So i cant log on. Is there an easy way around this? Or do i need to erase the hard drive and start over (which i may end up doing anyways esp. if it has some kind of virius.) Anythoughts?


This is not a brand name computer. The only specs i know is it is currently running windows 2000.

1) The cable you are using is find. Don't worry about it.
2) I would say that you are better off doing a new OS reload. Nothing better than a
fresh loaded OS on a used PC. You just never have any idea what might be lurking around
from an office PC.

Thanks for the input. I think ill put a new OS on it.

IMO Starfire is right on both counts.
If you need to search for drivers afterwards, this will help. It identifies all the components in the PC http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html you may want to run it first and write down at least the modem/ethernet drivers in case the OS you use doesn't have them built in