To much security

[GEC]

I got a used laptop with disks , cd, floppy and all that stuff. Looks and runs great BUT the the system has something called "FULL ARMOR". This software does not allow you to access or change anything and for my purpose its a big pain. I can not delete it because I can not access it. I dont have a password to access FULL ARMOR to shut it off and the place where I got the system tells me its not their problem. If I had the floppy that FULL ARMOR comes with I can shut it down from there. The FULL ARMOR people told me that reformating the HDD does not get rid of it. Now what do I do?? Any one got a FULL ARMOR floppy Disk for sale. Calling Customer service was a run around, I need help bad!!

[psyklone]

When does it load? Maybe we could work around it ...

[yaroa]

Dont get me wrong, I dont know you, therefore I cant acuse you of wrongdoing, but it seems highly suspicious that anybody would buy a laptop or any piece of equipment, for that matter, that you could not access.
Please forgive me if this sound like a acusation, but laptop tefth is a big problem.
I urge you guys NOT to help with this "problem".

[socalgal]

I think we can give GEC the benefit of a doubt. He presents his problem in a way that leaves the option, at least to me, open that it is possible he is not a thief. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Besides, I bought a computer once with password in BIOS enabled (less I knew then) and wouldn't have known how to get into my purchase without help.

So... feel free to give GEC some help.

GEC, you tried to contact the seller of the laptop for the info? Do a search in Regedit (if you can get to it) and try to find a key in there.

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 12-20-1999).]

[yaroa]

socalgal, it is not my intention to imply that GEC is a thief, furthermore, I was out of line asking the group not to help. I just wanted to point out that laptop theft is a big problem for us who depend on them to make a living. somebody "borrowed" mine two years ago, so maybe I'm a little bit biased.

[jad1097]

Well Full Armor? I went to there site and if TVA uses it good luck cracking it! TVA is extremly security orintated. When I worked out there I could not even bring in my own tools! Lunchboxes searched etc.. This seems to me to be a corperate program not something an idividual would have on their laptop.
Is there a business name anywere on the drive? Go through it with a fine tooth comb and maybe you will lucky enough to find the original owner. Check through all the e-mail dat files.
Someone else may have stolen it and sold it to the place you bought it from and they just pawned it off on you.Get the serial # and give the police a call. If was reported stolen the should know. If it does turn out to be stolen the place you got from may give you your money back.
Of course you could always buy a new hdd. A word of advice to everyone play with a used computer for an hour or so before you buy it.
Well good luck GEC! Maybe doing a search for hack and cracks may help you. http://technet.microsoft.com/cdon line/default-f.asp?target=http://technet.microsoft.com/CDONLINE/CONTENT/COMPLETE/ANALPLN/TCO/RESGUIDE/04.HTM (http://technet.microsoft.com/cdonline/default-f.asp?target=http://technet.microsoft.com/CDONLINE/CONTENT/COMPLETE/ANALPLN/TCO/RESGUIDE/04.HTM)

this may help http://securityportal.com/list-archive/bugtraq/1998/Jun/0073.html

[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 12-20-1999).]

[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 12-20-1999).]

[jad1097]

Sounds like this will work. Try it and let use know what happens.
copied from. http://www2.merton.ox.ac.uk/~security/bugtraq-199806/0051.html

Version: Full Armor Network Configurator and Full Armor Zero Administration
Operating System: Win95/NT

This is an alert for Full Armor made by Micah Software and rated very high
in PC Week. While being a part of a team that was to install and
standardize all the desktops throughout a company this hack was
discovered. The software itself is a desktop protection software that has
many many more options than the regular poledit that comes with Win95,
although it does utilize and expand on the poledit program. The
problem/hack comes into play when you get the Full Armor warning that you
don't have rights (or any other Full Armor dialog box) if instead of just
clicking the ok button to remove the dialog box, instead you choose <ctrl>
+ <alt> + <del> to get to the task manager you can end task on Full Armor
and remove all the protected areas, thus having full access to everything
on your destop/PC.

The has been tested on both 486 and Pentium machine's all running Win95
and the hack is reproduced everytime. There is no current work around for
this hack.

I have been in contact with the software developer's at Micah and they are
currently re-working the code that should have a fix for this by tomorrow
morning (6-9-10). If you are running Full Armor it is recommended that
you get this fix when it becomes available.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++
K&R Information Technologies http://asd.dyn.ml.org/ -- http://asd.dyn.ml.org/asdw
kdicaire@vic.com -- kdicaire@asd.dyn.ml.org -- paris@asd.dyn.ml.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++

[GEC]

Thanks for everyones response. I can see why some one could think the system might be stolen but as far as I know it is not. The guy at place where I bought it said that the system was on display and FULL ARMOR was installed but not actived. Someone played around with the machine and entered a password to activate Full ARMOR then left the shop.
I tried the Ctrl-Alt-Del but the software patch was in place so no go. I was aware that the system had a pass word problem when I bought it but I thought that I could get it fixed by a little registry modification but no access to the registry. You can not even read a disk in A drive but a W98 emergency disk will boot up. Looks like I might have to "FDISK/MBR" and see if I can start from scratch with a W98 reinstall. Lots of oddball drivers so a reinstall is going to be a big pain
GEC

[BEOR999]

I think that I would just get a new HDD to sort this one out, I doubt if FDISK will work on the system.
If Full Armour if worth installing, to protect sys integrity and data, then FDISK should not work, kinda negates having that sort of protection IMHO http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
BTW which Mobile PC is it, Compaq, HP, Dell ???

[Banti]

I used to work at Wal-Mart (years ago) and we installed Full Armor to prevent kids from typing the infamous 'format c: /q /u' FDISK should work. Boot from a floppy and fdisk from there. Fdisk might see the partition as a Non-Dos partition, but that problem is solved in a few graceful key strokes, SO do not buy a new hd just yet. Those little buggers are expensive.


Banti

[GEC]

All is well, the sky is blue and the birds are singing. Fdisk/mbr-fdisk-format c:/s and reinstall W98 and the system is working great!!!!!
Thanks to everyone for the help.
GEC