How do I persuade my PCG-634P to boot from USB Legacy?

[JiminSA]

The need to boot my recently inherited Vaio from a Hiren Boot CD image arose when I discovered that no-one knows the Administrator Password for the Windows XP system that is loaded on it.

So I must use some password bypass/crack software in order to start using it and as many of you may know this model has no CD-Rom.

Has anyone a notion of how I can persuade the BIOS to accept my little USB stick as the boot device??

[Blencogo · Accepted solution]

You are probably going to have to be more specific on the model type as there are quite a few different types of this slimline design.

You cannot boot from USB on any of these legacy models.  The only exception is a FDD floppy drive for which there is USB support.

What you need is a CD Drive connected to the PC Card slot and there are plenty available on eBay: -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/items/__pcga+cd51_W0QQ_dmdZ2?clk_rvr_id=294105627048&crlp=2884412769_28459...

and for older models: -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=pcga+cd5&_sacat=0&_dmd=2&_odkw=pcga+cd51&_osacat=0&_trksid=p32...

You may be lucky and find an interface card.

However, this will depend on the actual Vaio Model.  You are quoting the Chassis type which is shared by several actual models - PCG-R505, PCG-V505, etc.

By the way, which version of XP do you have installed?  For XP Home the default Administrative Password is blank - ie. just press enter.

[JiminSA]

Thank you for such a prompt response and valuable direction. I am running Xp Pro and the Viao's model # according to the screen casing is PCG_R505B/P...