http://support.microsoft.com/default...en-us%3b308402
'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery
Console in Windows XP
http://www.theeldergeek.com/recovery_console.htm
Scroll down to: On many XP installations you can't start the Recovery Console
because it won't recognize your password.
"Shirley and Rich" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1ade01c46f87$233aa310$(E-Mail Removed)...
> PROBLEM: When on the opening logon page to select a user
> name and when toggling on a user, the computer indicates
> that it is "logging off" but it returns to the same logon
> page.
>
> We were advised to put in the XP Operating System CD and
> go to Recovery Console in order to repair the software
> problem. This requires the Administrator Password, which
> we do not have. We have tried various passwords but
> cannot "guess" the answer.
>
> Any suggestions on how to get around this? Is there a
> default password from the factory? We have
> tried "password", "test password", "" (i.e., none /
> blank), etc.
>
> Any suggestions on how to attack this software problem
> other than reformatting the hard disk (and losing stored
> information)?
>
> Many thanks,
> Rich and Shirley
>
>