I loaned a computer running xp to my nephew to use, he passed away last week,
when I got the computer home I wanted to do a restore on it, but when I
tried it said that only the administrator had the authority to do this, I
have no Idea wha the user name or password would be, is there any way to get
around this so, I can get this computer running properly

"or" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:863AA7F7-4902-4501-9320-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I loaned a computer running xp to my nephew to use, he passed away last
>week,
> when I got the computer home I wanted to do a restore on it, but when I
> tried it said that only the administrator had the authority to do this, I
> have no Idea wha the user name or password would be, is there any way to
> get
> around this so, I can get this computer running properly

Sorry to hear.

What's probably happening is that the account you're using is not an
administrator level account; you need to promote it, or use an Admin-level
account.

If it's XP Home, reboot to Safe Mode (by tapping F8 at boot), and the actual
Administrator account is there. It normally has no password - just
highlight it and press Enter at the welcome screen.

Once in, you can go to Control Panel, Users, and clear or reset the
passwords and promote the account to Administrator.

If it's XP Pro, at the Welcome screen press control+alt+delete twice, which
will give you a login screen. Enter "Administrator" as the user name and
try just a blank password. Here, you will do the same as above.

There is a word of warning, that may not apply or matter to you but which
must be mentioned. If the OS is XP PRO, *and* if the user encrypted files,
and if the account credentials were not backed up, resetting the password
from outside the account will prevent them from ever being de-crypted.
Unfortunately backing up the credentials is optional, and it's distressingly
common that this critical step isn't taken.

In the worst case, you have to clear the passwords, and there are
downloadable Linux-based boot CDs you can use for this purpose. Choose the
password-clearing disk you wish (there *are* free ones), download the image
to another computer, burn it to CD, and boot the target system with it.
Follow the directions to clear the passwords. Again, the warning above
will apply.

Google things like "password reset utility", and here's a link to a page:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_admini...password.htm#3

HTH
-pk

On Apr 20, 1:55*pm, or <o...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I loaned a computer running xp to my nephew to use, he passed away last week,
> when I got the computer home I wanted to *do a restore on it, but when I
> tried it said that only the administrator had the authority to do this, I
> have no Idea wha the user name or password would be, is there any way to get
> around this so, *I can get this computer running properly

Power on the machine and start repeatedly stabbing the F8 key. You
should get the start up menu options.
Select Safe Mode with the Up/Down arrows. Press enter.
When booted, you should be presented with a Logon Screen, with
Administrator, and your nephew's name.
Select the Administrator, and the password will be blank if it hasn't
been changed from default settings.
When Administrator is logged on, you can run a System Restore, or
create a new user, or anything else you want to do.

Good Luck.

if you boot to the restore cd's a password is not required.
how are you attempting to do this restore???
Please list the steps you are taking precisely

"or" wrote:

> I loaned a computer running xp to my nephew to use, he passed away last week,
> when I got the computer home I wanted to do a restore on it, but when I
> tried it said that only the administrator had the authority to do this, I
> have no Idea wha the user name or password would be, is there any way to get
> around this so, I can get this computer running properly

Hi or,
For God's sake - listen to Patrick! His advice is, by far, the most
complete.

--

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.


"or" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:863AA7F7-4902-4501-9320-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I loaned a computer running xp to my nephew to use, he passed away last
>week,
> when I got the computer home I wanted to do a restore on it, but when I
> tried it said that only the administrator had the authority to do this, I
> have no Idea wha the user name or password would be, is there any way to
> get
> around this so, I can get this computer running properly