I was given a laptop that has a existing username and
password, and I'm trying to get past the login so I can
change it to my own account.

Brad;
See if something here helps:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...oups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"Brad" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:04d201c3d579$acbe2f10$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I was given a laptop that has a existing username and
> password, and I'm trying to get past the login so I can
> change it to my own account.

If the laptop has XP Pro, press CTRL-ALT-DEL twice at the Welcome Screen, with no other users logged on, and you'll get the old Win2K style logon dialog. Enter Adminstrator, and try leaving the password blank.

For XP Home, you'll need to boot the computer into Safe Mode to access the built in Administrator account.

Otherwise, you'll have to ask the previous owner for the logon information.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Brad" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:04d201c3d579$acbe2f10$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I was given a laptop that has a existing username and
> password, and I'm trying to get past the login so I can
> change it to my own account.