Hello,

I have Windows XP and have never logged-off but I want to log-off so
that another person can use my PC with a different user-account (there
is a visitor account set-up at present); however I don't know if my
account has a pass-word or not and am worried that if I log-off and I
do have a pass-word that I won't be able to log back on. Is there a
way around this problem?

Thanks

AM

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello,
>
> I have Windows XP and have never logged-off but I want to log-off so
> that another person can use my PC with a different user-account (there
> is a visitor account set-up at present); however I don't know if my
> account has a pass-word or not and am worried that if I log-off and I
> do have a pass-word that I won't be able to log back on. Is there a
> way around this problem?
>
> Thanks
>
> AM
>

All accounts have a password. The question is really whether
your password is a blank or not. Here is how you can find
out without risking anything:

1. Click Start / Run / cmd {OK}
2. Type this command:
runas /user:"%UserName%" cmd{Enter}
3. Type the password you think you have, or press Enter for
a blank password.

If you entered the correct password then you will see a second
black screen.

This is the time to put yourself in control rather than coasting
along on something that could lock you out. Create a second
admin account and lock its details away in a safe place. Here
is how you can do it from a Command Prompt:

net user SecondAdmin SomePassword /add{Enter}
net localgroup administrators SecondAdmin /add{Enter}

This will give you a second administrator's account called
"SecondAdmin".

Use one of these Password finders.

Protected Storage PassView v1.60
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/pspv.html

RockXP 2.0
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4138.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:(E-Mail Removed),
(E-Mail Removed) <(E-Mail Removed)> hunted and pecked:
> Hello,
>
> I have Windows XP and have never logged-off but I want to log-off so
> that another person can use my PC with a different user-account (there
> is a visitor account set-up at present); however I don't know if my
> account has a pass-word or not and am worried that if I log-off and I
> do have a pass-word that I won't be able to log back on. Is there a
> way around this problem?
>
> Thanks
>
> AM

The easiest way could be that you enter Start - Control Panel - open User
Accounts. Here you will see a list of available users. Click on your name. If
your account may not have a password then you will see options like:

"What do you want to change about your account?"
* Change my name
* Create a password <- <-
* Change my picture
* Change my account type
* Change my .NET Passport

See the second option, where Windows state that "Create a password". That
means, you don't have a password yet. Else Window will state:

* Change my password

instead of "Create a password".

However, if you are still not sure then remember what happened when you boot
into "Welcome Screen" of Windows. Do Windows display a list of users? Do you
click on your User Name to enter into Windows? If yes, do you asked to enter
a password? If yes, then this is the password you need to enter when you log
off.

Hope this is what you are looking for, let us know!



"(E-Mail Removed)" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I have Windows XP and have never logged-off but I want to log-off so
> that another person can use my PC with a different user-account (there
> is a visitor account set-up at present); however I don't know if my
> account has a pass-word or not and am worried that if I log-off and I
> do have a pass-word that I won't be able to log back on. Is there a
> way around this problem?
>
> Thanks
>
> AM
>
>

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have Windows XP and have never logged-off but I want to log-off so
> that another person can use my PC with a different user-account (there
> is a visitor account set-up at present); however I don't know if my
> account has a pass-word or not and am worried that if I log-off and I
> do have a pass-word that I won't be able to log back on. Is there a
> way around this problem?
>
> Thanks
>
> AM
>


There is no way to determine what any existing password might be, so
your best course of action would be to reset the password (or create a
new one) before you log off.

Right-click My Computer > Manage > Local Users and Groups > Users >
Right-click desired Username > Set Password.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

"Bruce Chambers" <(E-Mail Removed)3t> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have Windows XP and have never logged-off but I want to log-off so
>> that another person can use my PC with a different user-account (there
>> is a visitor account set-up at present); however I don't know if my
>> account has a pass-word or not and am worried that if I log-off and I
>> do have a pass-word that I won't be able to log back on. Is there a
>> way around this problem?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> AM
>>
>
>
> There is no way to determine what any existing password might be, so your
> best course of action would be to reset the password (or create a new one)
> before you log off.
>
> Right-click My Computer > Manage > Local Users and Groups > Users >
> Right-click desired Username > Set Password.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand
> Russell

Where does XP store the encrypted passwords? I do realize that the value is
more correctly described as a hash, and that you cannot recover the original
password from the hash. But, if there is a hashed value for the password,
then perhaps it has been set.

Jim