Password - Problems loging in...

[RSchlieper]

HELP! A friend was given 2 Compaq computers with Windows XP Pro., SP2 but
cannot log in as they do not have the correct passwords for the 2 userID's on
the system.
I took the two PC's home as I knew I could bypass the passwords by going
into "Safe Mode" and using the default "Administrator" to reset the user's
passwords, however, the Admin account also has a password set so I cannot
reset the passwords to login.
I've been emailing back and forth with a Tech from Microsoft but I'm not
getting the information I need to bypass the UserAccount(s) to reset or
delete the passwords. He sent me a WindowsXP Pro, SP2 disk and I re-installed
Windows but after the installation I still had the same password issue.
How can I get access to bypass the user accounts and reset or delete
passwords? Note: I've noticed in the window of the user account, upper left,
"System Security File is Full". What can I do?
PLEASE HELP...

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

HELP! A friend was given 2 Compaq computers with Windows XP Pro., SP2 but
cannot log in as they do not have the correct passwords for the 2 userID's on
the system.

As far as I'm concerned, there's a more important issue than not
knowing the passwords.

If I acquired a used computer, no matter who previously owned it, the
first thing I would do with it would be to reinstall the operating
system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been maintained,
what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and
spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody
else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddy porn, etc., and I
wouldn't recommend that anyone else do so either.

 

[RSchlieper]

Wow, how interesting! As I mentioned in my question, I did re-install the
WindowsXP Pro SP2 from the disk I received (that is the operating system,
yes?), but the security file or system security file did not get
replaced/removed as I had hoped.
So, do you have something of a constructive input for me? My friend did
not receive the initial disk for the Compaq 6000, that came with the
computers and all I want to do is bypass the administrator/userID window to
remove/reset the userID passwords.

 

[Leonard Grey]

You couldn't possibly have done a clean install if you still need to
enter a password.

 

[RSchlieper]

OK, I got that! So how do I do a "Clean Install"? There was no choice from
the WinXP Pro SP2 disk I received from Microsoft.

HOW DO I DO A CLEAN INSTALL?

 

[Leonard Grey]

Google is your friend. Here's a good hit:

"XP Clean Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Wow, how interesting! As I mentioned in my question, I did re-install the
WindowsXP Pro SP2 from the disk I received (that is the operating system,
yes?), but the security file or system security file did not get
replaced/removed as I had hoped.

Then you did something very much wrong when you installed it. When you
do a clean installation correctly, it begins with a format of the
drive, and *everything* on the drive gets deleted.

Exactly how did you do the installation?

So, do you have something of a constructive input for me? My friend did
not receive the initial disk for the Compaq 6000, that came with the
computers

Then how did you do the installation?

Again my view is that a clean reinstallation is necessary. If he
doesn't have the CD to do it, he needs to buy one.