XP installation CD's repair feature needs password?

[Hall]

I was installing SP1 on my XP Home when it was inadvertently shutdown. Now
the system won't boot.

I've booted off the Windows XP Installation CD to run the "Repair" function.
After selecting the volume (drive C, it is prompting me for the
Administrator's password. I don't recall setting such a password. This is
not the same as the Admin user I created since I tried that password.

At what level is this Administrator? Any suggestions on where this would be
set? Heck, where do I go from here so I can recover this system and boot?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

I was installing SP1 on my XP Home when it was inadvertently
shutdown. Now the system won't boot.

I've booted off the Windows XP Installation CD to run the "Repair"
function. After selecting the volume (drive C, it is prompting me
for the Administrator's password. I don't recall setting such a
password. This is not the same as the Admin user I created since I
tried that password.
At what level is this Administrator? Any suggestions on where this
would be set? Heck, where do I go from here so I can recover this
system and boot?
Thanks so much!!

Try leaving the password field blank.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

 

[beb]

Did you try and boot into safemode or last know good configuration? Where
you are going is usually the last resort before reinstallation. Did you try
repairing windows before going into the Recovery Console?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

It would seem as though you are accessing the Recovery Console. A password
isn't needed for a 'Repair' install of XP.

Please have a look at the following article by Michael Stevens:

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I was installing SP1 on my XP Home when it was inadvertently shutdown. Now
the system won't boot.

I've booted off the Windows XP Installation CD to run the "Repair" function.
After selecting the volume (drive C, it is prompting me for the
Administrator's password. I don't recall setting such a password. This is
not the same as the Admin user I created since I tried that password.

At what level is this Administrator? Any suggestions on where this would be
set? Heck, where do I go from here so I can recover this system and boot?

Thanks so much!!

The password being requested is that of the built-in
_Administrator_ account, not the password for any other administrative
user accounts that the computer's owner may have created. Unless the
owner deliberately set the Administrator's password via the Management
Console (_not_ the Control Panel), it's probably still blank. WinXP
Pro asks the installer to set the Administrator's password during
installation, but WinXP Home doesn't.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Steve N.]

The password being requested is that of the built-in
_Administrator_ account, not the password for any other administrative
user accounts that the computer's owner may have created. Unless the
owner deliberately set the Administrator's password via the Management
Console (_not_ the Control Panel), it's probably still blank. WinXP
Pro asks the installer to set the Administrator's password during
installation, but WinXP Home doesn't.

FWIW, I have seen an OEM XP Pro installation or two that do not ask to
set the Administrator password. It's a bit rare but it does exist,
unfortunately I do not recall from which OEM vendor.

Steve N.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

FWIW, I have seen an OEM XP Pro installation or two that do not ask to
set the Administrator password. It's a bit rare but it does exist,
unfortunately I do not recall from which OEM vendor.

Steve N.

Oh, just wonderful. Leave it to some OEM to make things more complicated.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Steve N.]

Oh, just wonderful. Leave it to some OEM to make things more
complicated.

My sentiments exactly. I wish MS would just do away with this whole OEM
complicated BS, it would make our computing life so much simpler; pay
for what you want and get what you pay for. Plain and simple.

Steve N.

 

[Hall]

Blank password by default? That's bad news. I actually tried that, but
simply hitting enter when prompted for the password, and was responded to
that it was incorrect.

If I had set one up, then it looks like I forgot about it. I'll try
everything possible.

If I can't discover that password, is there anything I can do?

Thanks so much!

 

[Steve N.]

Blank password by default? That's bad news. I actually tried that, but
simply hitting enter when prompted for the password, and was responded to
that it was incorrect.

If I had set one up, then it looks like I forgot about it. I'll try
everything possible.

If I can't discover that password, is there anything I can do?

Thanks so much!

Try this:

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Steve N.