error loading operating system/forgotten admin password

[kboone]

trying to install windows xp on HP desktop all was going well and them boom
this error message comes up I can however hit f1 and this come up but to get
beyond that point i need to put in the admin password. I dont know what it
is. can anyone please help me

 

[Andrew E.]

Usually if no password was ever created,then pressing the "Enter" key
will work,this creates no passwords.Also,if youre getting asked for a
password
from the OS,then youre installing over the old OS,you should format the
hd first,then install..

 

[kboone]

my grandfather put the password in place and since he is no longer among us i
cannot ask what it is. so my problem becomes getting rid of that. also when
i put the windows xp disc in to install it comes up with the error message.
1. how am i to get rid of the pass word request and 2 how do i get pass this
error message to install

 

[Don Phillipson]

my grandfather put the password in place and since he is no longer among us i
cannot ask what it is. so my problem becomes getting rid of that. also when
i put the windows xp disc in to install it comes up with the error message.
1. how am i to get rid of the pass word request and 2 how do i get pass this
error message to install

There is no password request if you boot from the
CD (instead of the hard drive.) The HP instal CD
is probably configured to reformat the hard drive
before installing the operating system -- which will
allow you to reinstal from scratch, then set your
own password. If you have no manual you may
get confirmation of this from www.hp.com.

NB (important): SETUP from CD requires you to
key in a multidigit authorization number, usually
written on the PC case or the CD jewel case. If
you do not have this number you cannot proceed.

 

[Jose]

my grandfather put the password in place and since he is no longer among us i
cannot ask what it is.  so my problem becomes getting rid of that.  also when
i put the windows xp disc in to install it comes up with the error message.  
1.  how am i to get rid of the pass word request and 2 how do i get pass this
error message to install

There is no Administrator password stored on the CD.

If you are really doing a reinstall or installing over the top of an
old installation that might have an Administrator password.

The Administrator password to be used on a total reinstall is an empty
password (enter).

What does the boom error message say exactly?

Makes you want to plan a better strategy if you ever decide to change
the Administrator password, huh?

There is no way to figure out an unknown Administrator password and
reinstalling is not the same as figuring it out.

 

[Malke]

Jose wrote:

There is no way to figure out an unknown Administrator password and
reinstalling is not the same as figuring it out.

This is inaccurate. While it is a waste of time IMO to bother cracking the
password, a password is easily changed without doing any reinstallation of
the operating system.

Malke

 

[Malke]

trying to install windows xp on HP desktop all was going well and them
boom
this error message comes up I can however hit f1 and this come up but to
get
beyond that point i need to put in the admin password. I dont know what
it is. can anyone please help me

Be more precise. How exactly are you installing Windows? On an HP desktop,
you should be using HP's Recovery Discs. On a used computer, you should be
doing a full destructive factory restore. You will not be asked for any
passwords doing that.

If your grandfather didn't save/make the Recovery Discs, call up HP and
order them. It is inexpensive, $20-30. If HP doesn't have Recovery Discs for
that model machine, you will need to use a generic OEM install disc that
matches the version on the Product Key (Home, Pro, Media Center). Or you
will need to purchase a full retail copy of whatever version of XP you want.
If you don't use HP's Recovery Discs (not recommended), make sure you have
all the drivers downloaded from HP's website first.

If you simply want to get into the system then you don't need to be messing
about with installing Windows. Just change the password with NTpasswd to a
blank. Download the bootable CD .iso, burn with third-party burning software
such as Roxio, Nero, or the free ImgBurn. Burn as an image, not as data.
Boot with the media you created. You may need to change the boot order in
the BIOS or get a temporary boot order menu with a special keypress.
NTpasswd will run. Follow the instructions carefully.

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

But if you are planning to use Grandpa's computer for yourself, do the
restore to factory condition as discussed above. A used computer, no matter
what its provenance, should always be wiped clean for a fresh start.

Malke

 

[Jose]

This is inaccurate. While it is a waste of time IMO to bother cracking the
password, a password is easily changed without doing any reinstallation of
the operating system.

Malke

I have time.

Tell me how to crack or easily change my Administrator password. I
really don't know.

 

[Jose]

This is inaccurate. While it is a waste of time IMO to bother cracking the
password, a password is easily changed without doing any reinstallation of
the operating system.

Malke

I only have my manufacturers supplied CDs BTW.