Help finding WindowsXP Administrator's password

[Hank]

I have a Dell PC running WindowsXP SP2 with all the current updates.
I am really the only one using this PC so I only set up one account
for myself giving me full administrator privileges. I never saw or use
the Administrator logon. Recently I was trying to use the Recovery
Console when booting but run into a request for Administrator's
password. I assumed since I never set one up and I had administrator
privileges it was the same as mine. No luck. Any idea how I can run
get Recovery to run or find out or reset Administrator's password?
Assuming I get this straightened out how does one logon as the
administrator within going through the Recovery route?


email response not expected but to respond remove .uk at end
TIA
Hank

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a Dell PC running WindowsXP SP2 with all the current updates.
I am really the only one using this PC so I only set up one account
for myself giving me full administrator privileges. I never saw or use
the Administrator logon. Recently I was trying to use the Recovery
Console when booting but run into a request for Administrator's
password. I assumed since I never set one up and I had administrator
privileges it was the same as mine. No luck. Any idea how I can run
get Recovery to run or find out or reset Administrator's password?
Assuming I get this straightened out how does one logon as the
administrator within going through the Recovery route?


email response not expected but to respond remove .uk at end
TIA
Hank

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.

Failing that, Linux-based password cracking utilities abound on the
Internet, freely available to anyone who can use Google.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Hank]

Thanks Bruce you were right what it wanted was a blank. Although soime
how my recovery console was damaged but when I reinstalled it works
fine. Thanks again.

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.

Failing that, Linux-based password cracking utilities abound on the
Internet, freely available to anyone who can use Google.

email response not expected but to respond remove .uk at end
TIA
Hank