lost administrator password... HALP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dad
  • Start date Start date
D

Dad

Can somebody help me?

I am building a machine for my wife and started off having a lot of
hardware problems during installation. I finally got them sorted out but
between the initial efforts to install XP and now, I have forgotten the
administator password (there are no other users defined). Is there anyway
I can reset it. I know that would defeat the reason for having an
administrator password, but I'm wondering if there is some recourse other
than wiping the disk clean with a new install.

Many thanks in advance,

Jim
 
Jim,

Can somebody help me?

I am building a machine for my wife and started off having a lot of
hardware problems during installation. I finally got them sorted out but
between the initial efforts to install XP and now, I have forgotten the
administator password (there are no other users defined). Is there anyway
I can reset it. I know that would defeat the reason for having an
administrator password, but I'm wondering if there is some recourse other
than wiping the disk clean with a new install.
Click to expand...

How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your
Password Expires
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321305

Also check this at Kelly's great site:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_passwords.htm

Good luck
 
Jim,



How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your
Password Expires
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321305

Also check this at Kelly's great site:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_passwords.htm

Good luck
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links. The kelly's korner got me to a really nice utility
that seemed like it was going to work. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to
wipe out my administrator password - possibly because my wife's disk uses
FAT-32 (?).

I'll try again and report if I'm successful, but in the mean time, I'm
wondering if anybody else has any ideas. How about installing XP on
another disk, then installing the current disk (as a D: drive) and access
the files that way. The major things I want to preserve are my wife's
email files.

Again, any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim
 
Had an issue with mine as well..just follow the directions..and it's EASY!!
Try this URL
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/darktips/story/0,24330,3625960,00.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. Since I can't get on the box at all (no other
accounts except for the administrator) I couldn't really use the method
stated here, but it did link me to a nice utility. Unfortunately, I
haven't been successful yet (possibly because my XP machine is using a
FAT-32 filesystem).

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim
 
Jim,


[...]

I'll try again and report if I'm successful, but in the mean time, I'm
wondering if anybody else has any ideas. How about installing XP on
another disk, then installing the current disk (as a D: drive) and access
the files that way. The major things I want to preserve are my wife's
email files.

Again, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

If you install XP on another partition and access the current one, you
might find that you can't access your files due to permissions. You'll
have to take ownership of them.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

For this to function, you need to go to Windows Explorer > Folder
Options > View and uncheck 'Enable simple file sharing.'

On Windows XP Home you will have to boot in Safe Mode.

Good luck
 
Jim,


[...]

I'll try again and report if I'm successful, but in the mean time, I'm
wondering if anybody else has any ideas. How about installing XP on
another disk, then installing the current disk (as a D: drive) and access
the files that way. The major things I want to preserve are my wife's
email files.

Again, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

If you install XP on another partition and access the current one, you
might find that you can't access your files due to permissions. You'll
have to take ownership of them.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP [Q308421]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

For this to function, you need to go to Windows Explorer > Folder
Options > View and uncheck 'Enable simple file sharing.'

On Windows XP Home you will have to boot in Safe Mode.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Thanks, Roger. That looks like it will be really helpful. I tried to
install XP on another disk I had lying around, but unfortunately, it was a
1.6G disk and I think it got filled up before the installation was
complete. This may have to wait for more hardware. Yeesh!

Take care,

Jim
 
Jim,

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I hope you get to install it in
another disk and rescue your files.
 
Back
Top