Need Help with Administrator Password issue

[AAAsMom]

I recently bought a used computer. It has xp on it and the only way to gain
access to it is with the administrator password. I don't have a clue as to
what it is and when I go it safe mode and click without a password it asks me
for it. I can't get the control panel up or any other help screen without
the password. When I hit F8 and my choices come up, there is not one for DOS
prompting or even a comand prompt. Should I get one of those disks that says
it is for rebooting windows? I have tried every trick I can find. Anyone
have any other suggestions? Also, I don't have a Windows Xp disk.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I recently bought a used computer. It has xp on it and the only way to
gain
access to it is with the administrator password. I don't have a clue as
to
what it is and when I go it safe mode and click without a password it asks
me
for it. I can't get the control panel up or any other help screen without
the password. When I hit F8 and my choices come up, there is not one for
DOS
prompting or even a comand prompt. Should I get one of those disks that
says
it is for rebooting windows? I have tried every trick I can find. Anyone
have any other suggestions? Also, I don't have a Windows Xp disk.

Used computer (no matter who was using it before) should be completely wiped
and installed clean, in my opinion. After all - you don't know what the
prior owners did nor do you know what they may have ended up getting
infested with/infected with.

You need to get a valid installation CD with licensing.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I recently bought a used computer. It has xp on it and the only way to gain
access to it is with the administrator password. I don't have a clue as to
what it is and when I go it safe mode and click without a password it asks me
for it. I can't get the control panel up or any other help screen without
the password. When I hit F8 and my choices come up, there is not one for DOS
prompting or even a comand prompt. Should I get one of those disks that says
it is for rebooting windows? I have tried every trick I can find. Anyone
have any other suggestions? Also, I don't have a Windows Xp disk.

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest
course of action would definitely be to format the hard drives and start
fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may
have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because
the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.

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


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[ju.c]

Resetting a Forgotten Password Tutorial


NOTES

- The built-in Administrator account is found on the Welcome
screen only if there are no other accounts available, other
than Guest, or when the computer is booted into Safe Mode.

- To make the Administrator account available as a user on the
"Welcome Screen" make sure that there are no accounts logged
in.

- The built-in Administrator account can create and change
passwords for all users, but cannot restore a forgotten one.

- When a password is changed, that account will lose all
encrypted files, personal certificates and stored Internet
Explorer passwords or network resources.

- Press "CTRL-ALT-DEL" twice to get the classic Windows logon
box. Enter in the logon box: "Administrator". If this account
has a password then enter it, otherwise leave the it blank.

- Recovering a password is much more difficult. Using a
cracking program can take weeks!


RESET A PASSWORD USING THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT

1. Boot into Safe Mode.

2. Log on using the built-in Administrator account.

3. Open: 'Control Panel-->User Accounts'.

4. On the Users tab, select a user name, click on "Change
my password" or "Remove my password".


RESET A PASSWORD AT THE LOGON SCREEN WITH THE COMMAND PROMPT

At the logon screen, press Shift+F10 to open a Command
Prompt with adminisrative priviledges and type:

net user {username} {password}

{username} = The Account's User Name
{password} = This will be the new password


RESET A PASSWORD USING MICROSOFT'S ERD COMMANDER

1. Download a 30 day trial from here:

Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset 5.0 64 MB
(Trial only, no longer sold)
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Diagnostics-and-Recovery-Toolset.shtml

2. Install it, run it then burn the image to a CD.

3. Boot the CD and run the Locksmith Wizard, found under
'Start-->System Tools'.

4. The Locksmith Wizard is very easy to use, just select an
account and input a new password. Too easy!


RESET A PASSWORD USING "Offline NT Password & Registry Editor"

Bootable CD 3 MB or floppy 1.5 MB (Freeware):
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

- This disc can set, reset or unlock the password of any
user account.
- You do not need to know the old password to set a new one.
- Works with Windows NT/2k/XP/Vista.


RESET A PASSWORD USING "NT Password Hack"

This will blank the Administrator password 4 MB (Freeware):
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tools/ntpassword/ntpasswordhack.zip


RECOVER A PASSWORD USING THE "Login Recovery" WEB SERVICE

Login Recovery is a service to recover passwords for Windows NT,
2000, XP, 2003 and Vista (Fast = $30, 3-day wait = Free):
http://www.loginrecovery.com/index.php


LINKS

How to reset the Administrator's password:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

EFS, Credentials, and Private Keys from Certificates Are
Unavailable After a Password Is Reset:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290260/en-us

Administrator and User Passwords in Windows XP:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_passwords.htm


ju.c