Password reset

[Scott Micale]

I have a client who is running XP Home Edition and they don't have User
Switching turned on. They have one user setup as a restricted user. They
have forgotten the administrator password. I am assuming the Admin user
name is Administrator. No one would have changed that, but the password is
unknown. Is there a way to reset that admin password or add another admin
account under this restricted user?

Thanks!

 

[Malke]

I have a client who is running XP Home Edition and they don't have
User
Switching turned on. They have one user setup as a restricted user.
They
have forgotten the administrator password. I am assuming the Admin
user
name is Administrator. No one would have changed that, but the
password is
unknown. Is there a way to reset that admin password or add another
admin account under this restricted user?

Thanks!

In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly
tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to
the right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not
work here. Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden
Administrator account. The default password is a blank.

If you reset the built-in Administrator account's password in Home or
have Pro and don't remember the password, use NTpasswd to change the
built-in Administrator account's password to a blank.

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

Then go to the User Accounts applet in Control Panel and set passwords
that you will remember and make other desired changes.

Malke

 

[gmv]

I have looked at the site you talk about
but can not for the life of me figure out
where to get the ISO file it talks about
to burn a proper bootup disk with the
password program on it ????

 

[Haggis]

I have looked at the site you talk about
but can not for the life of me figure out
where to get the ISO file it talks about
to burn a proper bootup disk with the
password program on it ????

look near the bottom of the page for

Bootdisk: Instructions & image to download. Last update: 060406

takes you to another page where the download is again ..near the bottom ..

btw. it does work :> default settings will blank the password for you

 

[Scott Micale]

Ok If I understood you correctly I went to safe mode put in Administrator as
the username and NTpasswd for the password. That still did not let me in.
I then tried logging in as the Limited User and went to control panel-> User
Accounts and it won't allow me to reset the password there. Is there
something I am doing wrong?

 

[Lem]

Ok If I understood you correctly I went to safe mode put in Administrator as
the username and NTpasswd for the password. That still did not let me in.
I then tried logging in as the Limited User and went to control panel-> User
Accounts and it won't allow me to reset the password there. Is there
something I am doing wrong?

You misunderstood.

First try using Administrator as the username and not entering any
password at all (that is, leave it blank).

If that doesn't work, download the program "Ntpasswd" from the link
Malke gave. Run that program to reset the password.

 

[Scott Micale]

Thanks, the CD ISO worked great! Awesome tool!

You misunderstood.

First try using Administrator as the username and not entering any
password at all (that is, leave it blank).

If that doesn't work, download the program "Ntpasswd" from the link Malke
gave. Run that program to reset the password.

 

[Malke]

Ok If I understood you correctly I went to safe mode put in Administrator
as
the username and NTpasswd for the password. That still did not let me in.
I then tried logging in as the Limited User and went to control panel->
User
Accounts and it won't allow me to reset the password there. Is there
something I am doing wrong?

Yes, you are doing something wrong. You misread my instructions to you. The
Administrator password is blank by default. You only need to use NTpasswd
if you changed the built-in Administrator password to something else which
you have forgotten. Chances are you didn't change the default.

So just try the blank password.

Malke