Reformatting hard drive....Password won't work

[Guest]

I have read many of the other posts regarding reformatting the hard drive
with windows. It's soooo easy.....but.

I have windows xp home. I boot with the windows disk, wait for the drivers
to load, then press "r" to enter the recovery console where I am asked to log
on to the appropriate system. I type "1" (the only option given) and then I
am prompted to enter my administrator password.

Now, I KNOW my password. I've been using it for five years. But the
computer keeps yelling at me. "invalid," it screams. And no it is not a
case of the "caps" button being on, or the "number lock" being off.

Anyone know why it's asking me for something other than the password I use
to log on to windows?

 

[Tom Ziegmann]

Try a blank password. The Recovery Console is not asking for your password
but the built in administrator password.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You don't need the password if you are formatting and performing a Clean
Installation.
In fact you should not be pressing "R" for the Recovery Console:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm