Win Recovery Console

[Guest]

Sorry is this is a duplicate post. My system crashed after installing
Microsoft anti spyware. I can get to the recovery console but need the
password. The other posts on this topic do not seem to address my issue. I
have a WinXP Professional CD and the reinstallation CD for my machine, but
neither gets me pass the password issue. Can someone tell me what it is?

Thanks
Sandy

 

[Sharon F]

Sorry is this is a duplicate post. My system crashed after installing
Microsoft anti spyware. I can get to the recovery console but need the
password. The other posts on this topic do not seem to address my issue. I
have a WinXP Professional CD and the reinstallation CD for my machine, but
neither gets me pass the password issue. Can someone tell me what it is?

Thanks
Sandy

Was your Windows pre-installed? If yes, the password is whatever the OEM
set it to. Usually they set this up as a blank password - no characters.
Have you tried leaving the password field empty yet?

Otherwise... There is a problem with some pre-installed setups. There is an
MS Knowledge Base article about it however it's quite old and does not
appear to have been updated for SP2. It should apply to XP original and
possibly XP SP1 though:

'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to
Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308402

 

[Guest]

Sorry is this is a duplicate post. My system crashed after installing
Microsoft anti spyware. I can get to the recovery console but need the
password. The other posts on this topic do not seem to address my issue. I
have a WinXP Professional CD and the reinstallation CD for my machine, but
neither gets me pass the password issue. Can someone tell me what it is?

Thanks
Sandy

From: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#30
Item #21

Fix For Correct Password Not Accepted Bug
1. Install Recovery Console.
To do so, open a command box in Win XP:
(select Start | Run, then type cmd); then, at the command prompt,
type D:\i386\winnt32.exe/cmdcons (replace D: with the letter for your CD
drive).
The installation will proceed, after which you can choose the Recovery Console
from the Windows boot screen.

(The Bug)

There is a bug in WinXP which prevents you from using Recovery Console
even though the right password is typed when prompted....
So, here's the trick.
2. Enable Administrator to Log On Automatically in Recovery Console
3. Reboot into WinXP.
4. Select Start | Run, then type regedit Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup
\RecoveryConsole Change the SecurityLevel DWORD value data to 1.
5. Reboot the PC