Windows XP Professional SP2, Forgot Admin and User Passwords!

[Guest]

Hi, I am trying to resurrect an old laptop and its been over a year since i
used it last. I stupidly didn't write down the password to log on, and don't
know what the admin password was either. I tried the default of
'Administrator' without any password--no luck. I tried to hit f8 or f5 (one
of them worked) and asked it to boot from disk but it isn't picking up the
recovery disk in the drive.

Does anyone know how to break into this laptop and reset the admin password?
The only thing I can get to is the Windows Log On and I'm stuck.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Start here:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm

 

[Jim in Arizona]

Hi, I am trying to resurrect an old laptop and its been over a year since
i
used it last. I stupidly didn't write down the password to log on, and
don't
know what the admin password was either. I tried the default of
'Administrator' without any password--no luck. I tried to hit f8 or f5
(one
of them worked) and asked it to boot from disk but it isn't picking up the
recovery disk in the drive.

Does anyone know how to break into this laptop and reset the admin
password?
The only thing I can get to is the Windows Log On and I'm stuck.

Thanks in advance!

A quick search on google for "lost windows xp administrator password"
returned this page, which has links to free unix based utilties that you
boot from that will crack the windows xp admin account for its password.

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

Goodluck.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. Should have mentioned that I've tried one of the options mentioned
here--saved it to jump drive but the computer won't recognize the jump drive
or the recovery disk in the cd drive, when booting. I did get in thru f8 to
tell lit to boot from disk but it doesn't appear to be working.

Without a way to get the free programs onto the laptop I think it is junk.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[fh]

You can make a boot disk or CD and change to password to 'blank'

Go here with another computer. This worked for me on a laptop that belowed
to a deceased relative.
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm