XP administrators password

[Bob]

I reset the passwords and stupidly forgot my admin
password for XP... does Microsoft have any tools to help
me...

or do I need to reload XP and all my programs

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Bob;
Try leaving the password blank.

The password is Case Sensitive.
Check Caps Lock and try various of Capital combinations.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321305
If you do not have a Password Recovery Disk, it is to late to make it.
Or
Log in to any account that has Administrator access.
Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel.
Select the user and change the password.

Windows XP Pro:
At the log-in screen, press Ctrl/Alt/Del twice quickly
Type "Administrator" and leave password blank.

Windows XP Home:
Reboot, tapping F8 each second.
Select Safe Mode at the menu.
Select Administrator, leave password blank.

Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel.
Select the user and change the password.
If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, you may
permanently lose access to the encrypted data.

Here is another option:
http://www.wininternals.com/products/repairandrecovery/index.asp

Another option is to install Windows XP on another partition and take
Ownership of your data.
You could also perform another installation on the same partition,
although this is not a permanent fix and it is recommended to perform
a Clean Installation after retrieving your data.

After this is resolved, take precautions to not lose the password.

 

[Bob]

Jupiter, thanks for the reply ... I just did the F8
procedure and it seems to have done the trick...

Is this a well known "Microsoft Secret"??? .... in all
the info I have seen from Microsoft they say you have to
reload XP and all your programs .... and then recreate
the user accounts....

Thanks again....

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Your welcome Bob.
It is not really a secret.
If all passwords are forgotten, then a reload may be necessary.

However many do not set a password on Administrator and forget it even
exists.
You won't get into my computer that way and if I lose my passwords,
more drastic action would be necessary because it is password
protected.
You are better off passwording Administrator as well then take
precautions to not lose the passwords.

 

[Bob]

Yes, I see how when you first install and set up users
the admin does not pop up until you start-up in safe
mode...

As you say the focus should be on creating passwords for
all user accounts including the administrator and then
maybe creating using the "forgotten pasword " wizard...

Thanks again.,..
Bob

 

[Janice Bryant Kunz]

-----Original Message-----
I reset the passwords and stupidly forgot my admin
password for XP... does Microsoft have any tools to help
me...

or do I need to reload XP and all my programs
.
Hi,

I had done the same thing. I've been in turmoil for
nearly a week with my 15yr.old son telling me I have to
remember or reinstall. I may be as literate as he with
these contraptions, but I finally found a solution early
this am. It's so easy and you don't lose file or have to
reinstall. I have Windows XP Home. I was tired and it
happened so quickly after I had tried a few other things,
I was amazed that it was working and so thrilled. I don't
think it makes any difference with which edition even
though you have to put that in. This is what you do: Turn
on computer and put in CD-Rom for the Windows XP and let
it run. Go into 'Safe Mode'. This is when you enter which
Windows Edition you have. When it comes to 'Recovery
Console'(which should be on CD-Rom- if not there is
another way to get that also), click there or press
enter. It will go to either to 'administrator'(not user
name)and click on that, delete the password. Restart
Windows,go to start, control panel, user accounts, your
user name, and click on it. You won't have a password so
you know install a new one that is protected. Go to the
left top items, 'Related Tasks', 'prevent a forgotten
password', click next or follow wizard instructions.
Insert 'floppy disk' in drive A, and type your password
in 'current user account password',click next, and when
prgress bar reaches 100% complete, finish through. Remove
and label disk 'password reset disk' and keep in safe
place so if this happens again, you'll have this disk but
if something else were to happen, you would know how to
override the system in the 'safe mode' and reset without
losing files. If you don't have CD-Rom compatible, there
is a program on microsoft you can download on 6 floppies
of 'resetting the password' and has 'Recovery Console'
also. Best of luck and I hope this helps.~Janice

 

[OKlier]

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