XP Pro Administrator Password? HELP!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Holli Graham
  • Start date Start date
H

Holli Graham

Hi,

I'm trying to install the Recovery Console as specified in the
technote:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];310396

However, I have no idea what the Administrator password is. I have
never had to use one for anything before, and I called the company who
built my computer, and they said that they didn't give me one, so is
there some default password you can use for something like that? Is
it possible that they installed XP Pro without specifying an admin
password?

I'll tell you my problem in case someone who knows more about this
than me has any ideas. While I was working doing nothing special (I
just clicked an OK button in a dialog box to update some files), all
of a sudden my monitor freaked out and all I could see was vertical
lines of different colors. I couldn't do anything, so I restarted.
After trying to restart with the last known working configuration, I
couldn't get past the Windows startup screen.
Everything starts up as normal, but after it gets past the XP Pro logo
and ready to pull up the desktop, the screen flickers for just a
second, and then the computer restarts. It does this endlessly. If I
bootup from the XP CD, it goes all the way through, but when it gets
to the desktop, the monitor has all those lines all over it again and
you can't do anything.

Boy am I frustrated and really at my wit's end. ANY help would be
greatly appreciated at this point.

Thanks!!!
Holli
 
Hi Holli,

On 25 Mar 2004 10:20:59 -0800, (e-mail address removed) (Holli Graham)
wrote:

[...]
Is it possible that they installed XP Pro without specifying an admin
password?
Click to expand...

Try leaving the password blank, that is just press enter when it asks
for it.

Everything starts up as normal, but after it gets past the XP Pro logo
and ready to pull up the desktop, the screen flickers for just a
second, and then the computer restarts. It does this endlessly. If I
bootup from the XP CD, it goes all the way through, but when it gets
to the desktop, the monitor has all those lines all over it again and
you can't do anything.
Click to expand...

Start in safe mode, while it is booting, press the F8 key repeatedly.
If you can boot in safe mode, try doing a System Restore. If no joy,
try changing the refresh rate, or uninstall and reinstall the video
card drivers, if you have them; if you know the manufacturer, download
the latest drivers from their web page.

Good luck
 
Thanks for the tip. Restoring the kernel didn't work, and I can't
boot in safe mode. It starts going through all the drivers, freezes,
and then restarts again. You mentioned that uninstalling and
reinstalling the video drivers. Can you do that from DOS? Of course,
I'm not sure how I would get a DOS prompt since I can't boot up in
safe mode? Thanks again for your help!

roger said:
Hi Holli,

On 25 Mar 2004 10:20:59 -0800, (e-mail address removed) (Holli Graham)
wrote:

[...]
Is it possible that they installed XP Pro without specifying an admin
password?
Click to expand...

Try leaving the password blank, that is just press enter when it asks
for it.

Everything starts up as normal, but after it gets past the XP Pro logo
and ready to pull up the desktop, the screen flickers for just a
second, and then the computer restarts. It does this endlessly. If I
bootup from the XP CD, it goes all the way through, but when it gets
to the desktop, the monitor has all those lines all over it again and
you can't do anything.
Click to expand...

Start in safe mode, while it is booting, press the F8 key repeatedly.
If you can boot in safe mode, try doing a System Restore. If no joy,
try changing the refresh rate, or uninstall and reinstall the video
card drivers, if you have them; if you know the manufacturer, download
the latest drivers from their web page.

Good luck
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

Try running chkdsk /r
from the recovery console. It will take a while and repair drive
errors.

You can only install and uninstall drivers from Windows. So you can't
even get into safe mode?

If all else fails, try a repair install. This will keep your data,
although you will have to download updates again. Don't forget to turn
on the XP Firewall before going to the Web, and install with the
connection physically disconnected.

More info here:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


Good luck

Thanks for the tip. Restoring the kernel didn't work, and I can't
boot in safe mode. It starts going through all the drivers, freezes,
and then restarts again. You mentioned that uninstalling and
reinstalling the video drivers. Can you do that from DOS? Of course,
I'm not sure how I would get a DOS prompt since I can't boot up in
safe mode? Thanks again for your help!

roger said:
Hi Holli,

On 25 Mar 2004 10:20:59 -0800, (e-mail address removed) (Holli Graham)
wrote:

[...]
Is it possible that they installed XP Pro without specifying an admin
password?
Click to expand...

Try leaving the password blank, that is just press enter when it asks
for it.

Everything starts up as normal, but after it gets past the XP Pro logo
and ready to pull up the desktop, the screen flickers for just a
second, and then the computer restarts. It does this endlessly. If I
bootup from the XP CD, it goes all the way through, but when it gets
to the desktop, the monitor has all those lines all over it again and
you can't do anything.
Click to expand...

Start in safe mode, while it is booting, press the F8 key repeatedly.
If you can boot in safe mode, try doing a System Restore. If no joy,
try changing the refresh rate, or uninstall and reinstall the video
card drivers, if you have them; if you know the manufacturer, download
the latest drivers from their web page.

Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top