[Cappo]

Hi All.
A friend of mine has Windows XP. Her son has put an administrator password in & forgot what it was.
My friend is now unable to access her computer without the password.
This problem is beyond me, other than reinstalling XP.
But she has important files on the PC & does'nt really want me to re install.
Is there a way of removing the password when it is unknown.
Any help apprtd.
Thnx

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Is there another administrator account

[Retired Tech]

Is there another administrator account

[Cappo]

No just admin and guest account

[Retired Tech]

Note If you have not created a password reset disk, and you have also forgotten the password for all user accounts, you cannot log on to your existing Windows installation for security reasons. This information applies to starting Windows XP typically, to safe mode, and to Recovery Console. In this case, you must perform a "clean" installation of Windows XP, re-create all user accounts, and then reinstall all your programs.

http://support.micro...kb/321305/en-us

I am waiting for clarification of a technical point, however, the above is the official view from Microsoft

I am unlikely to hear about the other thing until later today

[Retired Tech]

Have you tried logging on with the guest account

[Cappo]

Ok!
thx 4 that.
I thought I was treading on thin ground with this one.
I will wait to see if yourself or anyone else comes up with a solution before I go ahead with clean install for her.
Much Apprtd.

[Cappo]

I have told her to try logging on with guest account.
And try to get her files backed up from there.
I have never had the problem so I dont know if Guest will be allowed into her files or not.
I will check myself when I go over there.
thx

[Thef0rce]

do you know if the root 'administrator' account in windows was used, or if a password has just been added to a regular admin account?

I keep telling people this is how you recover your pass if you've done something stupid and gone and forgotten it, but they never believe me. I've done this several times, but there's certain conditions under which this will work. Most people, including myself, forget that there's another administrator account in windows that is normally hidden and has no password, unless you have chosen to password protect it during the install process.

1. Turn on the computer. Press and hold F8 as it is booting up
2. A menu will come up, choose the 'safe mode' option
3. Now when you're greeted by the blue login screen, if the conditions are right, you should see an extra account and its just called 'Administrator'
4. If this account does not ask for a password, you can login and use it to change your password to the normal admin account

This always works for me and I have to kick myself every time because I always forget to password protect that account, thereby compromising whatever illusion of security I had previously. lol. but its saved many a reinstall.

[Cappo]

Hi
Will try that, I should have known, always forget about the admin in safe mode.
Will let you know if it works.
Thnx Apprtd All.

[dsenette]

if the admin account doesn't appear automatically in the list...press ctrl + alt +del and you should get the classic logon box...type administrator for the logon and....whatever the password is

[fleamailman]

If you do get into admin, and sometimes as pointed out before, it too is passworded, in case you don't know, it is the following

press: windows botton with r botton
type: control userpasswords2
make sure that the account you wish to change is highlighted
press: reset password
etc., etc.,

Anyway, I have no understanding of this kind of proceedure.

[Cappo]

Hi Thnx 4 the input. sounds ok.
ive tried that on my pc and it worked. so i will do it to my friends and let u all know.