Change password in the second hard drive 1

[calpolymis1]

Hi. Is there a way to change an account's password in a second hard drive? I have a hard drive with WinXP Pro installed which I can't access because I don't know the password. I'm trying to install it in another workstation as a slave drive and reset the administrator password. Is it possible at all? Thanks in advance.

 

[linney]

Try Safe Mode and see if you can enter the Administrator account with a blank password.


This article is not as hopeful as it sounds but have a read anyway.

321305 - How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your Password Expires

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321305&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

305478 - HOW TO: Create and Use a Password Reset Disk for a Computer That Is Not a Domain

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305478&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

306214 - How to create and use a password reset disk for a computer in a domain in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306214&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

There are many sites that can help you further with lost or forgotten passwords (Google for instance) but this site for security and ethical reasons does not support that policy. Sorry about that, but if we can help in any other way please try us again.



Recovering a user's password. (Help and Support)

If you forget your password on a computer that is part of a workgroup or is a stand-alone computer, check your password hint. (Your password hint is located on the Welcome screen beside the password prompt.)

If you have a password reset disk, you can use it to create a new password for your account. Your personalized computer settings will be retained. For more information about using the Forgotten Password Wizard to create a password reset disk, click Related Topics.

If your password hint does not help you remember your password and you did not create a password reset disk, you will need to have someone with a computer administrator account create a new password for you. For security reasons, a computer administrator cannot recover your password if you forget it; he or she can only create a new one for you.

Note

A user with a computer administrator account can create or change passwords for all users on the computer. Users with limited accounts can create and change their own passwords, as well as create password hints.


Big Note**************

If a user with a computer administrator account changes the password for another user, that user will lose all EFS-encrypted files, personal certificates, and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources.

 

[knightraider]

How do I log on to windows xp pro if I have forgotten the logon password?

 

[karlisi]

If you forgot administrator password, try Petter Nordahl-Hagen offline password editor

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm#1

Works great and without problems, if you follow instructions.

===
Karlis
ECDL; MCSA

 

[knightraider]

I appreciate the response but it did not work...either I'm doing something wrong or maybe there is a better program that can solve my problem. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[G0AOZ]

Winternals ERD Commander CD allows you to boot up to a Windows environment, and then use Locksmith which is one of the many useful tools. Works a treat, but not free I'm afraid...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[karlisi]

It is the first time I hear this software cannot recover password. Perhaps describe what problems you had with it.

===
Karlis
ECDL; MCSA