Lost passwords (not me) 1

[NADIAZIPPER]

A friend has lost here password to her XP Home laptop. The user is owner and the password which she said used to work is not working any longer. I went to use the administrator, but there is a password on that too, and she doesn't even remember setting that. What can I do other than breaking out the recovery CDs?

 

[BuckeyeComputers]

hope this helps:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308402

 

[NADIAZIPPER]

All that will do is help me reinstall windows, right? I don't have a problem reinstalling, I just want to avoid that if possible.

 

[tep0583]

There is a Linux utility disk that can reset eny password on the system. It can be found here:

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

 

[flyboytim]

I suggest you try following the instructions at:

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

This enables you to make a floppy or cd which is bootable and will read NTFS disks. It offers default path directions to the hive files of the NT security system, and allows you to enter your own new administrator password. Then you boot up normally and enter as administrator, with the new password. Works reliably on NT & Win2K, but may not always work on XP, so I am told. Good Luck!

 

[agrappe]

Here's another option if you want it. It creates an emergency boot CD that has several utilities including resetting any password on the system.

http://www.ebcd.i-am.ru/