Administrator Passwords

[rad]

Is there a way to change an administrator password if you do not remember or
know the original one. I have had problems with Windows XP and I need the
password to repair the error.

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

Yes, there is always a way but the easiest is to ask the "Administrator" or the owner
of the PC.

BTW - this is a Windows Update Newsgroup.

Windows XP Newsgroups
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups.mspx

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TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
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"rad" <r...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7513BC12-C712-410F...@microsoft.com...

[Janet]

OK - I didn't set it but it has been set on my computer. I am the
admnistrator. I cannot get into it to change the settings. What can I do?

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>

Janet wrote:
> OK - I didn't set it but it has been set on my computer. I am the
> admnistrator. I cannot get into it to change the settings. What
> can I do?

First - if you *are* the administrator and you did not set the password for
the administrator account, then who else is the administrator and can't you
get them to change things?

Second - if you found this three year old posting, surely you have found the
many ways to 'hack' or 'change' a password on a machine as long as you have
physical access and time and the ability to create CD/USB boot media, etc?

Yes - it is three years old:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/browse_frm/thread/f45e7da6b77b08ff/

You need to know what version of Windows XP you have to try
the easiest fix. If they have Windows XP Home Edition or some other version
of Windows XP (all supersets of Windows XP Professional.)

If Windows XP HOME:
Boot into safe mode and logon as the user named "Administrator" --> it
likely has no password. Change your password and any others needed
once you get logged into safe mode as the actual (and hidden in normal
mode) administrator in Windows XP Home. Reboot and log back in as
your user with the new password.

If Windows XP Professional:
At the "Welcome Screen", press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice in a row (quickly.)
That will bring up the Classic Logon Prompt. Enter "administrator" as the
username (no quotation marks) and try entering nothing (leave it blank)
for the password and log on. If it lets you in, cChange your password
and any others needed.

Doesn't work?

Look through these:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=forgotten+password+in+%22Windows+XP+Home%22

What Microsoft recommends:
How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your
password or if your password expires
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305

Here's a list of possible things to try:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

Including a downloadable diskette or CD:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
... with instructions clearly on the page for use.

Google Searches - wonderful things. ;-)

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Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
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