Forget your XP Administrator password?

[drummerboy92]

Easy fix. Restart your computer, and as soon as the page comes up showing that XP is loading, start tapping F8 until a screen pops up and asks what operating system to use. Select Windows XP. It will start loading XP once again. Start tapping F8 again until another screen pops up. It will ask how to run you computer. Select "Run in Safe Mode". Then let XP load. Now only the Administrator profiles will show up and an extra profile labeled "Administrator". Click on that one, and from there you can go into the control panel and reset all the passwords. Don't freak out when the screen looks funny and pixelated like a computer from 1999 or something.

This works on my Window XP Business, and the person I heard the trick from was using Home basic with the service pack. However, it didn't work on my brother's laptop for some reason.
Maybe you all knew how to do this, but I'm sure some people didn't. Hope I help someone in need

[mairving]

That only works if your computer doesn't have an Administrator password.

[glc]

XP Business? XP Home Basic?

Someone is getting XP and Vista mixed up here.

[drummerboy92]

Sorry, XP Professional, and XP Home. And what do you mean by Administrator password? I use this whenever I need to fiddle with the computer, and my "profile" thing isn't set to Administrator, only my parents "profile" is. They have a password on there profile...?

[EzyStvy]

If you add a password to the built in Administrator account, your idea won't work unless you know what the password is.

[Statica]

Ok let's remove it out of the tips section cos it isn't a tip.

[faulkner132]

Basically there isn't a way to reset the Administrator password unless you are already logged in with an admin account.

If there were a way to reset the password without being an admin, wouldn't that make security worthless?

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Statica Ok let's remove it out of the tips section cos it isn't a tip.

Actually there is a tip here that may not be apparent to all following this thread.
The underlying tip is to make sure you setup a password for the Administrator account,
otherwise, anyone could startup XP into Safe Mode, log into the Administrator account
and remove or change the password on any other user account to gain access to any
account or worse yet, change the password so you can't get access your own account.

---pete---

[mairving]

Originally Posted by Petef56 Actually there is a tip here that may not be apparent to all following this thread. The underlying tip is to make sure you setup a password for the Administrator account, otherwise, anyone could startup XP into Safe Mode, log into the Administrator account and remove or change the password on any other user account to gain access to any account or worse yet, change the password so you can't get access your own account. ---pete---

Actually the overall tip in keeping your computer secure is to not allow anyone to have physical access to it. Once someone has a couple of minutes and physical access to it, it is over anyway.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by mairving Actually the overall tip in keeping your computer secure is to not allow anyone to have physical access to it. Once someone has a couple of minutes and physical access to it, it is over anyway.

Right, and that's something that the average computer owner may not realize.
For the most part Windows passwords will keep most people from getting into
your user account, similar to how a locked door on your home will keep most people
out. However, if someone really wants to break into your Windows user account,
all it takes is a password reset utility that can be found & purchased very easily on
the Interent. So just like the locks on your home, the Windows password works
mainly to keep honest people out.

---pete---

[syxguns]

Actually there is a hole in XP that can be found using the Repair Console on the XP disk. I have not tried this, but it is a good example to follow if you forget your Admin password!!

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/p...cle.asp?ID=305

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by syxguns Actually there is a hole in XP that can be found using the Repair Console on the XP disk. I have not tried this, but it is a good example to follow if you forget your Admin password!! http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/p...cle.asp?ID=305

Nice tip there! Thanks.
Only negative aspect is that you would need to get all
Windows updates after the repair is completed.

---pete---

[mickzer]

Originally Posted by Petef56 Nice tip there! Thanks. Only negative aspect is that you would need to get all Windows updates after the repair is completed. ---pete---

That's if you can get them to install:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

mickzer.

[Negeva]

Originally Posted by syxguns Actually there is a hole in XP that can be found using the Repair Console on the XP disk. I have not tried this, but it is a good example to follow if you forget your Admin password!! http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/p...cle.asp?ID=305

Such a long winded method. Believe me there are far easier ways to do this (reset and/or uncover passwords) than having to go through all that.

[Psychodic_Greak]

Thats right boys, keep the tips coming....The lurkers that look for posts like this are probably eating this up like oprah and a chocolate cake!

C'mon guys, this is also considered hacking. Unfortunately, if your not smart enough to take a brief moment and write your username and password [wheither its in code to help you remember] or even just a simple reminder that will make you do a homer simpson and go "D'oh! now i remember!" In laymens terms, treat your password like your credit card pin number.

Im recommending this thread be closed immediately.

Thank you and have a nice day.

[Negeva]

^^ Glad someone thinks the way I do over this topic. On another forum where I moderate we close these sort of threads due to the possibility of computer theft (and other lesser reasons).

For me it would have been nicer to see M$ force users who insist on having a password create a Password Reset disk as part of the Password creation wizard.

[syxguns]

Well, I can't say the easiest way to do it. Anyone that has a pretty comprehensive background of computers could probably tell you how to insert a code that gives the options to change all users passwords! The only thing you would need to do is log into a guest account to accomplish this.

As the above mentioned, I had a post removed because it included links to software! As you guys mentioned some people might be eating this stuff up, but anyone that has common sense can find the software that I posted. As far as computer theft... Well let's just say that you do not have to be a brain surgeon to format and reinstall a new OS on the system!

[glc]

syxguns - please read our forum rules - the one in regards to security is zero tolerance. If your intention is to discuss these issues, you are on the wrong set of forums.

- Admin -