XP Passwords

[raceboy]

We need to access a computer that is running XP but when you start it up it asks for a password, thing is the person who set the password isn't exactly able to tell us it
Is there a way in without loseing the information on the pooter
If it's like the sercet way into TVR's or something and no one whats to tell me in an open forum then feel free to email me, there is a very valid reason for needing to do this

[JamieBeeston]

There are several ways, the easiest for the non Pooter literate is just to perform an upgrade install over the top and set a new password.

you could remove the HDD and mount it into another PC and copy the data off, or boot of a Specliast CD and Wipe the Password Info (google around for Windows XP Password Wipe Cds)

Enjoy

[raceboy]

JamieBeeston said:

There are several ways, the easiest for the non Pooter literate is just to perform an upgrade install over the top and set a new password.

If thats the easy way I'm lost already

JamieBeeston said:

you could remove the HDD and mount it into another PC and copy the data off,

Errr I don't think I'll try that one

JamieBeeston said:

or boot of a Specliast CD and Wipe the Password Info (google around for Windows XP Password Wipe Cds)

I can see the laptop being taken to a man that knows what he's doing

[GregE240]

Have a look for a product called ERD Commander.

Can reset XP passwords for you.

I recommended this a while back to someone (Don I think?)

[arcturus]

Or go here and get yourself a bootable linux image with an XP password reset program attached. I've used it in emergencies and it does work.

[Jay-Aim]

arcturus said:

Or go here and get yourself a bootable linux image with an XP password reset program attached. I've used it in emergencies and it does work.

that's easy enough to do

but first

Under which identity are you trying to access the puter? Have you tried administrator with no password?

or do you mean a boot password?

>> Edited by Jay-Aim on Saturday 18th December 12:00

[raceboy]

Jay-Aim said:

Under which identity are you trying to access the puter? Have you tried administrator with no password? or do you mean a boot password?

When you switch it on you get a blue screen with an icon to click to log in, when you click this it asks for a password

[arcturus]

Just try hitting enter without a password. They are often set up with blank passwords.

[Jay-Aim]

is it XP home or pro?

[PROF HIGGINS]

Admin account as mentioned often has no password by default, however to see the admin account option at the login prompt you need to boot into safe mode (Keep hitting F8 whilst booting up till you get an options list), you will then get login screen with administrator showing and hopefully has not had a password set.

Once in you just navigate to that users files by going through :

C:Documents and Settings(his user name)

(The standard "My docs" icon will be the Docs of Administrator so will not show files of other user)
Again he may have set these his "My Docs" to be private from other users of the computer so might not be able to access that way, in which case you could try to see if it will let you change his password in the Control Panel and then simply relogin as him.

Good luck


A lot depends on how tweaked system has been and also some variants to the above depending on if it is XP Home or Xp Pro.

[raceboy]

My guess would be XP Home, I'm getting most of the info 2nd hand, I wouldn't have thought it would have been messed around with too much
It's racegirls younger brothers LapTop he sadly passed away earlier in the week and we're trying to sort out his affairs

[JamieBeeston]

PROF HIGGINS said:

Admin account as mentioned often has no password by default, however to see the admin account option at the login prompt you need to boot into safe mode (Keep hitting F8 whilst booting up till you get an options list), you will then get login screen with administrator showing and hopefully has not had a password set.

Or, just press Ctrl-Alt-Del Twice at the Login Screen to get an Old-Style NT Login Screen, then simply enter Administrator/black password.