forgotten windows password

[gixxer1000]

I bought a company laptop in a sell-off a while back and haven't used it in ages. Trouble now is that I can't remember the windows password and it's a 3 strikes and you're locked out set-up. It's not currently locked out, but I know it will be if I start guessing at the password. Is there a way around this? Can I somehow disable Windows password?

The machine is either Windows 95 or XP - can't recall which.

How rubbish am I?

Any help appreciated.
cheers,
gixxer

[randlemarcus]

If you cant remember whether its 95 or XP, there's not a lot of point mentioning Linux boot disks, really

If its 95, press escape when it asks you for the password, then you can use it merrily. If XP, buy a PC friendly mate a couple of pints, and ask him to sort it out for you.

[Embrolium]

Have you tried asking your company's IT dept if they know what the administrator password is? (If it's XP that is...)

[stevieb]

when you trun the machine on the boot screen will tell you if its XP or 95 and secondly is there a bios password on it that you are trying disable and not the login password??

If its the Bios down load the manual of the net for the laptop and reset the bios.

Steve

>> Edited by stevieb on Friday 12th May 13:29

[bigdods]

You can google for password delete programs - theres loads of them out there - or if you want I have an ISO file about 3Meg I can email to you - burn it to a CD, makes a bootable linux disk that has a utility on that kills all known windows passwords. I havent used it for a while so cant remember how it works but if I recall you boot up then theres this program in the root directory - it has help available, read it, run it and it resets passwords to blank. Admin and all users :-) takes about a minute.

[gixxer1000]

bigdods said:

... or if you want I have an ISO file about 3Meg I can email to you - burn it to a CD, makes a bootable linux disk ......

that would be really helpful bigdods.

Many thanks,
gixxer

[bigdods]

Ping me an email - I cant send you an attachment through pistonheads - I can pick your email addy up and reply with the file.

Like I said I havent had to use this for a while but last time I did I remember it working really well. SO much for windows security.....

[warmfuzzies]

You can change XP passwords if another admin logs on, ask my 11 year old daughter how, she changed mine so I couldn't logon the dear....took me ages to figure out what was wrong, then she fell about laughing....
Might be of help to someone out there, but don't ask me to replicate it, I'm not sure I can these days.

Kevin

[GlenMH]

warmfuzzies said:

You can change XP passwords if another admin logs on, ask my 11 year old daughter how, she changed mine so I couldn't logon the dear....took me ages to figure out what was wrong, then she fell about laughing.... Might be of help to someone out there, but don't ask me to replicate it, I'm not sure I can these days. Kevin

You gave your 11 year old an admin account?? Brave. I take it that she is the primary user of the machine and you don't do any work on it?

Glen

[warmfuzzies]

yep, it's her PC, I have cybersitter installed, and can remotely control it, she also has restricted access through the router/modem.

Kevin.

Not quite brave, but letting her have an adult perspective, which she has already lost once, and she knows if she over steps the bounds again, I'll remove the access more permenantly. (1 month last time)

[gixxer1000]

Just dragged the machine out of the cupboard, and it turns out to be Windows 2000 (not 95 or XP)

Does that make a differenc to the advice posted so far?

Thanks,
gixxer