Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (
More info?)
Avanindra wrote:
> Okay, I am trying to do the repair off the system cd-rom that comes
> with the computer, because Windows is messed up right now, and
> my System Restores don't go back far enough. When it asks me
> which installation I would like to repair, then it asks for the
> administrater's password. Well, it has been a long time since I
> installed Windows, and I can't remember it. Is there any place
> at all in my computer where I can find it, or reset it?
Jupiter Jones wrote:
> Something here should help:
>
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm
Avanindra wrote:
> That method would work fine and dandy if it were the Windows
> passwords to reset, but I need to reset the system password. I am on
> the machine right now that I am trying to fix, but I cannot run the
> repair utility off of the cd unless I have the system password, and I
> have tried everything I figure I would have made the password. Thnk
> you though.
If this is Windows XP (as it seems to be) then the "Administrators" password
*is* a Windows password.
You likely do not log into the machine as the administrator (definitely do
not if you are using Windows XP Home edition) - but there is a user named
"administrator" on your PC unless you have renamed it to something else
(highly unlikely.) Your easiest option:
Change the Administrator user's password in Windows. Try the:
Start --> Run
control userpasswords2
OK.
method and highligh the "Administrator" user and click on the "reset
password" button and reset the password there. Then try your repair
install. I am unsure if it will be that easy if you have Windows XP Home
edition - some of this may concern having to boot into Safe mode.
If worse comes to worse, you can indeed "hack" the administrators password
using one of the many methods of doing so on the Internet.
Hack your password:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
Another Password Hack:
http://www.thomasmathiesen.com/itak/html/software.html
What it sounds like to me is that you are trying to use the recovery console
and it is asking you for the original administrator password you set when
you first installed the computer. One of the methods above should get you
beyond that point.
However, if as others suggest in this thread - you are speaking of your
computer BIOS (hardware) password - then you will have to refer to your
computers user manual on how to reset that.
--
<- Shenan ->
--
The information is provided "as is", it is suggested you research for
yourself before you take any advice - you are the one ultimately
responsible for your actions/problems/solutions. Know what you are
getting into before you jump in with both feet.