Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (
More info?)
My turn to be "late" I guess..
There IS a "the Administrator" account on your machine, believe it!
But, since you're running Home edition, the only time you can "see" it is
when you boot into safe mode.
However, if you don't know the Administrator account Password, THAT's
another problem. Since your PC appears to be a retail eMachine, I suggest you
contact the Dealer whom you purchased it from to obtain the password. Of
course, you can try the typical <null>/nothing or "password" or "eMachine"
variants if you want, up to you.
But you need to reboot the PC in Safe Mode and get to the login prompt to
try those.
To do *that* you must press the F8 key in between the time that the BIOS
load is COMPLETED but before Windows itself actually starts to load. The
timing for this is tricky and different on every PC, but years ago I learned
a neat little trick that works every time:
(if your BIOS is NOT already set to seek the floopy drive for a boot
diskette...) Before attempting to boot into Safe mode, reboot the PC and
strike the appropriate key early on that will allow you to enter the
BIOS-Setup utility (it is different for many Mainboard manufaacturers, but it
is typically either the [DEL] or [F2] key; regardless, the correct key for
your PC should be prominently displayed on your screen when you turn the PC
on);
....Once in the BIOS utility, either turn on, or enable the floppy disk drive
to be accessed/looked-at for a boot disk FIRST IN THE boot sequence - before
any other device - then save the setting if necessary and restart (BTW, do
NOT put any bootable diskette in the drive, just tell the BIOS to check if
there is one there when it boots);
NOW... this time listen, watch and wait for the computer to "seek" the
floppy drive looking for a boot diskette - you'll hear the drive buzz: it's
unmistakable. That will be your queue to press the F8 key 1-2 times to catch
the system's attn before Windows gets launched from the HDD! Works like a
champ for me 100% of the time...(actually, I just leave my BIOS set all the
time to check for a floppy at boot so I can if I want to, but also so I can
do this if I NEED to).
Once into safe mode and either armed with the password or attempting some of
the "standards" mentioned above, login to the Administrator account.
Once you login to that account, you can then change/reset any password
settings for the User accounts on the PC, then restart in Normal mode.
Let us know how it goes!
"Jim" wrote:
> Danor,
>
> Sorry to respond so late, on the road. There is no Administrator password.
> I merely set it up, booted it, and let her run with it. I have XP Home
> preinstalled on a base model eMachines PC.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> "Danor" wrote:
>
> > Jim:
> >
> > (If you need further assistance):
> > Do you know the Administrator account password?
> > What version of XP is on the PC: Home or Pro? (steps to do
> > next depend on this answer).
> >
> >
> > "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> > > Jim;
> > > Something here should help:
> > >
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm
> > >
> > > --
> > > Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> > > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/
> > >
> > >
> > > "Jim" <Jim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:3EE1CF68-928A-475E-B4C6-221CECF35253@microsoft.com...
> > > > My daughter put a password on her Windows XP boot-up screen and has
> > > > promptly
> > > > forgot it making her computer useless.
> > > >
> > > > How can I go in and override this password protection? I have tried going
> > > > into set-up when the computer first boots up but there is nothing as an
> > > > option that I can see to override this.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for the help.
> > >
> > >
> > >
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