lost password question

[Pool Hall Ace]

* I cannot remember the password to my desktop that runs Windows XP
* The desktop is not connected to the internet.
* I can access the internet with my laptop, which runs Windows Vista.
* I need to get the desktop running again, because my printer/scanner is not compatible with the laptop.
* Is this the best way to regain access to my desktop?

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

I'm not the most high-tech person out there, and I hope I can follow the directions closely enough. Or is there an easier way?

[CK_John]

1. This should do it:

Boot into safe mode (press F8 repeatedly until menu appears) select start with command line then do the following.

To open the Windows command prompt line, just go to your start menu then choose “run” (or press your Windows key and then press R). Then in the box that pops up, type cmd and press enter.

In the black box that comes up, type net user then enter. This will give you a list of all your Windows accounts on that computer.

To change the password for one of these accounts is very simple. Say the Windows account name is "asks" and you want to change the password to mypa$$word then you just need to type the following :

net user asks mypa$$word

[Pool Hall Ace]

2. That didn't work.

Any other takers? My husband's employees fucked up this computer, and I really need to be able to access it. I am grateful for any suggestions.

Thank you. :hi:

[CK_John]

3. More detail would help. Did you create the CD in your original post, the

Walkthrough page is a must read. link:
<http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/>

It has an example and everything.

Hacking a password is not my favorite subject, Hope you understand.

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. I understand.

And sorry if I came across as snippy. I'm mad at my husband, not at you. :pals:

I did not create a CD, but here is something I did that may help:

Tapping F8 did not work for me; I had to hold it down.

Then I choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt”

That took me to two choices:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and
Microsoft Windows Recovery Console

At the bottom of the screen, it says, “For troubleshooting and advanced startup options for Windows, press F8.” That just takes me back to the previous window.

Given the two options above, I chose "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition." I'm now in safe mode . . . now it gives me an Administrator option.

So I clicked on Administrator, and it’s loading my personal settings.

Now, the prompt is C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>

Do you know if I am on the right track?

[CK_John]

5. Yes, you are right were you need to just type "net user" without the quotes hit enter.

This will give you a list of accounts. Look for the account and type:

example:
net user account newpw hit enter and reboot and use newpw to log in.

ps: account is name from list, newpw is a new password

[Pool Hall Ace]

9. Thank you, this worked!

*mwah* :~

[canetoad]

6. All getting too hard.

I haven't tried any of these (cos I'm never silly enough to pw protect my own fucking computer), but they all seem to be freeware from sites I've found trustworthy in the past. Scan each one for nasty payloads before you execute. Spreaders of malware tend to gravitate towards people who are behind the 8 ball.


http://www.freewarebox.com/free_6245_windows-xp-password-reset-software-download.html
http://www.snadboy.com/
http://www.pcloginnow.com/

[trotsky]

7. I have used the utility at your link DOZENS of times.

It works perfectly. Burn a CD from the ISO (or make a floppy if you have floppy drives in both systems), boot up, and follow the steps. I recommend, as the instructions still do I think, to simply reset your password to be a blank password instead of trying to enter a different one.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

8. Self-delete

[soleiri]

10. Kick because I'm having the same problem

My son put a password on his netbook and forgot it.
I tried pressing f8 repeatedly, but It goes to a screen that says "Choose an operating system to start"
and the only option is microsoft windows XP.
It doesn't go into safe mode or rather, I can't get it to go into safe mode.

[CK_John]

11. Just keep going and look at post 1 and 5 for guidance. Let us know what happens,

but notebooks can have at 3 levels of passwords and I'm not sure why f8 is not working.

[soleiri]

13. thanks

that's exactly what I did, sort of.

I went to f10 and did some stuff.

started up the computer and then had an option for f8, f10 and f12

tapped f12.

tried a bunch of crap.

got into safe mode

went to control panel and changed his password.

I couldn't repeat it if I tried.

[soleiri]

12. cancel that

I did it!

I'm a freaking genius!*

woohoo!


*not really.