Ok, so I began my reformat...

[Tripper11]

using this guide How to wipe an NTFS formated hard drive with Windows XP

Here's my problem. It asks for my admin password. I never had one, or did quite a while back and removed it. The ones I think it is, it isn't. So I went back and made a password hoping that would help..nope!
So, it seems, once I get the password I can get to the next step in the process, which is map, then format C: /fs:ntfs

Any ideas?

[Berserker]

1. I don't use

XP so I am just trying to help. Try this
http://www.resnet.uni.edu/docs/reformatxp.html
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/honeycutt_02october07.mspx
http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/reformat.htm

[democracyindanger]

2. try

admin

or

just hit enter without typing in anything.

And in control panel, 2click on "User Accounts"; make sure the account you're using on XP has admin status.

[RoyGBiv]

3. Longshot ...

This may sound ridiculous, but did you try just pressing <ENTER> with the field blank?

This worked on a friends system who thought he had removed the admin password. He didn't actually remove it. He just made it blank.

[Tripper11]

4. I have tried that....

hitting it when it's blank. Creating a password, rebooting to make sure it took, then botting via CD Rom to get into the setup recovery and typing in new password. No dice.
I have admin powers but no password. Once I get the password, I should be good to go!
I will try admin though.

Thanks guys, will keep checking for any other ideas.

[Tripper11]

5. GAWDDAMNIT! I hate this shit.....

nothing is working right now...password wise.

Here are the instructions I am following from cyberwalker.net, the bolded section is where I am hitting the wall.

This is part of the Reinstall and Reformat XP FAQ.

Here's how to wipe a hard drive that uses NTFS as a file allocation system. (If you don't know what that is, go here.)

You can do this one of two ways by using the Windows XP startup disks or if your computer supports a bootable CD-ROM -- most computers built since 2001 have this feature -- use the Recovery Console tool on the Windows XP CD-ROM. More on that shortly.

First, remember that reformatting a hard disk deletes all of the data that is on it, so make sure that you back up your data before you reformat the disk. That data is unrecoverable afterwards. It's gone forever.

To use the Windows XP Recovery Console to reformat a drive, follow these steps:

Start the computer by using the Windows XP CD-ROM (in the CDROM drive) or the start-up disks (in the floppy drive).
You need to go into your BIOS to change the boot sequence to do this making your CD-ROM drive your primary boot device. (How to do this.)

Once the computer has booted from the CD you'll see a "Welcome to Windows Setup" screen appear and after all the drivers have loaded (shown along the bottom), press F10 or wait and choose to use the recovery console (choose item #2).

In the "Recovery Console" (learn more about that that is at Microsoft.com click here), specify the appropriate Windows installation. It will be listed. It's probably #1.Then log on by using your Windows XP Administrator password. You are probably the administrator and the password if you have never assigned is probably blank, so just hit the Enter key. If you run Windows XP Pro and want to turn off the password prompt then learn how here.

[gulfcoastliberal]

7. See my post about going into BIOS

Hopefully it will get you going.

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Try going into your BIOS when you turn the computer on

You should be able to press F10 or something right after powering up - before the windows logo screen, and once you are in your BIOS I think you can reset/change the admin password... Good luck. I'm reformatting the HD on my other computer right now! Takes a while.

Edited for spelling/clarity