forgotten windows xp login PW

Metlcub · 05-08-12, 05:19 PM

My sister went on vacation, came home and forgets her user info to get in WIN XP. I've tried admin admin but that didnt work, is there another way you to get in windows and reset her PW?

Neuromancer · 05-08-12, 05:59 PM

There are downloable bootable disk images (or USB) that you can run to reset the password. I do not recall the name right now but

Admin with NO PASSWORD is usually the default not admin admin

Realee · 05-08-12, 06:36 PM

Ultimate Boot CD has a load of tools on it.
I've used it on corporate machines that I've locked myself out of (After removing the machine from the Domain) and it works.

I'm not sure if it's going to end up in a grey area if I explain the tools but Ultimate Boot CD will do what you need (And much... MUCH more)

thideras · 05-08-12, 06:38 PM

Yeah, we can't really discuss it beyond that -- sorry.

Metlcub · 05-08-12, 11:37 PM

Oh ok, yea my sister is mad, she's like Just reinstall if you got to, but I need all my kids pictures etc on it.. I'll work on it tomorrow.

Realee · 05-09-12, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metlcub

Oh ok, yea my sister is mad, she's like Just reinstall if you got to, but I need all my kids pictures etc on it.. I'll work on it tomorrow.

If you only need the data you can always take the hard drive out and put it in another working computer. Chances are the home folders won't be encrypted (You would have to do more than put a password on it being Windows XP) so you can just backup the data and put it back after a reload.

I like to reload my machines every 12 months at the latest just to keep them "fresh" it could be a good chance for your sisters machine too.

mbentley · 05-09-12, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Realee

If you only need the data you can always take the hard drive out and put it in another working computer. Chances are the home folders won't be encrypted (You would have to do more than put a password on it being Windows XP) so you can just backup the data and put it back after a reload.

+1. There should not be a reason that at the very least the data won't be recoverable with a minimal amount of effort. You could even boot with a Linux live CD distro and most likely the Windows partition will be automatically mounted at boot and you could copy any data she needs to an external USB drive or something like that if you don't feel like fiddling around with moving the HDD over to another machine.

thideras · 05-09-12, 08:05 AM

For future damage prevention, create an administrator account on the system with a password that you know. In case this happens again, you can easily reset it without reinstalling.

I do this for every family/friend computer I work on, for that exact reason. I explain exactly why I'm doing it, as well.

EGutierrez91 · 05-09-12, 09:54 AM

You can use "Offline NT Password and Registry Editor." Burn the file to a disc, and run it on the PC, it will let you remove or change the password.

johan851 · 05-09-12, 10:45 AM

Aren't the default Administrator credentials "Administrator" with no password? That's what I remember using. Painfully easy to "break in" to XP, by the way.

Seebs · 05-09-12, 11:14 AM

^^^^ This...

It's case sensitive so the capital A is needed.

If that fails...
- Google-Fu -> CIA Commander
- Download the iso
- Burn to CD or USB jumpdrive
- Boot from said device
- Overwrite the forgotten password with whatever you want
- Boot to XP and login with the new password

realmadrid12 · 05-13-12, 09:03 PM

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dECTfBOUksE

You could also do it by mounting the registry hive and doing it manually. But UBD is much easier.

We use this at work when encryption breaks from root kits. I wouldnt call this a "grey" area because this is knowledge that can be used for good. And save someones data if they dont understand how windows works completely. Hes working on his own computer.

Realee · 05-14-12, 10:25 PM

The Grey area comes in because even though in THIS case the OP owns the computer - many visitors to the site may not.

Most members past the first few posts can be trusted but I would bet my bottom dollar there's a whoooooooole lot of guests that come past and see things like this.

That said - the information is solid =)

Neuromancer · 05-14-12, 10:36 PM

ITs not a grey area unless you post tools that allow you to BYPASS the password requirement (also easy to do)

Resetting the admin password (and yes on home package PC cases usually is Administrator with no password) is NOT a "hack" it is a recovery tool.

Not a grey area at all IMHO. If the PTB say I am wrong so be it. It has been discussed here before and not disapproved though.

EDIT: Here a couple of threads (XP password reset does not pop up very much anymore since its outdated but...) Note that senior members or higher were providing help in the situation. Lets not get into the keylogging and encryption bypassing threads I found in these search results.

If we are going to take the "moral" (not that it is immoral to reset an admin password) high road and say doing something NOT illegal is wrong on the forums as far as computers are concerned then we have to revisit a LOT of things the forums do allow discussion of (like keylogging a computer you own but others use)

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s....php?t=699379&
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s....php?t=688386&

FYI with a technet/MSDN account Microsoft provides a tool to reset admin password as well. Its mentioned in one of the threads I found

05-08-12, 05:19 PM	Thread Starter #1
Metlcub Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cumming Ga	forgotten windows xp login PW My sister went on vacation, came home and forgets her user info to get in WIN XP. I've tried admin admin but that didnt work, is there another way you to get in windows and reset her PW? __________________ Mobo ASRock z77 Extreem4 CPU i7-2600k @ 4.2 1.20v CPU HS/F Corsair H-100 RAM Corsair Veng 12gig DDR3-1600 GPU Asus DCII GTX570 Storage Hyper X 3k 240g , Force 3 120g, 2tb HDD DVD Samsung BD/DVD/CD Inputs Logitech G510 and G700 Sound X-fi Extreem / Sennheiser PC-350 Case Haf X Advanced PSU TT TR2 RX 750w My Heatware
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05-08-12, 05:59 PM	#2
Neuromancer Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tau'ri	There are downloable bootable disk images (or USB) that you can run to reset the password. I do not recall the name right now but Admin with NO PASSWORD is usually the default not admin admin __________________ Naval training is to be a Fireman a Plumber a Cop/Soldier and a Medic. Then you learn your rate. There is no 911 in the middle of the ocean. If your boat catches fire you put it out or you die.
	QUOTE Thanks

05-08-12, 06:36 PM	#3
Realee loss.jpg Premium Member #25 Join Date: May 2011	Ultimate Boot CD has a load of tools on it. I've used it on corporate machines that I've locked myself out of (After removing the machine from the Domain) and it works. I'm not sure if it's going to end up in a grey area if I explain the tools but Ultimate Boot CD will do what you need (And much... MUCH more) __________________ I.M.O.G. Because Australia. ;)
	QUOTE Thanks

05-08-12, 06:38 PM	#4
thideras Banned Neckbeard Moderator Premium Member #3 Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Dakota	Yeah, we can't really discuss it beyond that -- sorry. __________________ Desktop: Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H \| 3570k 4.6 GHz \| 32 GB GSkill Ares \| GTX 570 \| 180 GB Intel & 2 TB total \| Arch Linux and Windows 7 Main server: 37 TB raw disk \| 2x Opteron 6134 \| Asus KGPE-D16 \| 48 GB RAM \| LSI 8708EM2 \| CentOS 6.2 VM Server 1: Dell R510 \| 2x E5645 \| 128 GB RAM \| 4x 300 GB Velociraptor \| Xen Cloud Platform (XCP) VM Server 2: Dell R710 \| 2x E5645 \| 288 GB RAM \| 8x 300 GB Velociraptor \| Xen Cloud Platform (XCP) "That's not overkill, or a lot. That's just thiderastic." -txus.palacios Current projects: Rackmount Overkill (New) \| 30/45 hard drive server Articles: Rack Mounting 101 \| Dell Perc 5/i Throughput Benchmarks Past projects: Software RAID \| The Dragon Case My Website *Want to talk directly to all* the moderators at once? Call the Mod Hotline!**
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05-08-12, 11:37 PM	Thread Starter #5
Metlcub Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cumming Ga	Oh ok, yea my sister is mad, she's like Just reinstall if you got to, but I need all my kids pictures etc on it.. I'll work on it tomorrow. __________________ Mobo ASRock z77 Extreem4 CPU i7-2600k @ 4.2 1.20v CPU HS/F Corsair H-100 RAM Corsair Veng 12gig DDR3-1600 GPU Asus DCII GTX570 Storage Hyper X 3k 240g , Force 3 120g, 2tb HDD DVD Samsung BD/DVD/CD Inputs Logitech G510 and G700 Sound X-fi Extreem / Sennheiser PC-350 Case Haf X Advanced PSU TT TR2 RX 750w My Heatware
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05-09-12, 08:05 AM	#8
thideras Banned Neckbeard Moderator Premium Member #3 Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Dakota	For future damage prevention, create an administrator account on the system with a password that you know. In case this happens again, you can easily reset it without reinstalling. I do this for every family/friend computer I work on, for that exact reason. I explain exactly why I'm doing it, as well. __________________ Desktop: Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H \| 3570k 4.6 GHz \| 32 GB GSkill Ares \| GTX 570 \| 180 GB Intel & 2 TB total \| Arch Linux and Windows 7 Main server: 37 TB raw disk \| 2x Opteron 6134 \| Asus KGPE-D16 \| 48 GB RAM \| LSI 8708EM2 \| CentOS 6.2 VM Server 1: Dell R510 \| 2x E5645 \| 128 GB RAM \| 4x 300 GB Velociraptor \| Xen Cloud Platform (XCP) VM Server 2: Dell R710 \| 2x E5645 \| 288 GB RAM \| 8x 300 GB Velociraptor \| Xen Cloud Platform (XCP) "That's not overkill, or a lot. That's just thiderastic." -txus.palacios Current projects: Rackmount Overkill (New) \| 30/45 hard drive server Articles: Rack Mounting 101 \| Dell Perc 5/i Throughput Benchmarks Past projects: Software RAID \| The Dragon Case My Website *Want to talk directly to all* the moderators at once? Call the Mod Hotline!**
	QUOTE Thanks

05-09-12, 09:54 AM	#9
EGutierrez91 Registered Join Date: Jul 2008	You can use "Offline NT Password and Registry Editor." Burn the file to a disc, and run it on the PC, it will let you remove or change the password. __________________ Case: Xigmatek ASGARD II \|\| CPU: i5-2500k (Stock at 3.3GHz) \|\| MoBo: BIOSTAR TZ68A+ \|\| PSU: Antec EarthWatts 430W 80+ BRONZE \|\| GPU: XFX Double D Radeon 6870 1GB \|\| RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
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05-09-12, 10:45 AM	#10
johan851 Insatiably Malcontent Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Seattle, WA	Aren't the default Administrator credentials "Administrator" with no password? That's what I remember using. Painfully easy to "break in" to XP, by the way. __________________ ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 \| 2500K @ 4.6GHz \| 2x4GB Samsung DDR3 \| GTX460 768mb 120GB Crucial M4 \| 2x 2TB Samsung F4 \| Seasonic S12 600w AV-710 --> y2 DAC --> Custom M^3 --> Custom LM3875 ChipAmp --> Modula MTs Dual Dell 2007WFP \| Watercooled
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05-09-12, 11:14 AM	#11
Seebs Fronting as a Mod Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sunshine State	^^^^ This... It's case sensitive so the capital A is needed. If that fails... - Google-Fu -> CIA Commander - Download the iso - Burn to CD or USB jumpdrive - Boot from said device - Overwrite the forgotten password with whatever you want - Boot to XP and login with the new password __________________ Daily Driver: GA-890FXA-UD5 - Ph II X6 1090T - 16GB DDR3 1333MHz - HD 5670 - Venomous X Black + 260 CFM San Ace - VX450W - CM 690 II Advanced Join the "Benching Team" - We have secret sauce! - OptyTrooper: GPUs are for burning not playing games anyway Kona on League of Legends: This game sits about as well with me as a gallon of prune juice does, and the results are just as nasty. I done got Pinked... Be sure to pre-tin everything (even soldered stuff!) with leaded solder. None of the RoHS junk. You want good old fashioned toxic heavy metals. ~ Bobnova
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05-13-12, 09:03 PM	#12
realmadrid12 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, NY	http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dECTfBOUksE You could also do it by mounting the registry hive and doing it manually. But UBD is much easier. We use this at work when encryption breaks from root kits. I wouldnt call this a "grey" area because this is knowledge that can be used for good. And save someones data if they dont understand how windows works completely. Hes working on his own computer. __________________ AMD 1090T at 4.3ghz Asus Crosshair V GSkill 1600 8gb Corsair AX850 Asus 6950 XFX 6950 Custom WC loop
	QUOTE Thanks

05-14-12, 10:25 PM	#13
Realee loss.jpg Premium Member #25 Join Date: May 2011	The Grey area comes in because even though in THIS case the OP owns the computer - many visitors to the site may not. Most members past the first few posts can be trusted but I would bet my bottom dollar there's a whoooooooole lot of guests that come past and see things like this. That said - the information is solid =) __________________ I.M.O.G. Because Australia. ;)
	QUOTE Thanks

05-14-12, 10:36 PM	#14
Neuromancer Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tau'ri	ITs not a grey area unless you post tools that allow you to BYPASS the password requirement (also easy to do) Resetting the admin password (and yes on home package PC cases usually is Administrator with no password) is NOT a "hack" it is a recovery tool. Not a grey area at all IMHO. If the PTB say I am wrong so be it. It has been discussed here before and not disapproved though. EDIT: Here a couple of threads (XP password reset does not pop up very much anymore since its outdated but...) Note that senior members or higher were providing help in the situation. Lets not get into the keylogging and encryption bypassing threads I found in these search results. If we are going to take the "moral" (not that it is immoral to reset an admin password) high road and say doing something NOT illegal is wrong on the forums as far as computers are concerned then we have to revisit a LOT of things the forums do allow discussion of (like keylogging a computer you own but others use) http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s....php?t=699379& http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s....php?t=688386& FYI with a technet/MSDN account Microsoft provides a tool to reset admin password as well. Its mentioned in one of the threads I found __________________ Naval training is to be a Fireman a Plumber a Cop/Soldier and a Medic. Then you learn your rate. There is no 911 in the middle of the ocean. If your boat catches fire you put it out or you die. Last edited by Neuromancer; 05-14-12 at 10:51 PM.
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