XP Passwords

I have a laptop that has crashed and will not boot correctly. I think I can fix it if I can get into the recovery console. Problem is the password has been forgotten. Anyone know a way to boot and read the admin password? Operating System is windows professional.

Instead of using the recovery console try doing a repair install.

 

Boot off the XP cd

Hit Enter to install Windows

Hit F8 for the Licensing Agreement

This is the important step. Normally at this point previous versions of windows will be found and an option to repair will be given. You want to repair here, the only thing you will lose by doing this repair is you have to reupdate windows again and that's it. If you do not get the option to repair then there is a problem with windows finding your installation which is a more difficult problem to fix.

Hi Ready,

 

Here are some more detailed instructions for the process that Garnok is explaining. This is probably the easiest method to reset your password.

 

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009...icle.asp?ID=305

 

Whenever I get stuck in this situation I actually make a boot disk from here: http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

 

This lets me quickly reset the admin password. However, this process is not user friendly and might take longer than the first method if you aren't familiar with it.

 

Take a look at both options and try to find the one that works for you.

Aw Gryph, you're exposing my sources, not cool

 

I do use the repair method a lot here at work, not because of passwords but for using a standard ghost image on workstations with different hardware. It works everytime for me.

Yeah I guess I'll try it the repair way.... Then if need be it should only be a few programs that have to be re-installed.