I need a way to get onto a winXP computer without knowing the password.?

Question

The safemode admin is also passworded, and nothing that could potentially screw up the computer. I need to get onto my son's computer and he is somewhat more computer savvy than I. Please Help

Nick

Answer 1

If you need to get on his computer, tell him to log you on or take it away.

You're only other option would be to take the hard drive out, hook it up in an external enclosure and access it on another machine.

Answer 2

Here are two simple ways to access Windows with Administrator rights and privileges if:

* You have password protected your Windows XP system and can't remember the password(s) to login regularly.
* You've forgotten the password to an Administrator account and have lost the ability to change any of the vital system settings.

Steps

1. The first method is incredibly easy. Whenever Windows XP is installed on a system, it creates a default administrator account called "Administrator" and by default this account is not password protected. Therefore, if you bought a brand name computer (such as Dell, HP, Compaq or Sony) or installed Windows XP yourself, you should be able to login to the computer through the unprotected Administrator account.
2. The previous author wrote the login to the unprotected Administratior account is normally accessible only through safe mode, but this is not correct. If the computer utilizes the welcome screen instead of the standard NT domain logon prompt, you can press Ctrl + Alt + Del twice to get to the logon prompt. You can access the Administrator account through the logon prompt without logging into safe mode. If the target system does not use the welcome screen or you cannot log off, continue following these steps. **NOTE** This is not only true if you are running Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home Edition will also allow you to use this method to log on.**
3. Reboot your machine. Before the Windows Boot screen appears, press F8. Do not press F5 used on the NT/9x series of Windows. You will be be prompted with a boot options menu.
4. Select the "Boot Windows in Safe Mode" option.
5. After several screens this should bring you to the familiar 'Welcome' screen, except the colors will be reduced to 256 colors and 640x480 resolution because the primary graphics will have been set to the Windows Safe Mode software VGA adapter. You will not be able to change this mode even in Display options, while Windows is running in Safe Mode.
6. The 'Welcome' screen might display some of the users you had configured on your system, but most importantly it should display an icon for the user "Administrator". If the default settings of your system haven't been changed, there should be no password for this account.
7. Login and Press 'No' at the prompt, asking if you would like to continue using System Restore Mode and continue on to the User Settings in your control panel. Here you can change any of the other passwords for any other user on the account.
8. Make the changes you want and then reboot your computer. As long as you don't press any keys (i.e. F8) during the boot-up this time, the computer will boot normally. You can then login as the User for which you set the password..


Tips

* Some users are smart enough to password protect their Administrator account when they install windows. If that's the case, you'll have to know THAT password in order for this method to work.
* Note there is a way to crack the windows "SAM" and system files to retrieve the original passwords you've forgotten. But this process is a little more complicated and isn't always succesfull based on the complexity of the password you're trying to retrieve.
* you can always use SysInternals ERD Commandor to change the admin password if you do not know it! just boot from the cd and select the "lock smith" option to change whatever user's password you want to.


Warnings

* Use these instructions for ethical purposes only, please. Accessing Windows Administrator and changing passwords could be construed as illegal entry and electronic trespass in a court of law.

Answer 3

There's no easy way to do this, otherwise there wouldn't be much use to a password.

The first option, and maybe most destructive, is to reinstall the operating system without formatting. You'll lose the registry structure, and a lot of programs that were installed may have problems but its salvagable.

The second option is to install a parallel operating system on a different partition on the same computer, then use a simple trick to gain access to the old system. You can find out more information about the trick here:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password_alternate_logon_trick.htm

Third, visit http://www.loginrecovery.com/ and follow the instructions for password recovery.


You may want to tell your son to set you up a User account on the computer so you don't have to go through this again.

Answer 4

I did it by opening the computer and removing the battery on the mother board, and putting it back in, rebooted and all pass words were gone ha ha.. that's how I did it...

Answer 5

Fake, I am sorry to say that you cannot break the password of XP as it is highly securiy featured.

Answer 6

Just hit Enter when the password screen comes up (may have to do it twice) and you will be in, but you will be limlited in what you can do once you're in.

Answer 7

I dont know exactly how to do it, but go to break.com and search it. A week ago they had a video showing you how to do just what you need. Hope this helps!