I bought a computer at a yard sale and it is password protected (XP). How can I get into it and save the OS?

Answer 1

to by pass most administrators accounts
on Windows XP all you have to do is boot to safe mode by pressing F8
during boot up and choosing it. Log into the Administrator Account
and create your own or change the password on the current Account.
This only works if the user on setup specified a password for the
Administrator Account.

This has worked for me on both Windows XP Home and Pro.
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If you log into a limited account on your target machine and open up a dos prompt
then enter this set of commands Exactly:

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cd\ *drops to root
cd\windows\system32 *directs to the system32 dir
mkdir temphack *creates the folder temphack
copy logon.scr temphack\logon.scr *backsup logon.scr
copy cmd.exe temphack\cmd.exe *backsup cmd.exe
del logon.scr *deletes original logon.scr
rename cmd.exe logon.scr *renames cmd.exe to logon.scr
exit *quits dos
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now what you have just done is told the computer to backup the command program
and the screen saver file, then edits the settings so when the machine boots the
screen saver you will get an unprotected dos prompt with out logging into XP.
Once this happens if you enter this command minus the quotes
"net user password"
If the Administrator Account is called Frank and you want the password blah enter this
"net user Frank blah"
and this changes the password on franks machine to blah and your in.

Answer 2

The best option here is to reset your account password. You can do this using either 1 of the 2 methods suggested by Microsoft Knowledge Base article #321305. In my opinion, the second method described on this page is most likely the easiest route:

Reboot Windows in Safe Mode.

Click Start, and then click Run.

In the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK: control userpasswords2

Click the user account that you forgot the password for, and then click Reset Password.

Type a new password in both the New password and the Confirm new password boxes, and then click OK.
Good luck!

Side note: To access Safe Mode, Click Start -> Shutdown (or Turn Off), and choose 'Restart'. Once the computer restarts, press F8 repeatedly on the keyboard until a Boot Menu appear (this *must* be done before the Windows boot screen appears). Finally, choose to boot Windows in Safe Mode and press Enter on the keyboard.

Answer 3

yes its quit simple first things first do you have any of the factory software i.e. cd's if so look for a system reboot disk and slap that in, and the computer should take care of the rest just fallow the on screen instructions a snap! If not you can get an oem copy of windows XP sp2 load it in the tray, dont wory if the computers is on and at the point where you cant log on because of the password, just load the cd in the tray and then hit the reset button, when the system reloads it will say on screen load from disk and select yes and vwala!! follow the on screen instructions and just like that you will have a new operating system, a completely erased hard drive meaning no passwords unless you set them your self. Ohh and before i forget you can you use your current operating system cd and do the same thing instead of buying a new operating system cd. hope that helped if not just send me a line and i will walk you through the process.

Answer 4

Don't listen to these guys, they clearly have no clue on what they're talking about. I am a developer at Microsoft so I know a thing or two about computers. The only way to reset your windows password 100% safe is to use a software called Reset Password Pro.

The software allows you to create a boot-disk, that can be made on a CD/DVD or USB stick. The boot-disk can then be inserted into any locked machine, and it's a simple case of pressing reset. Here is their official site: http://www.resetwindowspass.com

Answer 5

You need some software to do this. I've used EBCD, which is a free standalone utility with it's own Linux kernel. You boot it from a CD or floppy, and it allows you to manipulate the XP internal tables, including changing the password. It's easier than it sounds You can down load it for free from here:

http://ebcd.pcministry.com/

Note that you will need another PC to download the software, and burn it to a blank CD or floppy. Then you move the CD to your dead computer, and boot. A menu will walk you through the password recovery process. Easy.

Answer 6

Technically, you don't. It is likely that the computer has an OEM version of Microsoft Windows XP and the license is non-transferrable.

Its also quite hard to crack, even if you wanted to.

Best thing to do? Re-install the OS. Who knows what nasties could be waiting in there? Maybe he has all sorts of trojans and spyware ready to steal your private information? I wouldn't trust it myself...

Answer 7

i would say,the easiest thing to do is re install,if you have the windows xp disk.you can also try and call windows,they know everything,but its 35.00 a call.and i would recomend to go where you got it from and ask the owner for the password.

Answer 8

go to Google and type in:
xp password recovery

I had a similar situation and I was able to break into the system with a little research.

Answer 9

Contact the owner and get the password from them; you couldn't just put 2 and 2 together yourself?

Answer 10

If you have a reinstallation CD, clean out the hard disc and reinstall the OS.

That should work