Lost XP password

[dragnbiz]

I lost my password on XP Windows. Anyone know how to crack the password. Otherwise, I have to wipe my system completely and reinstall everything !

 

[papasmerf]

how does one lose the password????

you can always login as guest and use the unit

 

[n_v]

try booting up in safe mode

 

[lickrolaine]

if you can login as administrator do so and create a new profile,delete the old one?

 

[Gentle Ben]

I googled "password forgotten for xp" and got many hits, this link seems to have an easy recovery, though I never tried it


http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/1511

 

[Esco!]

I googled "password forgotten for xp" and got many hits, this link seems to have an easy recovery, though I never tried it


http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/1511

Geez, whats the sense of having a password if its so easily hacked???

 

[papasmerf]

Geez, whats the sense of having a password if its so easily hacked???

You have options

You can set it up so you need a password to get into SafeMode

you can also set your BIOS to require a password to start it.

 

[n_v]

Geez, whats the sense of having a password if its so easily hacked???

Well Escohort all I can say is that's Billy for ya.

 

[joebear]

Geez, whats the sense of having a password if its so easily hacked???

better than the previous posters link. This has alot more info.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Security/Q_20465657.html

 

[joebear]

go to:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

download and burn the image to disk. There are a bunch of utilities that can be booted from the CD drive.

Once you boot from the drive, pick:
Offline NT Password & Registry Editor

You can edit or reset your administrator password. I have used this before to reset my Adminstrator password.

4. PASSWORD RESET
Everything is set and ready, let's roll!

=========================================================
. Step THREE: Password or registry edit
=========================================================
chntpw version 0.99.2 040105, (c) Petter N Hagen

[.. some file info here ..]

* SAM policy limits:
Failed logins before lockout is: 0
Minimum password length : 0
Password history count : 0

<>========<> chntpw Main Interactive Menu <>========<>

Loaded hives: <sam> <system> <security>

1 - Edit user data and passwords
2 - Syskey status & change
3 - RecoveryConsole settings
- - -
9 - Registry editor, now with full write support!
q - Quit (you will be asked if there is something to save)


What to do? [1] -> 1

===== chntpw Edit User Info & Passwords ====

RID: 01f4, Username: <Administrator>
RID: 01f5, Username: <Guest>, *disabled or locked*
RID: 03e8, Username: <HelpAssistant>, *disabled or locked*
RID: 03eb, Username: <pnh>, *disabled or locked*
RID: 03ea, Username: <SUPPORT_388945a0>, *disabled or locked*

Select: ! - quit, . - list users, 0x<RID> - User with RID (hex)
or simply enter the username to change: [Administrator]

Here you can enter the username you want to reset the password for. NOTE: It is case-sensitive, write it exact as listed (without the < and > of course)

Or if the name uses some characters that cannot be displayed, enter it's ID number (RID), like this: 0x1f4 would select administrator.

We select the default, which is administrator.



RID : 0500 [01f4]
Username: Administrator
fullname:
comment : Built-in account for administering the computer/domain
homedir :

Account bits: 0x0210 =
[ ] Disabled | [ ] Homedir req. | [ ] Passwd not req. |
[ ] Temp. duplicate | [X] Normal account | [ ] NMS account |
[ ] Domain trust ac | [ ] Wks trust act. | [ ] Srv trust act |
[X] Pwd don't expir | [ ] Auto lockout | [ ] (unknown 0x08) |
[ ] (unknown 0x10) | [ ] (unknown 0x20) | [ ] (unknown 0x40) |

Failed login count: 0, while max tries is: 0
Total login count: 3

* = blank the password (This may work better than setting a new password!)
Enter nothing to leave it unchanged
Please enter new password: *

Some information is displayed. Also, if the account is locked, you will be asked if you wish to unlock it (not shown here)

We go for the blank password option (*) WHICH IS HIGLY RECOMMENDED over setting a new one.


Please enter new password: *
Blanking password!

Do you really wish to change it? (y/n) [n] y
Changed!


Select: ! - quit, . - list users, 0x - User with RID (hex)
or simply enter the username to change: [Administrator] !

! brings us back to the main menu here.


<>========<> chntpw Main Interactive Menu <>========<>

Loaded hives:

1 - Edit user data and passwords
2 - Syskey status & change
3 - RecoveryConsole settings
- - -
9 - Registry editor, now with full write support!
q - Quit (you will be asked if there is something to save)


What to do? [1] -> q

5. WRITING OUT THE CHANGES
Everything has been done, time to commit the changes.



Hives that have changed:
# Name
0 - OK

=========================================================
. Step FOUR: Writing back changes
=========================================================
About to write file(s) back! Do it? [n] : y

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! If you answer y here there will be a write to disk!


Writing sam

NOTE: A disk fixup will now be done.. it may take some time

Mounting volume... OK

Processing of $MFT and $MFTMirr completed successfully.

NTFS volume version is 3.1.

Setting required flags on partition... OK

Going to empty the journal ($LogFile)... OK

NTFS partition /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1 was processed successfully.
NOTE: Windows will run a diskcheck (chkdsk) on next boot.
NOTE: this is to ensure disk intergity after the changes

***** EDIT COMPLETE *****

You can try again if it somehow failed, or you selected wrong
New run? [n] : n


That was all. The disk fixup is only run on NTFS filesystems, and will force chkdsk next time windows boots.

Please answer n here and then reboot, CTRL-ALT-DEL. Remember to remove the floppy or CD.

 

[Esco!]

That was all

LOL.......that was all, he says.
Dude, I can barely find the on/off switch on my PC

 

[joebear]

LOL.......that was all, he says.
Dude, I can barely find the on/off switch on my PC

If you use the ultimate bootcd and use that utility it will take approx 30 seconds to change your password.

Time all together from booting from the CD drive to when you finished changing the password, no more than 2 minutes.

It will take longer to download the boot image than it will take to change password.

just follow the on screen instructions, they are very clear to the point where you can run it.

 

[GIMME]

LOL.......that was all, he says.
Dude, I can barely find the on/off switch on my PC

1. Call Microsoft
or
2. Re-Install Windows



Hopefully you have back-ups of your data

 

[zzap]

If Gates made it too secure think of all the dummies that would be complaining that they were locked out and lost all there important work.

Some digital security locks and encryption systems employ the use of a "retrieval key" better known as a back door. This allows someone with authority to gain access. However the dangers of having a system back door is if it became public then anyone could exploit any system using that type of lock.

 

[sonnyboy]

Pnone Microsoft

Two years ago I lost my passwoed for XP. I phoned Microsoft Canada and they have me the password , no problem.

 

[GIMME]

There are a lot of ways to get the password. But for a Novice user, its better to re-install.

 

[canucklehead]

the reilly works i have used it at work unmanaged machines that students own when they can't get into the computer.

 

[jwmorrice]

the reilly works i have used it at work unmanaged machines that students own when they can't get into the computer.

This must be some sort of Apple dialect?

jwm

 

[canucklehead]

i spik injish godlier dan ew..... it was late or something like that.

 

[dragnbiz]

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I'll try and hope one of these suggestions works !