Admin password

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Guest

I recently acquired a used computer. I gave it to my 80 yr old Dad and tried
to install some new software. User ID and password came up...unfortunately
the person I got the computer from is no longer with us so I can't go back to
him for his password. Is there any way to get around the original admin
password, create one for my Dad and be able to install simple programs DSL,
new printer drivers, etc. without completely reformatting the disc?
 
What Js mention is you need to go to the safe mode (press F8 when bios
download) here go to control panel - user accounts - and created a new
administrator account, later delete the old account

if the administrator account have password you can try this tool:

http://www.elcomsoft.com/prs.html
 
nogeek said:
I recently acquired a used computer. I gave it to my 80 yr old Dad and
tried to install some new software. User ID and password came
up...unfortunately the person I got the computer from is no longer with us
so I can't go back to him for his password. Is there any way to get around
the original admin password, create one for my Dad and be able to install
simple programs DSL, new printer drivers, etc. without completely
reformatting the disc?
Click to expand...

With second-hand computers, it is always wise to do a clean install. If this
isn't possible, then:

In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly tapping
the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the right
menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not work here. Once
in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden Administrator account. The
default password is a blank.

In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen, do
Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in
"Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up Windows.

If you reset the built-in Administrator account's password in Home or have
Pro and don't remember the password, use NTpasswd to change the built-in
Administrator account's password to a blank.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Then go to the User Accounts applet in Control Panel and set passwords that
you will remember and make other desired changes.

If you decide to clean install, see:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#reinstall_Windows - What you
will need on-hand

Malke
 
nogeek said:
I recently acquired a used computer. I gave it to my 80 yr old Dad and tried
to install some new software. User ID and password came up...unfortunately
the person I got the computer from is no longer with us so I can't go back to
him for his password. Is there any way to get around the original admin
password, create one for my Dad and be able to install simple programs DSL,
new printer drivers, etc. without completely reformatting the disc?
Click to expand...


With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member, your wisest course
of action would probably be to format the hard drives and start fresh.
You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may have
filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because the
original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.

If you cannot ask the person/company from whom you purchased the
computer, Linux-based password cracking utilities abound on the
Internet, freely available to anyone who can use Google.


--

Bruce Chambers

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