Administrator password forgotten

[Janet]

Is there any other way to get logged on when the
user "Administrator" has forgotten the password they
chose? Please help. Or is there another way to access
the hard drive to install another version of windows?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Igor Fomin]

It's quite simple But for Win 2000 only! It does not work under XP/2003.

1) Attach your harddisk to another computer.
2) Find a file called logon.scr (C:\Windows\System32\logon.src). Rename it
to logon.scr.old
3) Find a file called cmd.exe (C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe). Copy it to the
same folder but with new name: logon.src
4) Detach the harddisk, attache it to the old computer. Start the computer.
5) When you see the logon screen do not press any buttons or move the mouse.
Wait about 15 minutes.
6) The OS will start screen saver (logon.scr). But you have changed it with
cmd.exe, so Command Prompt will start!
7) Type the command: compmgmt.msc
8) The Computer Management tool will start under SYSTEM account. You will be
able make any changes: create a new admin account, reset password, etc.
9) Don't forget to rename logon.scr.old to logon.scr when the problem is
solved.

Use and enjoy!
Best Regards,
Igor Fomin, igorf ==AT== digdes ==DOT== com

 

[James]

I have a log in problem kind of similar to this. Wonder
if you can help.
I did the following and I cannot log into my computer
anymore.
- I go to control panel, system, select Network
Identification, click properties and change the selection
from Domain to workgroup (I thought I have to do this to
communication with another PC at home.)
- After I reboot the computer, the login screen has only
the user ID and password field and does not have the
domain field anymore.
- Unfortunately, the system does not allow me to log in
with the user ID and password I used for the domain. I
guess the computer is now in workgroup mode and I have
not set up any ID and password for the workgroup mode.
I wonder if there is a way to log back into my computer.
Can I use your suggestion for the forgotten password
problem to deal with this problem?
Thanks
James

 

[Jim Nugent]

- After I reboot the computer, the login screen has only
the user ID and password field and does not have the
domain field anymore.
- Unfortunately, the system does not allow me to log in
with the user ID and password I used for the domain.

No, it won't. There are domain groups/users local groups/users. The latter
don't depend on being attached to a domain controller; the former do.

If it is a plain vanilla install, there will an account named Administrator
with a password chosen at time of Windows installation. It just might be
blank. Check with whoever installed windows on your machine. You can log on
as Administrator and create other local users.

If no luck getting the Administrator password, your problem has just been
transformed into the one facing the earlier user in this thread.

 

[Jim Nugent]

It's quite simple But for Win 2000 only! It does not work under XP/2003.

1) Attach your harddisk to another computer.

If you have some free space you can install another copy of Windows 2000
alongside the first (be sure to change the proposed name of \WINNT when
invited to do so!). Then logon to the second copy (as Admin) and follow
steps 2 and beyond.