locked out

  • Thread starter Thread starter Beth
  • Start date Start date
B

Beth

Please help me. I am using Windows XP Home and I changed
my user password but now the password does not work. I
created a guest account before changing hte password (did
I KNOW this would happen?) and thats the only way i can
use my computer now. My problem, is that all my important
files are stored under the user account I can not access.
Is there ANYTHING I can do?
My computer came with the OS installed, so reinstalling
is not an option since I did not get a copy of the
software.
Please...help me!
Beth
(e-mail address removed)
 
Hi Beth,
You can log-on to the built in administrator account and reset the passoword
for your account. Following is the way to do it:

To log on as Administrator and reset the password:
1.. Restart the computer. After the Power On Self Test (POST), press the
F8 key.
2.. On the Windows Advanced Options menu, use the ARROW keys to select
Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
3.. When you are prompted to select the operating system to start, select
Microsoft Windows XP edition (where edition is the edition of Windows XP
that is installed), and then press ENTER.
4.. On the To begin, click your user name screen, click Administrator.
5.. Type the administrator password, and then press ENTER.

NOTE: In some cases, the Administrator password may be set to a blank
password. In this case, do not type a password before you press ENTER.
6.. Click Yes to acknowledge that Windows is running in Safe mode.
7.. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and
then click Control Panel).
8.. Click User Accounts.
9.. Click the user account whose password you want to change.
10.. Click Change the Password if you want to keep a password, or click
Remove password if you do not want to use a password. If you remove the
password, skip the next step.
11.. Type the new password for the user, and then click Change Password.
12.. Quit the User Accounts tool, and then restart the computer.
You may also view the following KB article for more info:

How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your Password
Expires
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321305

Do post back if you require additional help

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org
http://www.dts-l.org
 
Do you know how I can do this for windows 200
Can I by pass login with password all together?
 
Those instructions will work on 2000 (being aware you type administrator rather than clicking it). And the reset dialog is dirfferent but can reset passwords.

But your problem is you don't know the password. Those instructions only apply if you know the password for the builtin admin account (try blank). There is only a need to boot to safe mode in home, in Pro you press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and it's the same as 2000.

http://www.lostpassword.com/windows-xp-2000-nt.htm

Someone has compiled a list here http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20772047.html

A free one http://trinityhome.org/trk/usage.shtml (mostly for linux but reset XP's passwords)

Another free one http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Here's one that shows (non boot) passwords http://riedersoft.ath.cx:85/~users/nirsoft/utils/pspv.html
 
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