Start by treating it as a lost password as follows:
If you have XP Pro on your computer, at the log in screen type
ctrl-alt-delete
twice. In the user account type administrator, leave the password blank and
press enter. You likely didn't create a password for this hidden account
during setup and if the computer was purchased with XP pre-installed it
doesn't likely have one either,
If you have Home, boot into Safe Mode (F8 after the post test and before
Windows starts. Once Windows starts loading, you've missed it and will have
to try again). You'll have an option to log on as Administrator. Again,
the same procedure, you'll be asked to log in to get into safe mode, type
administrator, leave the password blank and press enter.
This will get you in. Then go to Control Panel, user accounts, select the
specific user and select change password. Once you've changed the password
it would be advisable to create a Password Reset Disk by clicking "Prevent a
Forgotten Password" link in the left pane.
If you have been receiving password expiration notices, the following
instructions will resolve the issue so you don't have the problem in the
future:
Stop Password Expiration
After you have run Windows XP for a while, you may receive this message when
you log on: "Your password will expire in 14 days.....".
By default, Windows XP is set up with passwords which will expire after 42
days. 14 days in advance, Windows will start warning you of this fact. If
you do not want your passwords to expire:
1.. Go to Start > Run and in the Open: box type control userpasswords2
2.. Select the Advanced tab in the User Accounts window
3.. Press the Advanced button below the Advanced user management header
4.. Select Users in the Local Users and Groups
5.. In the right pane, right-click the user name for which you want to
change the setting, and select Properties
6.. On the General tab, check Password never expires
7.. Click Apply and OK (all the way out)
