Windows Password

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi all
My lovely children's friends ramsacked my house while I was away on vacation
for 3 days. When I came home, my brand new (15day old Notebook) had a
Windows Password on it. Nobody seems to know how it got there and what the
password is. I have my receipt to prove I am the owner but Best Buy wants to
charge me a minimum of 65$ to 'UN' password it. I was wondering if there is
a website that can walk me through the same process they would rather charge
me for?

Thank you...

ps> reformatting is not an option since all my business stuff is on it.

Sharyn
 
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290260
EFS, Credentials, and Private Keys from Certificates Are Unavailable After a Password
Is Reset

Windows Home XP
1. As windows is loading up press F8 repeatedly until the Windows advanced screen
comes up.
2. Select safe mode (the version of windows you want to use click XP wait until it
loads the welcome screen.
3. Select Administrator and it will log you on as administrator without a password
(provided a password was not created in this hidden account during setup).
4. Go to Start - Control Panel - User Accounts.
5. Select your name and click change the password.
Then you should be able to change the password, shut down the computer and restart in
normal mode and use the new password you just created.

****
If you have XP Pro on your computer:-
1. At the log in screen “ ctrl-alt-delete “ twice.
2. In the User Account, type Administrator
3. Leave the password blank and press enter.
(Most likely a password wasn’t created in this hidden account during setup).
4. Go to Start - Control Panel - User Accounts.
5. Select your name and click change the password.
Then you should be able to change the password, shut down the computer and restart in
normal mode and use the new password you just created.

If you decide to set a password it is recommended that you create a Password Reset
Disk by clicking on "Prevent a Forgotten Password" link in the left pane. The Wizard
will guide you through.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;321305
How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your Password Expires

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm
lists a few more options

Useful tools - Nir Soft at www.nirsoft.net
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html#password_utils
 
I have a similar problem, but it appears to be the "hidden" password that has
been set - is my only solution to buy a new hard-drive?
 
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