Re: No boot and no administrator password!

From: Paul (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 04/06/04 

Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2004 09:01:15 -0700

Problem solved!

Linux-based bootable floppy to the rescue! VERY easy to
use. I was able to change my recovery console from
ENFORCED to SKIPPED. Makes me wonder how some commercial
vendors charge up to $200 to change a password. Here is
the link if anyone following this thread needs it:

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

Note: be VERY careful and follow all instructions before
using this utility as any misstep can/will result in a
pooched OS!

**disclaimer -- ONLY use this utility to access your
recovery console if you've been locked out due to
a 'hidden' administrator password that you did not
create! You should NOT use this utility to change an
otherwise valid desktop administrator password.

Thanks again Michael for all your help!

>-----Original Message-----
>The next step would be the tools from the Internet.
There's at least one I
>believe that can make a bootable floppy that can read
NTFS, sorry, I don't
>have a link.
>
>After that, you could check the back pages of computer
magazines for ads for
>hard drive recovery as there are places that do this
sort of thing but they
>aren't cheap.
>
>--
>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>Windows Shell/User
>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>"Paul" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
>news:188b301c41b6d$0d5891b0$a301280a@phx.gbl...
>> Well crapola..
>>
>> I didn't make the rescue disks, and although I have PM
>> version 7.01 installed on my inaccessible machine I
can't
>> install the CD on another system because I can't find
the
>> CD jacket with the license # on it.
>>
>> I see some Linux based tools available on the internet
to
>> accomplish what I need to do as a last resort. (don't
know
>> how to image the downloaded files onto a bootable
floppy
>> though >(
>>
>> Any other ways to skin this cat Michael?
>>
>> Thanks for all your help!
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>It does have it's own boot disks if you remembered to
>> make them. Not sure
>>>if the CD is bootable. If you have access to another
>> setup, you can make
>>>the boot disks or you may find some additional
>> instructions on the CD about
>>>what you might do in this situation.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>>Windows Shell/User
>>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>>
>>>"Paul" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> message
>>>news:17d2001c419d1$799dcae0$a501280a@phx.gbl...
>>>> Huzzaah!
>>>>
>>>> I have Partition Magic 7.0 and it is XP compatible.
I
>>>> don't recall though that it was a bootable CD since
it
>>>> worked within Windows.
>>>>
>>>> I'll give it a shot and let you know.
>>>>
>>>> THANKS Michael!
>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>OK, still another way to skin this cat. You'll need
a
>>>> new partition, if you
>>>>>don't have a spare partition you can mark active,
you'll
>>>> need third party
>>>>>software such as Partition Magic, www.powerquest.com,
>>>> check website for XP
>>>>>compatible versions. Install XP to that partition
boot
>>>> to it, then copy
>>>>>your data from the old setup to the new setup.
>>>>>
>>>>>You will likely be met with a cannot access notice
with
>>>> regard to the files,
>>>>>if that happens, you need to take ownership as
follows:
>>>>>
>>>>>Note, file ownership and permissions supersede
>>>> administrator rights. How
>>>>>you resolve it depends upon which version of XP you
are
>>>> running.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>XP-Home
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Unfortunately, XP Home using NTFS is essentially hard
>>>> wired for "Simple File
>>>>>Sharing" at system level.
>>>>>
>>>>>However, you can set XP Home permissions in Safe
Mode.
>>>> Reboot, and start
>>>>>hitting F8, a menu should eventually appear and one
of
>> the
>>>>>options is Safe Mode. Select it. Note, it will ask
for
>>>> the administrator's
>>>>>password. This is not your administrator account,
>> rather
>>>> it is the
>>>>>machine's administrator account for which users are
>> asked
>>>> to create a
>>>>>password during setup.
>>>>>
>>>>>If you created no such password, when requested,
leave
>>>> blank and press
>>>>>enter.
>>>>>
>>>>>Open Explorer, go to Tools and Folder Options, on the
>>>> view tab, scroll to
>>>>>the bottom of the list, if it shows "Enable Simple
File
>>>> Sharing" deselect it
>>>>>and click apply and ok. If it shows nothing or won't
>> let
>>>> you make a change,
>>>>>move on to the next step.
>>>>>
>>>>>Navigate to the files, right click, select
properties,
>> go
>>>> to the Security
>>>>>tab, click advanced, go to the Owner tab and select
the
>>>> user that was logged
>>>>>on when you were refused permission to access the
files.
>>>> Click apply and
>>>>>ok. Close the properties box, reopen it, click add
and
>>>> type in the name of
>>>>>the user you just enabled. If you wish to set
ownership
>>>> for everything in
>>>>>the folder, at the bottom of the Owner tab is the
>>>> following selection:
>>>>>"Replace owner on subcontainers and objects," select
it
>>>> as well.
>>>>>
>>>>>Once complete, you should be able to do what you wish
>>>> with these files when
>>>>>you log back on as that user.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>XP-Pro
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>If you have XP Pro, temporarily change the limited
>>>> account to
>>>>>administrative. First, go to Windows Explorer, go to
>>>> Tools, select Folder
>>>>>Options, go to the View tab and be sure "Use Simple
File
>>>> Sharing" is not
>>>>>selected. If it is, deselect it and click apply and
ok.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>If you wish everything in a specific folder to be
>>>> accessible to a user,
>>>>>right click the folder, select properties, go to the
>>>> Security tab, click
>>>>>Advanced, go to the Owner tab,
>>>>>select the user you wish to have access, at the
bottom
>> of
>>>> the box, you
>>>>>should see a check box for "Replace owner on
>>>> subcontainers and objects,"
>>>>>place a check in the box and click apply and ok.
>>>>>
>>>>>The user should now be able to perform necessary
>>>> functions on files in the
>>>>>folder even as a limited account. If not, make it an
>>>> admin account again,
>>>>>right click the folder, select Properties, go to the
>>>> Security tab and be
>>>>>sure the user is listed in the user list. If not,
click
>>>> add and type the
>>>>>user name in the appropriate box, be sure the user
has
>>>> all the necessary
>>>>>permissions checked in the permission list below the
>> user
>>>> list, click apply
>>>>>and ok.
>>>>>
>>>>>That should do it and allow whatever access you
desire
>>>> for that folder even
>>>>>in a limited account.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>>>>Windows Shell/User
>>>>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>>>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>><lawnetpfm@aol.com> wrote in message
>>>>>news:1351801c419bf$4d328160$a001280a@phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Hidden, secret... it's all the same to me!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yeah I've tried all of the options at the safe mode
>>>> page,
>>>>>> all giving me the same message: <windows
>>>>>> root>\system32.hal.dll is corrupted or missing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I cannot do a clean install and lose all my data
>> knowing
>>>>>> that there is an 'unconventional' way past this
>> problem.
>>>>>> Guess I'll have to do some googling and find a
>>>> workaround.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you have any other ideas, feel free please to
share
>>>>>> them with me either via this thread, or email shown
>>>> above.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks again Michael...
>>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>LOL, it's not a secret...it's a hidden account
that is
>>>>>> called administrator.
>>>>>>>Most people don't make a password for it when they
>>>>>> install and if XP was
>>>>>>>installed at the factory they don't make a password
>> for
>>>>>> it so the key would
>>>>>>>be, to select Administrator, leave the password
blank
>>>> and
>>>>>> press enter.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Well, ok, that didn't work. Two possible options
>> here.
>>>>>> First, let's try
>>>>>>>"Last Known Good Configuration." Boot the system,
>> start
>>>>>> tapping F8, when
>>>>>>>the menu appears, select "Last Known Good
>>>> Configuration,"
>>>>>> press enter and
>>>>>>>see if that resolves it. If that fails, do the
same
>> as
>>>>>> above but choose
>>>>>>>Safe Mode, if you can get in, you'll be able to
>> change
>>>>>> the boot.ini file.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>If the above fails, I can't see any way out of this
>> but
>>>>>> to wipe the drive
>>>>>>>and start over. Since you have an OEM install but
an
>> XP
>>>>>> upgrade CD, you'll
>>>>>>>need qualifying media at some point during the
>>>>>> installation in order to do a
>>>>>>>clean install with the upgrade CD.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Booting from a floppy will accomplish nothing as
the
>>>>>> floppy is fat and your
>>>>>>>drive is likely formatted NTFS.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>>>>>>Windows Shell/User
>>>>>>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>>>>>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Paul" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
in
>>>>>> message
>>>>>>>news:181fe01c419ba$e54a74d0$a101280a@phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> Yes, I have tried that to no avail. I've also
>> tried a
>>>>>>>> million passwords that I can ever remember, but
also
>>>> to
>>>>>> no
>>>>>>>> avail.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My desktop is NOT password protected,(computer
boots
>>>>>>>> straight to desktop) so I'm baffled as to why it
>> asks
>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> an admin password, when one is not in place.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Is this a bug? I've read about 'secret'
>> administrator
>>>>>>>> accounts being created, but not sure if this
applies
>>>>>> here.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It's really frustrating knowing that I can't boot
>>>>>> because
>>>>>>>> of a simple invalid value (0 instead of a 1) I
put
>> in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> boot.ini file.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Is it possible to copy a simple boot.ini command
>> onto
>>>> a
>>>>>>>> floppy and boot from that?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks again Michael for your generous support!
>>>>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>>At the Recovery Console, have you tried just
leaving
>>>> the
>>>>>>>> password blank and
>>>>>>>>>pressing enter?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>>>>>>>>Windows Shell/User
>>>>>>>>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>>>>>>>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>"Paul" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote
>> in
>>>>>>>> message
>>>>>>>>>news:181b201c419af$dce123d0$a101280a@phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks Michael for the prompt reply!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> One problem here. I'm using an XP Home
upgrade CD
>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> repair an OEM system, thus it finds no previous
>>>>>>>>>> installations to repair. Following your
>>>> directions, I
>>>>>>>>>> arrive at a screen where my only options are to
>>>> setup,
>>>>>>>>>> partition, or delete partition. I was able to
>>>>>> navigate
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> a screen where I was able to point the console
to
>> a
>>>>>>>>>> specific folder to install windows to, instead
of
>>>>>>>>>> C:\windows.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> So now I'm back to a useless recovery console
due
>>>> to a
>>>>>>>>>> phantom administrator password that doesn't
>>>> exist#@#@.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Any other suggestions would be highly
appreciated!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>>>>Try a Repair Install instead of Recovery
Console.
>>>>>> NOTE:
>>>>>>>>>> in the instructions
>>>>>>>>>>>below, when you come to the screen that asks
you
>> to
>>>>>>>>>> choose Setup Windows or
>>>>>>>>>>>"R" for Repair, you want Setup Windows, this
will
>>>>>>>>>> ultimately take you to the
>>>>>>>>>>>repair option.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Assuming your system is set to boot from the
CD-
>> ROM
>>>>>>>> drive
>>>>>>>>>> and you have an
>>>>>>>>>>>actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot
>> with
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> XP
>>>>>>>>>>>CD in the drive and perform a repair install as
>>>>>> outlined
>>>>>>>>>> below. If the
>>>>>>>>>>>system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are
>> not
>>>>>>>> sure,
>>>>>>>>>> you need to enter
>>>>>>>>>>>the system's BIOS. When you boot the system,
the
>>>>>> first
>>>>>>>>>> screen usually has
>>>>>>>>>>>instructions that if you wish to enter set
press a
>>>>>>>>>> specific key, when you
>>>>>>>>>>>see that, do so. Then you will have to
navigate
>> to
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> boot sequence, if
>>>>>>>>>>>the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it
first
>> in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> boot sequence. Save
>>>>>>>>>>>your settings and exit with the XP CD in the
>> drive.
>>>>>> The
>>>>>>>>>> system will reboot.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>NOTE, while a repair install should leave your
>> data
>>>>>>>> files
>>>>>>>>>> intact, if
>>>>>>>>>>>something goes wrong during the repair install,
>> you
>>>>>> may
>>>>>>>>>> be forced to start
>>>>>>>>>>>over and do a clean install of XP. If you
don't
>>>> have
>>>>>>>>>> your data backed up,
>>>>>>>>>>>you would lose your data should that
eventuality
>>>>>> occur.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be
>> able
>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> boot from the CD, it
>>>>>>>>>>>should detect the disk and give a brief
message,
>>>>>> during
>>>>>>>>>> the boot up, if you
>>>>>>>>>>>wish to boot from the CD press any key.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Once you have pressed a key, setup should
begin.
>>>> You
>>>>>>>>>> will see a reference
>>>>>>>>>>>asking if you need to load special drivers and
>>>> another
>>>>>>>>>> notice that if you
>>>>>>>>>>>wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery
Console)
>>>>>>>>>> depress F2. Just let
>>>>>>>>>>>setup run past all of that. It will continue
to
>>>> load
>>>>>>>>>> files and drivers.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Then it will bring you to a screen.
Eventually,
>> you
>>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>>>>> come to a screen
>>>>>>>>>>>with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2)
Repair
>>>>>>>>>> Windows Installation
>>>>>>>>>>>using the Recovery console.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>The first option, to setup Windows is the one
you
>>>> want
>>>>>>>>>> and requires you to
>>>>>>>>>>>press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept
the
>> end
>>>>>>>> user
>>>>>>>>>> agreement. Setup
>>>>>>>>>>>will then search for previous versions of
Windows.
>>>>>> Upon
>>>>>>>>>> finding your
>>>>>>>>>>>version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your
>>>>>> current
>>>>>>>>>> installation or
>>>>>>>>>>>install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair
>>>>>>>>>> installation. From there
>>>>>>>>>>>on, follow the screens.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>>>>>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>>>>>>>>>>>Windows Shell/User
>>>>>>>>>>>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>>>>>>>>>>>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>"Paul FM" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
>>>> wrote
>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>> message
>>>>>>>>>>>news:17b1301c41921$647438d0$a401280a@phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>>>> Ugh... long story, but today I fiddled with
my
>>>>>>>> boot.ini
>>>>>>>>>>>> file (had 2 XP operating systems at OS choice
>>>>>> screen)
>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>>> XP Home and now I'm locked out of my
computer.
>> (no
>>>>>>>>>> boot) I
>>>>>>>>>>>> get the error message: <windows
root>\system32
>>>>>> \hal.dll
>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>>>> missing or corrupt.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Ok, no problem I think, I'll just repair it
in
>> the
>>>>>> XP
>>>>>>>>>>>> recovery console. It asks me for an
>> administrator
>>>>>>>>>>>> password -- but I have PW disabled for my
>>>>>>>> administrator
>>>>>>>>>>>> account, so I have no clue what to do to get
in,
>>>>>> short
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>>> trying every password that I've ever used.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Please help, this is FRUSTRATING!
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks kindly, in advance!
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>.
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>.
>>>
>
>
>.
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: XP Home Recovery Console Password Problem
    ... >> when I can't boot from the hard drive). ... >> When accessing the Recovery Console option during a boot from the XP ... I'm not always asked for the Administrator Password, which seems odd, ... When I access the Users applet via Control Panel, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: XP Home Recovery Console Password Problem
    ... Boot to Safe Mode. ... > When accessing the Recovery Console option during a boot from the XP ... I'm not always asked for the Administrator Password, which seems odd, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Recovery console, cant login!
    ... >> recovery console is installed on my hard drive, ... >> enter the CORRECT password, and it wont let me, i ... >> login to recovery console, it just keeps coming up as ... >> administrator password and it wont let me login, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Recovery Console Admin Password
    ... >not be able to do much in the Recovery Console. ... >Windows via Safe Mode? ... >> administrator password and it still ask for one. ... My system lockes ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: XP Home Recovery Console Password Problem: Attn: Mark
    ... 'The Password Is Not Valid' Error Message Appears When You Log On to Recovery Console in Windows XP ... In a normal boot, I see the Welcome Screen, but don't recall ... > the Administrator Password when trying to access the Recovery Console ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)