Re: How can I unlock a locked computer?

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

The simplest way is probably to turn off power to the PC. On most PCs the
on/off switch really justs sends a request to the motherboard to reboot. If
pressing that button onc does nothing, try holding it for about 10 seconds,
that usually forces the shutdown. If all else fails, pull the plug.

Then turn the power back on. The PC should reboot into windows and request
that you log in as one of the users it displays. Or, possibly it might give
you a generic login screen, in which you must type a valid user and
password. (More likely XP Pro than XP home)

If you continue having password problems, it is possble to reset XP
passwords from outside of XP. The downside side is that any encrypted files
will be lost, unless you backed up the encryption key. If you have no
encrypted files, then the worst that should happen is that someon with
administrative rights will need to take ownership of files.

http://www.lostpassword.com/
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&sd=tech

If the PC has other problems, like a corrupt registry, you might want to
salvage all personal files and think about either a repair installation of
XP, or a full re-installation of XP. To get files off of a PC you need to
boot the PC from floppy or CD, or peraps do a parallel installation f XP, if
you have a spare partition. The floppy (DOS, win98/ME) is useful if the
internal disk is formatted as FAT32 and if there is a second internal disk.
Since XP usualy comes with NTFS, not FAT32, the CD option is usually more
productie. By CD I mean any one of several free LINUX bootable CDs that
read NTFS and support USB (and firewire) and might even include CD burning
software. My favortie is KNOPPIX. This is a large (700Mg) download as an
ISO file. Use something like Nero or Easy CD Creator to burn-from-file. Do
NOT drag&drop. KNOPPIX is also available as a DVD ISO image, about 3.2 Gig.
The difference is that the larger image has more free software included.
Note that by default KNOPPIX will NOT write to the hard drive; it does not
"install", so it is safe. You can change that default, if you wish.

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html



"Charlie Cabinteely" <CharlieCabinteely@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:9A2B2388-E906-44C6-A230-FC81F2A36F95@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> How do I unlock a computer?
>
> Our family PC has become locked. Windows XP (Home) is running, but
> displays
> the message
>
> "This computer is in use and has been locked. Only USER- 6321OM30GO\user2
> or
> an administrator can unlock this computer"
>
> The 'user' and 'password' fields are greyed out. The cursor is blinking in
> the 'user' field but does not respond to any keystroke or mouse click. Any
> suggestions, folks, as to how I can unlock this computer?
> Charlie Cabinteely
>


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