Re: Screen saver password

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Alex Nichol (alexn.mvpdts_at_ntlworld.delete.com)
Date: 03/21/04 

Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2004 13:19:29 +0000

*Vanguard* wrote:

>> The reason why I'm asking these questions is because I've
>> had some trouble in the past with my little brother
>> guessing the password on my screen saver.
>
>If your little brother can guess your passwords then you have admitted
>that you use extremely weak passwords. The shorter the string length
>and if it is composed of a word or two then obviously the easier it is
>to guess at.

To add to that. If passwords get changed or compromised, that is where
 the reserve, emergency account called Administrator comes in. Boot,
hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to black; take Safe Mode, There will then
be an icon for Administrator on the Welcome screen. (If not, hit
CTL-ALT-DEL twice and enter the explicit name
Administrator
and leave the password blank unless you have set one. You *ought* to
set a complex password for it, and keep a note of it safely locked away
where you - and only you - can get at it if need be)

In that, Start - Run the line
control userpasswords2
where you can select any account name and Reset Password
Note that this can also be run in any user account with admin
privileges, and can set the password of Administrator; so do *not* give
little brothers admin privilege 

-- 
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K.  Alexn@mvps.D8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)

Relevant Pages

  • Re: User Accounts/Administration URGENT
    ... my plan was to create a new user account for my brother. ... > is the administrator, and I don't have that password. ... If you don't have an ISO image writer already installed on your computer, you can download the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit and use the 'cdburn.exe' tool included in that: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: ACCOUNTS!
    ... You can only change it from an administrator account. ... you will have to negotiate with your brother :-) ... > to change it back to computer administrator. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Group Policy Problem
    ... The account that the server logs in with is ... registry key that allows me to see the screen saver tab but the options ... I tried logging in as myself and the group policy applied as I ... When I logged off and then back on as administrator, ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory)
  • Re: URGENT HELP NEEDED Re: User Accounts/Administrators/Novell
    ... The user had administrator status therefore how do I read the password via ... > System Admin account password via the net. ... > Troubleshooting Windows XP ... my plan was to create a new user account for my brother. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Screen Saver Wont Work
    ... My screen saver won't work in my account (administrator), ... in guest. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)