Re: Password Change

LS wrote:
When we turn on the kids computer it says that the password has expired and needs changed. We have moved and have not touched this computer for at least a year and dont know what it is. Is there a way to find this out or bypass it? We cant log onto the computer --HELP
PS we are not al all good or understand computers

If you have forgotten your password, if you have another user account with administrative privileges you can log into that account and change your original user account's password from the User Accounts applet in Control Panel. If you don't have another account like this set up or don't have the password to it, you'll need to log into the built-in Administrator account. In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not work here. Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden Administrator account. The default password is a blank.

In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen, do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in "Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up Windows.

If you reset the built-in Administrator account's password in Home or have Pro and don't remember the password, use NTpasswd to change the built-in Administrator account's password to a blank.

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

Then go to the User Accounts applet in Control Panel and set passwords that you will remember and make other desired changes. WRITE THE PASSWORDS DOWN AND PUT THEM SOMEWHERE YOU WON'T LOSE THEM.

I'm guessing that you have XP Pro because of the requirement to change the password. If yes, then don't forget to go to Administrative Tools>Local Users and Groups and look at each user account's Properties. Check the box that says "password never expires".

If you don't have XP Pro, then the computer may be infected. Here are general steps that will help you determine this after you get into the machine:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
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