Re: Password Problem - XP Home

RAH wrote:
A friend of mine called last night in a panic. Her log-on password no
longer works for XP Home. She didn't lose the password, it just
doesn't work anymore. Is there anything I can do to help her short of
reinstalling Windows? Is it possible to run Windows Restore some way
without doing a normal start-up of Windows?

***


Simply log in using the built-in Administrator account (which cannot be deleted) and modify the desired account(s) and use Start > Run > "control userpasswords2" to modify the desired account(s).

Unless she's set the built-in Administrator's password via the Management Console (_not_ the Control Panel), it's probably still blank. WinXP Pro asks the user to set the Administrator's password during installation, but WinXP Home doesn't.

By design, the only way to log into the Administrator account of WinXP Home is to reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at the Welcome Screen will produce the standard login dialog box.

How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your Password Expires
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q321305

Failing that, Linux-based password cracking utilities abound on the Internet, freely available to anyone who can use Google.

--

Bruce Chambers

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