lost admin password

we had someone install software on our computer at work . they put in an
admin password and set priviliges
he has since left company ,
but now we cannot install any software , windows is asking for password and
username is there anybody who can help i cant think what to do next a format
is out of the question

windows xp proffesional
please reply to irlampete@yahoo.co.uk

thanks
pete

The solution is simple. Restart your computer and hold F8 during bootup to
bring up the safe mode type menu. Use normal safe mode. At logon, enter the
username Adminstrator with no password. Then in User Accounts (Control
Panel) make your changes.
I hope this fixes your problem.

"pete" <irlampete@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:crGMa.41$XW5.14@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...

> we had someone install software on our computer at work . they put in an
> admin password and set priviliges
> he has since left company ,
> but now we cannot install any software , windows is asking for password

and

> username is there anybody who can help i cant think what to do next a

format

> is out of the question
>
> windows xp proffesional
> please reply to irlampete@yahoo.co.uk
>
> thanks
> pete
>
>

HELP! Lost Admin password and no other accounts created.
How can I access XP software. Tried to format hard drive,
unsuccessfully.

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

1. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition(s), then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. After installing Windows XP, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

7. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
After XP is installed, visit the support website of the manufacturer
of each hardware device to obtain the latest drivers or software
designed to work with Windows XP.


--
Nicholas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Andrea" <andrea.hughes@thomson.com> wrote in message:
news:034901c38134$99e41510$a401280a@phx.gbl...

| HELP! Lost Admin password and no other accounts created.
| How can I access XP software. Tried to format hard drive,
| unsuccessfully.

boot to dos. delete the file in system32\config\ called sam. that will
delete the password.


"Andrea" <andrea.hughes@thomson.com> wrote in message
news:034901c38134$99e41510$a401280a@phx.gbl...

> HELP! Lost Admin password and no other accounts created.
> How can I access XP software. Tried to format hard drive,
> unsuccessfully.

Andrea;
Try leaving the password blank.

The password is Case Sensitive.
Check Caps Lock and try various of Capital combinations.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321305
If you do not have a Password Recovery Disk, it is to late to make it.
Or
Log in to any account that has Administrator access.
Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel.
Select the user and change the password.

Windows XP Pro:
At the log-in screen, press Ctrl/Alt/Del twice quickly
Type "Administrator" and leave password blank.

Windows XP Home:
Reboot, tapping F8 each second.
Select Safe Mode at the menu.
Select Administrator, leave password blank.

Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel.
Select the user and change the password.
If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, you may
permanently lose access to the encrypted data.

Here is another option:
http://www.wininternals.com/products...very/index.asp

Another option is to install Windows XP on another partition and take
Ownership of your data.
You could also perform another installation on the same partition,
although this is not a permanent fix and it is recommended to perform
a Clean Installation after retrieving your data.

After this is resolved, take precautions to not lose the password.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...oups/setup.asp
http://dts-l.org/index.html


"Andrea" <andrea.hughes@thomson.com> wrote in message
news:034901c38134$99e41510$a401280a@phx.gbl...

> HELP! Lost Admin password and no other accounts created.
> How can I access XP software. Tried to format hard drive,
> unsuccessfully.

What do you mean-boot to dos?

>-----Original Message-----
>boot to dos. delete the file in system32\config\ called

sam. that will

>delete the password.
>
>
>"Andrea" <andrea.hughes@thomson.com> wrote in message
>news:034901c38134$99e41510$a401280a@phx.gbl...

drive,

>
>
>.
>

There is no way to bypass an Administrator's password.
You either have it
or you don't. If you don't, then you'll have to reformat
the hard drive
and reinstall Windows XP "clean".

Perhaps the following articles can help:

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;321305

Administrator and User Passwords in Windows XP
http://www2.cajun.net/~theriots/xpsi.../win_xp_passwo
rds.htm

[Courtesy of Kelly Theriot, MS-MVP]


--
Nicholas

>-----Original Message-----

>I lost track of the administrative password for Windows
>XP on one of my computers. What can I do? Is there a
>backdoor?

Actually there are tools available to reset local passwords if you have
physical access to the machine. As a Microsoft employee, I don't think I
should be promoting hacker tools, but searching the web for keywords like
"change NT password" will probably turn up one of the free ones.

--
Drew Cooper [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


"Nicholas" <mrxp2004@nospamyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f69e01c38308$59e3e370$a601280a@phx.gbl...

> There is no way to bypass an Administrator's password.
> You either have it
> or you don't. If you don't, then you'll have to reformat
> the hard drive
> and reinstall Windows XP "clean".
>
> Perhaps the following articles can help:
>
> 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;321305
>
> Administrator and User Passwords in Windows XP
> http://www2.cajun.net/~theriots/xpsi.../win_xp_passwo
> rds.htm
>
> [Courtesy of Kelly Theriot, MS-MVP]
>
>
> --
> Nicholas
>

>

>

Charles;
Try leaving the password blank.

The password is Case Sensitive.
Check Caps Lock and try various of Capital combinations.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321305
If you do not have a Password Recovery Disk, it is to late to make it.
Or
Log in to any account that has Administrator access.
Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel.
Select the user and change the password.

Windows XP Pro:
At the log-in screen, press Ctrl/Alt/Del twice quickly
Type "Administrator" and leave password blank.

Windows XP Home:
Reboot, tapping F8 each second.
Select Safe Mode at the menu.
Select Administrator, leave password blank.

Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel.
Select the user and change the password.
If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, you may
permanently lose access to the encrypted data.

Here is another option:
http://www.wininternals.com/products...very/index.asp

Another option is to install Windows XP on another partition and take
Ownership of your data.
You could also perform another installation on the same partition,
although this is not a permanent fix and it is recommended to perform
a Clean Installation after retrieving your data.

After this is resolved, take precautions to not lose the password.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...oups/setup.asp
http://dts-l.org/index.html


"Charles B" <cburtphd@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:f57801c382ff$3a6932b0$a601280a@phx.gbl...

> I lost track of the administrative password for Windows
> XP on one of my computers. What can I do? Is there a
> backdoor?