windows login - forgot password

-Nick- · 6 Feb 2007 at 20:23

ok my friend forgot the password to her windows xp account, how can she change it? the only way i can think of is going into another account and deleting it and making a new account.

EirePlane · 6 Feb 2007 at 20:58

could try logging in in safe mode as the administrator. To enter safe mode hold down F8 just after the post screen, just before the windows loading screen

Freakish_05 · 6 Feb 2007 at 21:29

As above.
Usually end-users don't set administrator passwords because they rarely format the machine. As administrator you can reset the password to anything you like and she should be able to log back in.
My better half gets her password changed mysteriously every couple of months :rolleyes:

PhilthyPhil · 6 Feb 2007 at 22:13

You can reset the administrator password using ERD Commander. Its not cheap though, about $1400 :eek:

I'm sure there are also solutions based on Linux live CDs and bootable floppys but I can't remember names as it's ages since I used one.

Banzai_Joe · 6 Feb 2007 at 22:18

You can also use Password Changer. You boot from a disk and it lets you change all account passwords.

James_H · 7 Feb 2007 at 00:36

I find this one particularly useful:
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

ns400r · 7 Feb 2007 at 06:36

-Nick- said:
ok my friend forgot the password to her windows xp account, how can she change it? the only way i can think of is going into another account and deleting it and making a new account.

Is there a second account on the PC?
Is so it's more than likely an Administrator so simply logon with the other account and change the password. No need to delete the broken account.
If it's XP Home then start the PC in safe mode and logon as Administrator (which has a blank password by default) and change the broken account password.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...s/en-us/windows_password_change.mspx?mfr=true