forgot admin password

[Stonehaven]

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I forgot my XP home admin password but i dont want to use one of those bootleg programs. I was wandering if there were any programs made by a reputiable or trust worthy source?, if not my other question is, can i just format the harddrive through the DOS prompt or bootable disk and reinstall or is there an easier way to reinstall?

[Matridom]

If you remember what the password was when you installed, try the following. Boot to the repair console (or put the hard disk in another system) then backup the windows\system32\config folder. Then you take the contents of the windows\repair foler and copy/overwrite it into the config folder. Now, start your system, the password will be what you set it to during install.

What you may wish to do is in the future make the password recovery diskette that XP allows for so that you can avoid this issue in the future

[TripleRLtd]

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I forgot my XP home admin password but i dont want to use one of those bootleg programs. I was wandering if there were any programs made by a reputiable or trust worthy source?, if not my other question is, can i just format the harddrive through the DOS prompt or bootable disk and reinstall or is there an easier way to reinstall?
Welcome to Windrivers, Stonehaven.
What, exactly, is the issue here?
Is admin the only user for this pc?
Is it a name brand pc?
There is no dos prompt (per se) and no bootable disk for XP (I know, I know, read on).
At least not like before, which is what you seem to to be looking for.
Give us more details and we'll give many suggestions.
Good luck and don't give up yet...

[Ya_know]

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I forgot my XP home admin password but i dont want to use one of those bootleg programs. I was wandering if there were any programs made by a reputiable or trust worthy source?, if not my other question is, can i just format the harddrive through the DOS prompt or bootable disk and reinstall or is there an easier way to reinstall?
Bootleg...smootleg... If you want results, and Matridom's instructions aren't able to get you through it, try this utility. I have used it a few times, and it works just fine. No side effects of any sort noted. Other's here have used it, Hopefully they will offer their seal of approval...
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

[shamus]

Other's here have used it, Hopefully they will offer their seal of approval ...
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/


http://www.made2smile.com/funpages/seal/seal_clapping_fins_lg_wht.gif

seriously...I've used the utility Ya_know mentions at least a half a dozen times.
Works flawlessly.

[nunob]

I've also used the program to which Ya_Know refers and never had a problem. :thumbs2:

[NooNoo]

However, if you have a blank password and try and change it, it makes a right dogs dinner of it :)

[Augurr]

However, if you have a blank password and try and change it, it makes a right dogs dinner of it :)


When I tried the old version of it it foobar'd the SAM file. I found a newer version of the bin and that one has given me no problems whatso-ever. Great program, the guy did a GREAT job of coding it.

Phaetos

[Rojacks]

All these program do is mess with or delete the sam file. If HD is Fat32 use a win 98 boot disk find the sam file and rename it to say 'bak' (the file is just called sam with no suffix) reboot and lo and behold the admin password is now blank (just hit logon) and you are away.

If hdd is NTFS, I use a Knoppix boot cd run up linux and do the same, you can find other programs that allow a boot up console from which you can delete the sam file on the web.

You may be able to delete the sam file from the xp recovery console but i expect not, it should ask you for the admin login password (which you dont know) before you can do system level file changes.

[Many Horses]

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I forgot my XP home admin password but i dont want to use one of those bootleg programs. I was wandering if there were any programs made by a reputiable or trust worthy source?, if not my other question is, can i just format the harddrive through the DOS prompt or bootable disk and reinstall or is there an easier way to reinstall?

Heck; I don't even remember having a admin password when I install XP Home. I am the only user of this machine. Am I sopposed to have a password?

[NooNoo]

Yes! But you may have left it blank - the way to find out is boot to safe mode and login as administrator.

[amyb]

Heck; I don't even remember having a admin password when I install XP Home. I am the only user of this machine. Am I sopposed to have a password?
YESSSSSS

[Many Horses]

Yes! But you may have left it blank - the way to find out is boot to safe mode and login as administrator.

Thanks; Yep. I left it blank.