XP Administrator.......

[compu_techman]

A customers computer has come back into the shop unable to boot. Gives an error message about the isapnp.dll file being corrupt. Ok so not a biggie, put the CD in the drive, reboot the machine to get into the repair console, now big problem, the default p/x we use inhouse before sending the computers out for the administrator does not work............arrrrggghhhhhhh.

Is there a way to extract the p/w that is there so we can access the repair console without doing a complete install. Customer is not happy at the prospect of losing all customizations and settings.

Mike

[Matridom]

"windows\repair" has copies of all original configuration. copy the "sam" file to the "windows\conifg" back up original. that file will reset the admin password to the one originaly used during intall. .

[compu_techman]

unfortunately that is not possible, hard drive formatted NTFS and unable to enter repair console

Mike

[IT Len]

Try <a href="http://www.iopus.com/password_recovery.htm" target="_blank">this in the trial version</a> to open the PW's.

We've used it before with good results.

[Ya_know]

[quote]Originally posted by compu_techman:
<strong>unfortunately that is not possible, hard drive formatted NTFS and unable to enter repair console

Mike</strong><hr></blockquote>

You are selling the idea short. Matridom offered that idea a month ago or so to someone with the same problem, and I had to see if it was a real deal. It worked pretty well, but it screwed up a few profiles on the PC. This is no big deal, just create a new one if you need to, and copy data over from the old ones.

My system was a dual boot XP/2k, so NTFS was not an obstacle at all. In your case, you could take the drive out, slave it to another PC with an OS that can read NTFS, move your files, then boot the drive up in the original machine. Trust me, it will work, (as long as the password you mention is the one used during the initial install...).

[silencio]

Check <a href="http://www.winternals.com/products/repairandrecovery/adminpak.asp" target="_blank">this</a> out. If you can get your boss to buy it you'll make your money back in saved time 10 times over.