How to change a windows XP password?

[BbBb]

My friend, shes real dumb, and forgot her password and she is the only "user" on the computer. Is there anyway that you can fix this without reprogramming windows to its original settings and losing all work?

[Kaisonic]

Unfortunately, if she is the only administrator on the computer, and no other users exist, and the guest account is turned off, there's really no way to log in to Windows. Unless you can find some way around it through Safe Mode or the BIOS settings, you'll have to reinstall Windows. Keep in mind that if you have the correct Windows disc, you can successfully reinstall the operating system without losing the other data on the hard disk.

[wired076]

I have written up the solution to your problem. To resolve this issue without reinstalling windows please click here. If you would like me to create a video of this happening let me know by emailing me at admin@wired.profusehost.net.

I have also recently added a section to the tutorial on how to reset the administrator local password.

[wired076]

How did you go with this issue? Is it all fixed?? Would love to know if you fixed the problem or not. I hope that my tutorial helped you to solve the password woes.

[spoweb]

Restart in Safe Mode. Windows Xp always has a hidden Administrator account that does. It doesn't need a password to log in with that account, and if my memory serves me right, you can open User Accounts, select the one you forgot the password on, and click remove password.

[bizzard]

Windows XP always has a hidden Administrator account that does. It doesn't need a password to log in with that account

Its not true. Every time you install Windows XP, the first user created is the one with all the privileges and is named as "administrator". In some mother boards, you won't be asked for the username of your account and only the administrator account will be there. It can also be protected by password. But, when another administrator account is created, this account will be made hidden and will be visible while running safe mode. So, if the account "administrator" hasn't got any password, you could log in and make changes to other accounts.

[pmtown]

You can login as safe mode then you can manage Administrator's password as usual .

[zztech]

Or use DreamPack PL, a nice tool for changing passwords. Just make sure the computer isn't running Windows Defender, otherwise the whole machine is screwed...

[seghwa]

It's awful when we lost the password. It made me mad also. If this things happen to me, I will reformat the windows. Well installing Windows is a normal thing to me as I often do. If you need some things to backup, just use software like Windows Live in CD or USB. At the beginning I need one week to do it, but now I just need half of the day to finish the whole process, including the basic program I need to use.

[coolwrks]

just use software like Windows Live in CD or USB.

Is there a thing called Windows Live CD? I haven't heard of it. If there is, how can it be obtained?