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my neice has forgotten her windows password and she can not get on her computer. I am not very famliar with computers, so I need help.
You might try the following. I'm going to assume that she is using Windows XP. I got it from the MicroSoft website. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305)
Keep in mind that it clearly states that if you didn't make a password reset disk you cannot log into Windows and must reinstall Windows XP.
How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password or if your password expires If your password expires or if you forget your password, you can use a different user account to log on to Microsoft Windows XP. Alternatively, you can use a password reset disk to log on to Microsoft Windows XP.
Note If you have forgotten the password for all user accounts, and if you did not create a password reset disk, you cannot log on to Windows XP. This is for security reasons. If this problem occurs, you must reinstall Windows XP. Then, you must reinstall all the programs.
Use the following methods to try to log on to Windows XP. The instructions guide you through each step and help you verify that the problem is resolved.
Method 1: Use a password reset disk Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional 1. Restart the computer. 2. On the Windows XP logon screen, click the user name that you want to use, and then press ENTER.
Note You receive the following error message: Did you forget your password? You can click the “?” button to see your password hint. Or you can use your password reset disk. Please type your password again. Be sure to use the correct uppercase and lowercase letters. 3. Click Use your password reset disk. 4. In the Password Reset Wizard dialog box, click Next. 5. Insert the password reset disk into drive A, and then click Next. 6. Type a new password in the Type a new password box, and then type password again in the Type the password again to confirm box. 7. In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint for the password, and then click Next. 8. Click Finish, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.
Method 2: Log on as an administrator to reset the password Step 1: Log on as an administrator Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional a. Restart the computer. b. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE two times, and then type the name of the administrator user account. c. In the Password box, type the administrator password, and then click OK.
Note If the administrator password is set to a blank password, do not type a password before you click OK. Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional in a workgroup a. Restart the computer, and then after the Power On Self Test (POST), press the F8 key. b. On the Windows Advanced Options menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER. c. Select Microsoft Windows XP edition, and then press ENTER.
Note In this step, edition represents the correct Windows edition. d. On the To begin, click your user name screen, click Administrator, and then type the administrator password. e. Press ENTER, and then click Yes. Windows XP Professional in a domain a. In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then type the name of the administrator user account. b. In the Password box, type the administrator password, and then click OK.
Note If the administrator password is set to a blank password, do not type a password before you click OK. Step 2: Reset the password Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional a. Click Start, click Run, type control userpasswords2, and then click OK. b. Click the name of the user account that you want to reset the password for, and then click Reset Password. c. Type a new password in the New password box, and then type the password again in the Confirm new password box, and then click OK. d. Restart the computer, and then try to log on to Windows XP again. Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional in a workgroup a. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. b. Click User Accounts, and then click the name of the user account that you want to reset the password for. c. Click Change the Password, and then type a new password. Note If you do not want to use a password, click Remove password, and then continue to step e. d. Click Change Password. e. Restart the computer, and then try to log on to Windows XP again. Windows XP Professional in a domain a. Click Start, click Run, type compmgmt.msc, and then click OK. b. In the Computer Management (Local) dialog box, expand Local Users and Groups. c. Click the Users folder, and then right-click the user account that you want to reset the password for. d. Click Set Password, and then click Proceed. e. Type a new password in the New password box, type the password again in the Confirm password box, and then click OK two times. f. Restart the computer, and then try to log into Windows XP again.
The average person will try these methods:
Method-1.
Log on your computer by using built-in Administrator account in safe mode, its password default blank if you never change it. So that you can use it to change all other user password. Press F8 when you start/restart your PC, select Safe Mode to boot system.Or press ctrl+alt+delete two times in the welcome screen.
Method-2.
Use a password reset disk if you have already created.So remember to create a password reset disk when you create/change a password.Insert your reset disk when the system prompt you to use it as soon as you input a wrong password and press OK. However,how to create password reset disk? For instance creating a password reset disk in Windows 7.Same things can be done in Windows 8,WIndows vista/XP and so on.The operations are similar. 1. Click Start and then choose Control Panel. 2. Click on the User Accounts and Family Safety. Note: You will not see this link while you're viewing the Control Panel under Large icons or Small icons mode. Then double-click on the User Accounts icon and proceed to Step 4. 3. Click on the User Accounts. Note: Make sure that there is a portable media being connected on the computer to create the password reset disk before you proceed. This means that you will need a flash drive or a floppy disk drive and a blank floppy disk. You cannot create a Windows 7 password reset disk with a CD/DVD or external hard drive. 4. In the task pane on the left, click Create a password reset disk. Note: If you get a No Drive warning message at this time, it shows that you have not got a floppy disk or USB flash drive connected onto your PC. You'll need to do this before continuing. 5. When the Forgotten Password Wizard appears, click Next. 6. Choose the portable media drive to create a Windows 7 password reset disk. And then click Next to continue. 7. With the disk or other media still in the drive, enter your current account password in the text box and click Next. 8. Windows 7 now starts to create the password reset disk. Click Next and then click Finish in the next window when the progress indicator shows 100% complete. 9. You can now remove the flash drive or floppy disk from your computer. Label the Windows 7 Password Reset disk and place it in a safe place. NOTE: You have to renew your password reset disk when you have changed your password. If you forgot to do this, you can't reset your password by the previous reset disk when you lost windows password and it will be much more troublesome.
Method-3.
If the methods above are unavailable,you have to reinstall your system,or else If you really meet this situation, don't worry, you can download a free software--Ophcrack, or reset Windows password with the Command Prompt.
If you want to save time, you can use Windows Password Rescuer professional to deal with this problem. It is designed to recover Windows 8/7/2008/2003/2000/xp/vista password, and it can complete the task within several minutes.
I have used Ophcrack to remove the password, but failed, afterward I used Windows Password Rescuer professional successfully reset my XP admin password, the steps are below(only four steps):
Create a Windows Password Rescuer boot disk. Download the software and install it in a PC you have access. Run it and follow the button to burn it to CD or USB.
Set computer to boot from CD/DVD-ROM or USB flash drive. Press F2 or DELETE when you start/restart your PC to get into the BIOS SETUP manu.Use Arrow keys to select BOOT manu,and use +/- keys to move CD/DVD option or USB option to the first site. Press F10 to save and EXIT.
Boot from Windows Password Rescuer boot disk. After setting your computer to boot from CD/DVD rom or USB flash, insert Windows Password Rescuer boot disk you have created, and then restart computer and wait for a moment , Windows Password Rescuer 3.0 will startup and display a friendly operation window.
Reset Windows 2000/2003/2008/XP/VISTA/WIN7/WIN8 password with a friendly interface. When Windows Password Rescuer startup and ready, you can do follow the steps below: At step 1, All windows on your computer will be list at combo box. Select one you want to reset its password.. At step 2, All Local Group Account will be list at combo box. Select one user you wan to reset its password. At step 3, Input a password to the password box. NOTICE: If you system is Windows VISTA or WIN7, Administrator Account may be disabled, and it will not appear at logon screen. At step 4, Click Reset Password, and eject Windows Password Rescuer boot disk You can free download the program by this link:http://funadvice.com/r/bmitea9djed
A lot of methods are available to recover or reset the Windows password. The famous Ophcrack is used for recovering the password.The big disadvantage of ophcrack is the large ISO file. We need to download a file of size 500MB to recover the password.And I have tested it ever,it actually can not dispay the password as the instruction says.
However, there is also a plenty of software which can help us reset the Windows password by a bootble DVD/CD or USB driver. As those Windows password recovery software with a small ISO image file, you can save a lost of time and space to download such program. But the problem is you need operate in Dos environment, which is more suitable for PC expert.
So I thought why not we simply reset or remove the password using Windows Password Rescuer program. The friendly and intuitive interface of Windows password Rescuer 3.0 makes it easy to use, even for a novice.
A lot of methods are available to recover or reset the Windows password. The famous Ophcrack is used for recovering the password.The big disadvantage of ophcrack is the large ISO file. We need to download a file of size 500MB to recover the password.And I have tested it ever,it actually can not dispay the password as the instruction says.
However, there is also a plenty of software which can help us reset the Windows password by a bootble DVD/CD or USB driver. As those Windows password recovery software with a small ISO image file, you can save a lost of time and space to download such program. But the problem is you need operate in Dos environment, which is more suitable for PC expert.
So I thought why not we simply reset or remove the password using Windows Password Rescuer program. The friendly and intuitive interface of Windows password Rescuer 3.0 makes it easy to use, even for a novice.
In fact, there are many ways we can find a lot of ways which can be used to reset forgotten Windows password. Use Windows password reset disk, reset through another admin account, reset in safe mode or as someone mentioned, reset by re-install Windows system. I want to say, the easiest way is to make use of some useful tools. When I lost my password, I have no password reset disk , nor other account. I used Windows Password Killer and it get things done in five minutes. What's more, no data get lost in the process. Amazing? Isn't it?
Many available ways can be used, but we actually use little. I have experienced Windows password forgotten. After failing to try manys ways, I visit a website "http://www.resetwindowspassword.com". I knew the software Anmosoft Windows Password Reset. It let me unlock my PC in minutes. Helpful!
Above methods seem to be good. But I think the best way to reset or change your lost Windows password can be reset software.
Call 800) MICROSOFT (642-7676) and speak with a technician.
