Free XP pro desktop from my company, cant get into computer even in safe mode to reset password

M

Mike G

New Member
Hi all,

I know this is an old computer, but it was free from work as they gave them away, and my 10 year old wants a desktop. Tried safe mode to get into computer to reset password, but even logging in as user: admin with no password gets me no where. I figure I will have to get a new hard drive and buy an operating system, but I am hoping some IT guy might get me past this. Please help...
 
Just buy the new HDD now and O/S and just start fresh, that old HDD and whatever is on it is useless to you anyhow.
 
if its just the windows password that you need then it should be easy to simply run a fresh windows installation from disk or USB Stick wiping the computer clean with a format during the fresh installation, no need to buy a new HD although you will need the OS, if purchasing windows from the microsoft store, or you already own windows from the Microsoft store online, then getting the download files to set up a USB boot drive on a memory stick will also be very easy.

If however you have locked the BIOS with an admin password, thats another ball game all together, if you have locked the BIOS with an admin password and have forgot that password then you are doomed, you will have to go to the manufacturer's of the board for a password reset key and they will probably charge you for it, may even be easier and cheaper to buy a new board compatible with whatever hardware you have going on in there. Only other way to overcome such a huge issue would be to do some online research specific to your board, and see if you can find a hack program for it though a torrent site maybe if your lucky you may find something that can hack your board, could be as simple as doing a flash to reset your BIOS back to manufacture if you are very lucky, however many boards are past this simple reset flash option and wont let you do it, to put it simple putting a admin password on your BIOS is one of the worse moves you could ever make, best off just not bothering going out of your way to perform such a pointless task, I have seen laptops before with BIOS passwords pre-set, some worthless written document that came with the laptop will tell you the password in such cases, but if you are unaware there is a password preset on your BIOS when purchasing a ready build PC or laptop, then years later after all the paperwork / packaging you got with your laptop is long gone assumed worthless and thrown out without a second look, then suddenly you need to enter the BIOS, then you are doomed, if you ever buy a laptop or ready built PC, best bet is to check you can enter the BIOS without a password as soon as you buy it and still have all the manuals and paperwork, then if you need a password to enter use it to get in just that once even if you dont want to change anything on the BIOS, just go into the BIOS to turn that password access shit right off, or change to a password you will never and I mean NEVER forget, but passowrd off is a much better option.
 
I'm afraid with Windows XP Pro if you do not know the password, whether it be for the admin account or the ordinary account you are pretty much stymied. It was possible to get into the admin account in Windows XP Home but not in Pro. There may be some nefarious ways to do it listed somewhere on the internet but I really wouldn't recommend those. Windows 7 (or XP and Vista) can be bought resonably cheaply off Ebay but be very careful buying software off Ebay. Ebay do have a refund policy if you, as a buyer, are scammed unfortunately it does not cover software. I think, as has been said, that your only course of action is to reinstall it with a legitimate copy of Windows unless your works IT section are prepared to give you the passwords, I would not bank on that happening to be honest.
 
I need to know if this is the password in BIOS (the motherboard) or the Windows password. If it's the Windows password then use this utility. Burn it to a blank CD with IMG Burn portable and boot it. You can boot the CD by pressing the F12 key right as the computer boots. Now chose the boot from CD option. This will boot the CD instead of your hard drive. The rest are in the instructions from the website. Very easy and straight forward. I've used this tool before and it works quite well.

https://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/


If you want to just wipe the entire harddrive and start over. You boot the operating system CD like I told you about using F12. The reset is self explanatory. I should mention that after the first run of the CD install procedure, it will automatickly reboot. DO NOT press any key to boot from CD again when it asks. You only do this the first time you boot the CD. Just let it boot and continue installing.

Buy this if you have a working product key on the side of your computer. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Windows-XP-...073472?hash=item2372df03c0:g:9eMAAOSwOdpX0ty~

This might have the included product key. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-W...293677?hash=item41b065282d:g:F5cAAOSwIgNXrNwA

They sell it with RAM because of Microsoft's asinine rule that the operating system be sold with a piece of hardware. So people get around that buy including a piece of RAM that may or may not work. You can toss it.

Buy this if you have a Dell. In which case no product key is needed since it's OEM. What brand is this computer by the way?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Microso...203218?hash=item2372c27a12:g:oMMAAOSwt6ZWVh7S


Here's another one that might have a product key. But I would ask the seller. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-W...769422?hash=item1a1b18f24e:g:OQIAAOSw3xJXnlmQ

I think your best option which should be the easiest is to use the Password Recovery CD and reset the password. But having a back up copy of XP doesn't hurt. Just make sure you download and install service pack 3 for XP.

For a good definition based anti-virus that is lightweight and won't bug you, use Bitdefender Free. You might also want to check out Sandboxie. That will help greatly on making sure ransomware doesn't get on the machine. No definition based anti-virus completely protects you against ransomware.

Please ask questions if you need help.

Edit-

Laquer Head said:
that old HDD and whatever is on it is useless to you anyhow.
Click to expand...

Noting this. After you get situated with the computer. Install the program HDTune and check the SMART info and test the drive. It's not a full proof way of making sure the hard drive is fit, but better than nothing. Sometimes hard drives just die without any SMART errors or known bad clusters.

If you do buy a new hard drive, clone with AOEMI Backuper using a PATA to USB adapter. You plug in the new hard drive to the adapter. The adapter plugs into the USB port of the computer and you direct AOMEI to clone to the hard drive on your cable. Then after it's done cloning put the new hard drive into the computer and it will be like nothing changed.

I've used AOMEI Backuper many times. Works like a champ and easy to use.
 
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_Pete_ said:
I'm afraid with Windows XP Pro if you do not know the password, whether it be for the admin account or the ordinary account you are pretty much stymied. It was possible to get into the admin account in Windows XP Home but not in Pro. There may be some nefarious ways to do it listed somewhere on the internet but I really wouldn't recommend those. Windows 7 (or XP and Vista) can be bought resonably cheaply off Ebay but be very careful buying software off Ebay. Ebay do have a refund policy if you, as a buyer, are scammed unfortunately it does not cover software. I think, as has been said, that your only course of action is to reinstall it with a legitimate copy of Windows unless your works IT section are prepared to give you the passwords, I would not bank on that happening to be honest.
Click to expand...


You are correct, with pro, I cannot get in, so I will purchase a new hard drive and Windows 7 as this computer is old and does not meet specs for Windows 10
 
Agent Smith said:
Didn't ask you to read it. Your comment gives me heartburn.
Click to expand...
On the other hand I agree with your post. I know it is forbidden on many boards to talk about things like password crackers but these programs are the only way to retrieve the passwords when they have been lost. I haven't used the program you mentioned but have used others. I have always been able to retrieve/reset passwords this way. Of course I only did this on computers that I knew were owned by the user.
 
MisterEd said:
On the other hand I agree with your post. I know it is forbidden on many boards to talk about things like password crackers but these programs are the only way to retrieve the passwords when they have been lost. I haven't used the program you mentioned but have used others. I have always been able to retrieve/reset passwords this way. Of course I only did this on computers that I knew were owned by the user.
Click to expand...


That live CD program will get you into the account. I've used it before.
 
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