wilkes

so...still no answer...that i can do anyway...just my luck huh??

I tested and it does not work. When my workstation comes up in safe mode, it requires I pick a user and then requires I enter a password for that user. After entering the administrator's password, it continues to safe mode, where I can (of course) change any password I would like.

I have to disagree. It will work in pro. If you are the Administrator it will work.

This does not work with Pro. Even in safe mode, it asks for a password. It had been a while since I opened up in safe mode, so I verified this.

Lucy it will work with SP2 or with pro. You just have to get in the safe mode. If you are not sure how to do that then you might want to ask a friend for help.

But, it says it doesn't work with SP 2 and guess what...and it is pro as well...i wish i was a pro...lol then MAYBE i wouldn't have forgotten the password

I see whats going on now. And it was my misunderstanding (finally found a website that provided to one piece of information that made it all clear).

Seems that there is a "God-like ADMINISTRATOR" user buried in the OS (this is the one that allows your to "do what you need to do"). Along with the plain old "administrator" that is created when you install the OS (or at least thats the way I read it).

I've arranged for access to an XP box. Later this evening, I'll fun through the process to see just what happens. Never had these problems with Win2.0.

Gee, I hope I don't forget the password.

BRG, Thanks for that web site. Some great how to's on there

Looks to me like that site says the same thing Erider said. Maybe he wrote that too.

http://www.wikihow.com/Log-...

Yes you can. Home or pro.

Okay, I see where this is heading...

The Windows XP Home safe mode is fundamentally identical to the one in Windows XP Pro, with a couple of notable changes. In Windows XP Home, the built-in 'administrator' account is only available in safe mode and is the default account for that mode. The password for the administrator account is blank, since it is not accessible except in safe mode. It's recommended that you log in as this account to make changes in safe mode.

The fact that the administrator password is blank by default also allows you to use XP Home's safe mode to reset the password of other user accounts on your machine in the event that you lose the original password. Of course, this also means that every user account on your system is vulnerable to someone with direct access to the system, which is why XP Home is intended for non-business use only.


Note it says "user accounts".

So, when in Safe Mode, can you reset the Administrators password??? That was the original question.

Thanks nobody, I was starting to loose my cool. It will work on Vista also. A little different steps but not hard to figure out.
BRG. You can go to Yahoo answers and find things like this out also if you don't beleive me. I get a lot of great info there. You are pulling form the world there to find answers instead of local people. It is a great site for help

Again, It doesn't matter if you have a password on the administrator or not. in the safe mode it will not ask for one. It will not ask for any password. You do not need a password no matter what is in the computer or how you log on. In the safe mode all you do is enter a new password. then re-enter the new one again. You don't need to know the old one, it won't ask for it.
Also this will work on windows98. I don't know about windows vista because I haven't had to work on that system yet but I am sure there is a way to do it there to. This is a fail safe in windows to keep from having to lose all your stuff. They just don't tell people this because you can access other peoples computers. The bad thing is hackers know this but others don't so who is protected?

I don't have an XP box handy.

Let me ask this. Do you have a password set up for your Administrator account?

Easy is right, Done this myself.

No I am not missing anything. In safe mode you DO NOT US A PASSWORD. How hard is that to understand. It doesn't matter if it is the Administrator or any of the accounts. You DO NOT ENTER A PASSWORD nor does it ask for one. It only allows you to enter a NEW one. It never ask for the old one. You can even delete the users accounts and then the computer won't need a password.

Why don't you just try it and see instead of questioning me. You can go in and look and see if I am wrong without making any changes if you don't believe me. Just do it and if you can prove me wrong then do it! You keep trying to tell me I am wrong when you haven't even tried to see if I am right. I even sit here and done it on a computer that I am working on to make sure I was telling you the steps right. If you think I can't get in to your computer that has a password by doing this then I will put money on it that I can.

"Once the computer is running, sign on a Administrator"

There's the piece you're missing. The original poster asked how to recover the Administrator password.

I'll agree you can change any other users password from Safe Mode.

Are we on the same page now?

Ok. So since you don't believe me here is how you do it. Try it then tell me I am wrong. Yes you can do it to any PC running windows XP or older.
Turn off the computer. Push the button to turn it on and keep pressing the F8 key. A list will appear. Enter in the Safe mode.
Once the computer is running, sign on a Administrator. Click start then control panel. Then user accounts. A list of all the users will appear. Click on the one you lost the password for. Now you can enter a new password without knowing what the lost password was. I have done this a lot. You don't have to buy a program or do a restore. Once you have entered the new password restart the computer in the normal mode and sign on.
Now try it and tell me I am wrong!

So, in other words, I could walk up to any PC anywhere, restart in safe mode and change their Admin password?

Not terribly secure, now is it???

I think there is a piece of the puzzle you're not taking into consideration.