Can’t remember your Windows XP administrator password?

Posted on May 22, 2007 by Admin

You can follow Microsoft instruction. But if you don’t have a “password reset disk” you have to follow this method:

1. With your Windows XP CD in the cd-rom drive and boot your computer

2. Press any key when you read “Press any key to boot from cd” on the screen

3. The first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting the system hardware and loading files

4. When you get to the Welcome screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now

5. Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement

6. The next screen gives you the option to start a Repair process. Use the arrow keys to select your XP installation (if you only have one, it should already be selected) and press R to begin the Repair process

7. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes. Shortly after this stage you will be required to reboot

8. During the reboot do not press any key to boot from the CD again. Setup will resume automatically with the standard screen

10. Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen. When you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. A command console will now open up giving you a wide access to the system

11. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. You have gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel

12. Now remove or change your password as you prefer. Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password. Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.

Now that your logon problem is fixed, you should prevent this problem from happening again by creating a Password Reset Disk. This is a floppy disk you can use in the event you forget your password. It allows you to set a new password.

http://www.techdo.com/?p=6

Filed under: Windows |

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39 Responses

  1. angie b, on March 13, 2008 at 9:17 pm said:

    i got to the stage of pressing shift and f10 and it come up vga mode not support ….. please help 😦

    Reply
  2. Sheriden, on May 12, 2008 at 2:33 am said:

    I was given the option for a repair process in step 4 instead of 6. I pressed R and was then asked for an admin password – which of course, I do not have.

    Reply
  3. james, on August 9, 2008 at 7:57 am said:

    dont use repair using recovery console option.
    tell it to install windows, then it will show ur current copy of windows installation and give you options, now we press R for repair.
    after reseting your password, you will need to continue the repair process.

    regards
    J

    Reply
    • Jerry, on February 23, 2011 at 9:31 am said:

      Trying to repair my system…went to installation but I don’t a repair option, just partition, delete and install?? Some one please help!

      Reply
      • PakNik, on February 26, 2011 at 11:36 pm said:

        @Jerry: Did you use the original CD provided for you or was it slipstreamed? Try getting another Windows CD and boot using that CD. Hope it works for u

  4. roy, on December 2, 2008 at 12:49 pm said:

    would some one tell me how to get into my new laptop i put my name and password and it opened then when i tried later to open it it keeps saying wrong password and thats that. thankyou

    Reply
  5. andy, on December 13, 2008 at 4:00 am said:

    Any idea how to do this with with windows 2000?

    @Andy: Please try looking here – mydigitallife.info

    Reply
  6. tati, on January 17, 2009 at 11:51 pm said:

    i got to the part of pressing shift f10 and after typing in the command a pop up comes on the screen saying i am that i am current account is not recognized. restart the computer and then open user accounts.

    Reply
  7. Sm0k3y, on February 16, 2009 at 1:36 am said:

    I have exactly the same message showing up at the same stage ‘tati’!! Did you solve this problem?

    Reply
  8. Glenna Cavins, on April 28, 2009 at 5:00 am said:

    Please, can you PM me and tell me few more thinks about this, I am really fan of your blog…gets solved properly asap.

    Reply
  9. jo, on June 15, 2009 at 3:08 pm said:

    hell i cant even get this to pop up????Press any key when you read “Press any key to boot from cd” on the screen

    Reply
  10. Bigal, on August 11, 2009 at 12:00 am said:

    this worked great thank you

    Reply
  11. Davi, on January 6, 2010 at 5:50 pm said:

    Hey, I also got locked out of my computer several days ago. I tried several free software. It took me two days and got quite messy. Unfortunately none of them work for me. Finally I made it work with Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 . The good news is that it works. The bad news is it is not free. You can try Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 . It works for me.

    Check this out: http://sn.im/recoverwindowspassword

    Reply
  12. Tim, on March 9, 2010 at 11:42 am said:

    The best method to recover forgotten windows password is using windows password recovery software.

    Reply
  13. florin, on July 9, 2010 at 1:59 pm said:

    hey guys, same problem here, only after reboot, i don’t get the installing devices bar, it goes straight to safe mode, where setup can’t run. so it restarts and goes back to the beginning, like a phuking loop.
    it is definitely due to the settings i’ve made that lead me to this problem, but how can i fix this?
    thanks

    Reply
  14. clay, on September 24, 2010 at 6:33 am said:

    When I reach step 6, its gives me choices of 3 partitions and upon chosing one I am not presented with the R or repair function. Any ideas?

    Reply
  15. chris, on September 27, 2010 at 10:54 am said:

    hi
    I have the same prob, only the last time this happened everything went as planned and I was able to get in and change my admin. password. However, now it is a different story.I get as far as reboot and then Normal Set up screen appears and then freezes and does nothing. the “Installing Devices” never shows up. Any clue what is happening here? Very frustrating..
    Thanks Chris

    Reply
  16. chris, on September 27, 2010 at 10:58 am said:

    Now I ahve 2 operating systems, one old with all my files and pics and everything on it and one brand new b/c I couldn’t get into my old one with a admin. password? What can I do to get inot my old operating systenm if I cant repair it and change my admin. password. Do I take it to someone? And who? How expensive is it?
    Thanks, Chris again!

    Reply
  17. Seasons, on October 30, 2010 at 11:26 am said:

    Best you could edit the post name Can’t remember your Windows XP administrator password? Troubleshooting PC Problems to something more specific for your webpage you make. I loved the post still.

    Reply
  18. Lunch Bags, on January 25, 2011 at 10:28 pm said:

    ~”. I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information `:-

    Reply
  19. Truxton, on April 12, 2011 at 12:49 am said:

    An easier way to do is go to windows safe mode u do that buy pressing f8 on the first loading screen then go to administrator then click on control panel then go to users and reset password tell me if this helped

    Reply
  20. Doofus, on July 12, 2011 at 11:37 pm said:

    How do you do this if you have no disc drive? I’m locked out of my netbook

    Reply
  21. Jennifer, on August 14, 2011 at 3:39 am said:

    When I follow these steps it just tells me to log out and log back in because it does not recognize the account I am using.

    Reply
  22. industrial roofing, on September 24, 2011 at 9:04 pm said:

    thanks again

    Reply
  23. Alex, on August 9, 2012 at 1:57 am said:

    Thanks, You are a life saver. The easiest way to change the forgotten password in XP.

    Reply
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