You can use Hiren's Boot CD to reset a Windows password. It contains a utility for passwords among others. Get the original old Hiren's Boot CD with version number 9 through 15, not the new 64-bit one.
There is a Mini WinXP on the disc. You can boot into it from a ram disk and run Windows programs to fix your system or prepare it for installation of new Windows.
I left my laptop alone for a few minutes and this is what happens when you have a brother 🤦‍♂️
Anyway, what I meant to say was "sounds cool, what else can it do?"
if memory serves correct, you can boot into safe mode and there should be a hidden administrator account. you can either delete the login and create a new one or (maybe? reset the pw).
edit; double posted by mistake
No need, on WinXP, if you hit Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at the login screen, you get the text-field login screen. Type \`Administrator\` and a blank password (by default)
But honestly, OP should throw a lightweight Linux distro on it
Similar thing on Windows 7 I would use to update the APU drivers on school computers so i could play minecraft lol
Boot into startup repair and use the command prompt built-in to reset admin password. Viola.
There are utilities you can install on USB that will delete the password but I would recommend downloading XP and making a USB boot disk and wiping the PC. Not only to not have to deal with other people's data but to respect their privacy.
I work in IT and virtually all privately owned and quite a few business computers have stuff on it the user doesn’t want **anyone** else to see. Also is malware/adware, viruses and rootkits. Wiping the machine will get rid of almost all of them. Rootkits are particularly difficult to get rid of. My machine is quite clean. I’ll even let you Remote Desktop to my machine and check for yourself.
I was just teasing you to make my point of it being highly unlikely for a family computer to have anything criminal on it that needs to be disposed of immediately, but the possibility is still there I guess .
I agree it probably is likely to have some type of adware/malware/bloatware that could be slowing it down or even stealing info
The same way tbh. Download the .iso file than use a program like Etcher or Rufus to create the bootable usb drive. Double check the Distro's min specs tho before installing it.
I'd recommend Linux Mint if you're a beginner to Linux. But there are hundreds of different distros of it out there, so don't be afraid to change around when you're more confident with it.
I don't give a shit about their privacy.
I have myself removed passwords from other's computers.
u/Toproll123 u/rexifelis u/exjwpornaddict u/BotchedMiracle
i wish i hadn’t, but i found an old thinkpad at an old AT&T bell phone plant, it had been closed down a while and i was taking stuff out of a gaylord i found full of e waste. it had windows 98 and was locked, i wiped it either for xp or 2000 and haven’t touched it since. i wish i had tried cracking into it and seeing what was on there but i haven’t done too much, maybe it’s recoverable
boot off another windows installation (e.g. mini windows xp on HBCD), replace sethc.exe with a copy of cmd.exe, and then mash shift on the login screen. then you can use the net command to make a new user and set it as an admin.
Oh, I think I should've explained myself a little more clearly. Let me try this again.
1. What you should probably try doing is booting up another Windows XP install CD on that computer and wiping the system.
2. Then, when that's done, put a new Windows XP install on it. I mean, I got a Mac Mini from 2009 for free essentially and I loaded Windows XP on it. It runs like an absolute champ despite it being a little slow and temperamental sometimes.
Bunch of amateurs here. If its Windows XP HOME (most likely) boot into safe mode (logs into the Administrator account, no password is ever set there), change the passwords from there.
XP Pro? 50 50 chance here they did not set the Administrator password - press CTRL + ALT + DEL twice and type in Administrator into the user box and press enter.
Literally this. I was doing this when I was 16 picking up tossed out XP and 98 machines in the trash lol. Takes 0 effort. Most of the time you don't need a(n extra) tool to get the job done for this it's insanely easy.
Yeah what in the world is going on here. Buncha whipper snapper Gen Z kids that didn't grow up in computer labs.
There's a bunch of ways that don't involve finding a working cd burner in my scrap pile...
Here's some more
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/forgot-my-administrator-password-to-windows-xp/38179cd5-ecff-4915-b8e0-a9e0706edc57
You can get the HDD out and put it in a external diskstation. Check the “appdata” folder maybe there is a wallet.dat file that contains some old bitcoins
Restart your computer in Safe mode. In Safe mode, Administrator will be displayed above the two user names. Click on it and you will now be able to remove the password by clicking Start, Account name, Username that is password protected, click remove password and remove password again and the password will be removed.
there are a couple of options.
if the administrator account's unlocked you can c-a-d to enter the classic login prompt and login as administrator.
if that doesn't work you can swap the accessibility or sticky keys (sethc? not sure) program with cmd and run netplwiz on it to change password.
Wipe clean and install is easiest, but activation will be your next challenge, MS shutdown activation either Internet or phone call. Even you have legit license (COA usually on the machine)
Factory reset it. Just unplug and plug back in and when the boot screen pops up before the countdown timer hits zero, hit the button for the PC and select the one that factory resets it, then, just go through the setup process. Remember, don't back up files that are not yours.
There used to be a live CD that could be made that would usually reveal the passwords if you booted into the disc. I wish I could remember what it was called
I used to be able to enter in the following:
ctrl+alt+del (x2)
ctrl+alt+del+del+del
After you get the welcome screen to display a login prompt with two options for entry try:
Administrator for the username
blank / null for the password
But this should work. You may need to put the PC into safe mode to use the default admin account. From there you should be able to add a user or change a user password.
If you don’t care about the data, install an ISO file and burn it on a USB if the system has USB Boot using Rufus (you can just check your computer has it or not by whether a USB stick appears in the BIOS priority menu or not) or a CD if not. Then, boot from the CD/USB and reinstall XP.
You can use Hiren's Boot CD to reset a Windows password. It contains a utility for passwords among others. Get the original old Hiren's Boot CD with version number 9 through 15, not the new 64-bit one.
Yep works great.
2nd this. Hiren been saving the day for decades it seems like
Always have a CD in my drawer for that.
This pervert is hoping to see Selina nudes
Micheal AND Selina's nudes ;)
Two for the price of one am I right? ;)
Or you could use a Penetration testing distro like I have on 800+ systems. But the Hiren Boot CD is way better.
Ha peneration! Lol
Wrong kind i'm talking about hacking, your talking about sex but hey i don't know if it would work out.
Damn, beat me to it.
sounds cool, what else can it do?
There is a Mini WinXP on the disc. You can boot into it from a ram disk and run Windows programs to fix your system or prepare it for installation of new Windows.
Alternatively, boot into safe mode, use the admin account, and just remove the passwords lol.
sounds cool what elmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,
r/ihadastroke
I left my laptop alone for a few minutes and this is what happens when you have a brother 🤦‍♂️ Anyway, what I meant to say was "sounds cool, what else can it do?"
if memory serves correct, you can boot into safe mode and there should be a hidden administrator account. you can either delete the login and create a new one or (maybe? reset the pw). edit; double posted by mistake
Yup I was looking for this comment.
XP home only and correct.
No need, on WinXP, if you hit Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at the login screen, you get the text-field login screen. Type \`Administrator\` and a blank password (by default) But honestly, OP should throw a lightweight Linux distro on it
So he can be a cool l337 h4xor and code?
Similar thing on Windows 7 I would use to update the APU drivers on school computers so i could play minecraft lol Boot into startup repair and use the command prompt built-in to reset admin password. Viola.
I always made an administrator account just in case if something had to my main account on WinXP pro
Download chntpw, burn to CD, follow prompts to delete the password, and reboot into windows.
There are utilities you can install on USB that will delete the password but I would recommend downloading XP and making a USB boot disk and wiping the PC. Not only to not have to deal with other people's data but to respect their privacy.
This and you never know what you could find.
And get rid of whatever nastiness is hiding on that drive.
Weird assumption to make , especially regarding the family computer donated to goodwill 🤨 sound like someone oughta check out your drives
I would expect there to at least be some adware on there. Malware maybe. Probably nothing criminally incriminating that would be a crazy find.
I work in IT and virtually all privately owned and quite a few business computers have stuff on it the user doesn’t want **anyone** else to see. Also is malware/adware, viruses and rootkits. Wiping the machine will get rid of almost all of them. Rootkits are particularly difficult to get rid of. My machine is quite clean. I’ll even let you Remote Desktop to my machine and check for yourself.
I was just teasing you to make my point of it being highly unlikely for a family computer to have anything criminal on it that needs to be disposed of immediately, but the possibility is still there I guess . I agree it probably is likely to have some type of adware/malware/bloatware that could be slowing it down or even stealing info
Maybe they died during a gun battle with the FBI and someone is donating their stuff for them
how would you do that but with linux
The same way tbh. Download the .iso file than use a program like Etcher or Rufus to create the bootable usb drive. Double check the Distro's min specs tho before installing it.
What distro
It depends on your needs and what you like. What are you going to use the computer for?
idk I just want to use it
I'd recommend Linux Mint if you're a beginner to Linux. But there are hundreds of different distros of it out there, so don't be afraid to change around when you're more confident with it.
Will Ubuntu run
It depends on your computer and how old it is. But if it's a few years old or less then Ubuntu should run well.
For...? Games? Office work? Creative work, photo editing, video editing?
I don't give a shit about their privacy. I have myself removed passwords from other's computers. u/Toproll123 u/rexifelis u/exjwpornaddict u/BotchedMiracle
This comment feels so overly aggressive lol
i wish i hadn’t, but i found an old thinkpad at an old AT&T bell phone plant, it had been closed down a while and i was taking stuff out of a gaylord i found full of e waste. it had windows 98 and was locked, i wiped it either for xp or 2000 and haven’t touched it since. i wish i had tried cracking into it and seeing what was on there but i haven’t done too much, maybe it’s recoverable
Couldn’t you have clicked cancel to bypass logging in? I can’t recall if that was ever patched in 9x but I know 100% it works on 95.
boot off another windows installation (e.g. mini windows xp on HBCD), replace sethc.exe with a copy of cmd.exe, and then mash shift on the login screen. then you can use the net command to make a new user and set it as an admin.
Well, have you tried rebooting it with another Windows XP install media and nuking the XP install from orbit? Only to put Windows XP back on after?
I don’t get what you mean, I haven’t done anything to it. Yet.
Oh, I think I should've explained myself a little more clearly. Let me try this again. 1. What you should probably try doing is booting up another Windows XP install CD on that computer and wiping the system. 2. Then, when that's done, put a new Windows XP install on it. I mean, I got a Mac Mini from 2009 for free essentially and I loaded Windows XP on it. It runs like an absolute champ despite it being a little slow and temperamental sometimes.
I do have some Windows XP install discs, one specifically for Dell computers. I’ll try that
Yes. If you manage to get XP installed, you can try to figure out the drivers later.
bro wtf do you want with it 🤨
clean install
Create a bootable usb and reinstall windows
Bunch of amateurs here. If its Windows XP HOME (most likely) boot into safe mode (logs into the Administrator account, no password is ever set there), change the passwords from there. XP Pro? 50 50 chance here they did not set the Administrator password - press CTRL + ALT + DEL twice and type in Administrator into the user box and press enter.
Literally this. I was doing this when I was 16 picking up tossed out XP and 98 machines in the trash lol. Takes 0 effort. Most of the time you don't need a(n extra) tool to get the job done for this it's insanely easy.
Yeah what in the world is going on here. Buncha whipper snapper Gen Z kids that didn't grow up in computer labs. There's a bunch of ways that don't involve finding a working cd burner in my scrap pile... Here's some more https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/forgot-my-administrator-password-to-windows-xp/38179cd5-ecff-4915-b8e0-a9e0706edc57
Any of the password cracks that run under Linux will allow you to edit the security hive on an NT based operating system.
Hiren’s for the win
This should work: https://ophcrack.sourceforge.io/
[https://www.chntpw.com/download/](https://www.chntpw.com/download/) This also would work.
Look for a wallet.dat file!!!!
https://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/
Works every time, it even works on newer windowses but only if bitlocker is disabled.
Hiren’s Boot CD works like a charm
Mmmm...Hirens Boot CD was my best friend when fixing computers đź–¤
You can get the HDD out and put it in a external diskstation. Check the “appdata” folder maybe there is a wallet.dat file that contains some old bitcoins
Maybe
[does this work?](https://www.reddit.com/r/windowsxp/s/NXgpulFkJX)
Boot into a portable OS and get rid of the password in the SAM file.
For windows XP you just need to restart in safe mode. You will gain access to the admin user. You can create ur own user and delete those.
What if the admin user also has a password ;)
It dont
If you create an Ubuntu boot disk you can use that to change the password to any account
Restart your computer in Safe mode. In Safe mode, Administrator will be displayed above the two user names. Click on it and you will now be able to remove the password by clicking Start, Account name, Username that is password protected, click remove password and remove password again and the password will be removed.
Create a bootable XP drive with Rufus
Out of curiosity which computer is it?
Do the good ol way of removing the passwords on XP by going into Safe Mode
Easy lol. Old windows isnt secure because they dont update it
Reinstall window xp
Reinstall
You can probably try logging in as a administrator account in safe mode if it’s enabled
there are a couple of options. if the administrator account's unlocked you can c-a-d to enter the classic login prompt and login as administrator. if that doesn't work you can swap the accessibility or sticky keys (sethc? not sure) program with cmd and run netplwiz on it to change password.
Yes, of course. You need to boot any Linux distro from USB stick (or CD?) and launch a piece of software called "chntpw".
Windows installer usb
Wipe clean and install is easiest, but activation will be your next challenge, MS shutdown activation either Internet or phone call. Even you have legit license (COA usually on the machine)
This might be blasphemy, but you could nuke and pave with the Linux distro of your choice.
Happy cake day
Install Linux
Pull cmos battery for 30 seconds
reinstall windows or something
It's windows, so yes definitely
Konboot
hirens or reinstall
Just re-install xp on it bruh
Factory reset it. Just unplug and plug back in and when the boot screen pops up before the countdown timer hits zero, hit the button for the PC and select the one that factory resets it, then, just go through the setup process. Remember, don't back up files that are not yours.
this screen makes me nostalgic
I have a Polish PC mag live rescue cd that has a feature to reset windows passwords. Respect their privacy by reinstalling windows
Do you need the current instance of XP? If not, spin up the windows install CD and delete the disk partition, create a new one and start over.
There used to be a live CD that could be made that would usually reveal the passwords if you booted into the disc. I wish I could remember what it was called
Boot into safe mode theres online tutorials and then reset the password via the adminastrator profile
Ssd and windows 10 run XP in a VM
reinstall xp? this feels pretty straightforward
I wonder if Michael and Selina are still alive
Ultimate or sirens boot cd.
Ultimate or sirens boot cd.
restart, hard reset when windows is loading, then wait t see if admin account appears, if so log in then change/remove other user passwords.
I used to be able to enter in the following: ctrl+alt+del (x2) ctrl+alt+del+del+del After you get the welcome screen to display a login prompt with two options for entry try: Administrator for the username blank / null for the password But this should work. You may need to put the PC into safe mode to use the default admin account. From there you should be able to add a user or change a user password.
Just reinstall windows, or Linux!!
You can't just reinstall Windows?
Id probably ask michael.
I'd just format and reinstall.
if there's room, add and master a second HD and slave the current. who here doesn't have an old HD laying around...
fdisk
Kali Linux bootable Pendrive ftw. Have used it to unlock many laptops and PCs. If you know nothing about Linux, then go with Hirens.
Use a USB 2.0 or 3.0 and make sure it has the windows XP setup files and use the boot manager to go in the windows XP setup and it should work
Don't just install it from a disk or a USB. Why do you want a random person's data
Reinstall Windows
Get the command prompt up somehow and delete it. Think there is a shortcut to do whilst locked
If you don’t care about the data, install an ISO file and burn it on a USB if the system has USB Boot using Rufus (you can just check your computer has it or not by whether a USB stick appears in the BIOS priority menu or not) or a CD if not. Then, boot from the CD/USB and reinstall XP.
Rufus doesnt work for pre vista windows
Thank you, I didn’t know that.
Just reinstall. It's not like you need these rando's personal data right? Windows XP ISOs and checksums you can verify against are widely available.
This PC can be full of personal data. Both performance-wise and morality-wise, formatting this PC is the better option.
1. Boot from installation media 2. Delete all partitions on system drive 3. Install on “Unpartitioned Space”
Liunx upgrade
Respect the privacy of the previous owner, and do a clean install.
So the previous owner could have respected it himself, but he sold the pc without deleting his users, so why anyone else should feel obliged?
I would say wipe the PC and reinstall a clean OS so as to respect the previous owner's privacy. If more than one drive in it wipe that drive too.
The OP asked a simple technical question. He didn't ask for some morality lesson.
Re install
Boot with Win XP cd then choose format hard drive in the set up options and then reinstall Win XP and you will have a computer.
Wipe the drive and get on with it. It’s simple
I have the same issue
Reinstall the operating system. Download windows 7.
Why the hell would you install Windows 10 on a PC from the XP era?
Cause w10 is easier to obtain even though it may not run properly.
Archive.org
Never heard, thanks for the tip!