I would have to disagree and say that reinstalling is *not* an easier
solution.  In most cases you can go to the following page -
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html - and download a
Linux boot disk that will allow you to change the admin password.  This
will work in most instances unless you have a RAID system (as I found
out from personal experience <grin>)

Tony Mayer
Sysop
The Magic FunHouse BBS
http://bbs.magicom.net


Ian wrote:

> Actually, it can be very difficult to bypass XP's Admin password, if it's been set.  As Hugh says, it's probably easier to reinstall Windows.
>
> However, there is something to try.  Reboot and enter Safe mode (F8 key) and try to go in as Administrator.  If no Admin password has been set, Windows will start and the password settings can be rearranged in Control Panel.
>
> When I build an XP system, I always enter my own admin password so that I can get into the system in emergencies.
>
> Ian Porter
> Computer Guys Inc.
> Arrowtown
> New Zealand
> [log in to unmask]
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Hugh Vandervoort
>   To: [log in to unmask]
>   Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 11:43 AM
>   Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] BIG problem with prior networked computer
>
>
>   There are solutions for this problem-just do a google search for"xp admin
>   password".
>   The usual procedure seems to involve dwonloading a password cracker or a
>   Linux boot disk.
>   My thought is, since she needs to do all this "housekeeping" anyway, that
>   you just reinstall XP.
>   *********************
>   My friend received a computer (running WinXP on a 400 MHz, PII) which
>   appears to have originally been a networked computer (she was never given
>   the administrator's password, of course!). She needs to defrag,
>   remove cookies, and do other "housekeeping" functions, but she is unable
>   to
>   so as she gets an error message stating that she does not have system
>   administrator rights to those functions (her computer has slowed to
>   almost a
>   standstill - it takes FIVE MINUTES for any click to respond!).  Is there
>   a work around for this problem?

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