I bought a used computer for my kids to play on and we don't know the password, any ideas on how to reset it,
Sunday, April 18th, 2010 at
3:01 am
or find out what it is without reinstalling the op system. It was bought at a community wide garage sale so I cant ask the previous owner.
Tagged with: garage sale
Filed under: Used laptop for sale
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Use the search function in Y! Answers, this has been asked a number of times.
1. Place your Windows XP CD in your cd-rom and start your computer (it’s assumed here that your XP CD is bootable – as it should be – and that you have your bios set to boot from CD)
2. Keep your eye on the screen messages for booting to your cd Typically, it will be “Press any key to boot from cd”
3. Once you get in, the first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting your system and loading files.
4. When you get to the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now
5. The Licensing Agreement comes next – Press F8 to accept it.
6. The next screen is the Setup screen which gives you the option to do a Repair.
It should read something like “If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it”
Use the up and down 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. Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.
8. Shortly after the Copying Files stage, you will be required to reboot. (this will happen automatically – you will see a progress bar stating “Your computer will reboot in 15 seconds”
9. During the reboot, do not make the mistake of “pressing any key” to boot from the CD again! Setup will resume automatically with the standard billboard screens and you will notice Installing Windows is highlighted.
10. Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen and when you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. This is the security hole! A command console will now open up giving you the potential for wide access to your system.
11. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. Voila! You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel.
12. Now simply pick the account you need to change and remove or change your password as you prefer. If you want to log on without having to enter your new password, you can type control userpasswords2 at the prompt and choose to log on without being asked for password. After you’ve made your changes close the windows, exit the command box and continue on with the Repair (have your Product key handy).
13. Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password (or without a password if you chose not to use one or if you chose not to be asked for a password). Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.
Good luck!
This depends entirely on which password you’re talking about. If you’re talking about a boot up password (won’t turn on without a password), then you need to remove the jumper closest to CMOS (may I suggest you find a computer tech to do this for you if you don’t have any prior experience opening up computers) boot up the computer, shut it down, restart it, and WA-LA.
If you are referring to a log on password and you’re using XP, then you’re out of luck. You must reload the operating system. (I hope you got the disc along with the PC that you bought!)
If you’re using Windows 2000, then there’s a chance that you may delete the password by slaving the drive (once again you may need a computer tech) to another machine.
Good Luck!
Which password, then power up/reboot password or the logon password??
Most power up or boot passwords can be removed by taking the battery out for about 5 minutes which wipes the Bios memory. But if you don’t know how to do that then I would get help there.
If it is the logon password then you also need to know the user id. It may be possible to get into it from a standalone boot disk or CD.
This will help.
http://www.tweak3d.net/articles/xppassword/2.shtml
If it is a BIOS password:
How to clear an BIOS password:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000235.htm
If its a dell:
http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=gen&c=us&l=en&cs=&k=clear+bios+password&cat=sup
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Windows Lost Password tips.
http://www.hsinlin.com/tips/lost_password.html
Lost User Passwords. (Windows XP)
If you have lost or forgotten a user account password in Win XP, simply log in as the computer administrator, and go to control panel, user accounts. Here you will be able to reset the password for any of the systems user accounts.
Lost Administrator Password. (Windows XP)
Slightly more work needed if you lose or forget the Windows XP administrator password.
First reboot Windows XP in safe mode by re-starting the computer and pressing F8 repeated as the computer starts up. Then (in safe mode) click Start and then click Run. In the open box type "control userpasswords2" without the quotes – I have just used quotes to differentiate what you have to type.
You will now have access to all the user accounts, including the administrators account and will be able to reset the lost password.
Just click the administrators user account, and then click Reset Password.
You will need to add a new password in the New password and the Confirm new password boxes, and confirm by clicking OK.
All done, you have recovered the lost adminitrators password!
How to Reset Forgotten Windows XP Passwords
http://www.goitexpert.com/entry.cfm?entry=How-to-Reset-Forgotten-Windows-XP-Passwords
Active Password Recovery Software
http://www.download.com/Active-Password-Changer/3000-2092_4-10618486.html?tag=tab_pub
Login Recovery
http://www.loginrecovery.com/
Probably the best thing to do is to reformat the computer. You dont know what might be on it.