I've lost my Windows Password! How can I log in?

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My Dell XPS233's hard drive was partitioned with Partition Magic some years ago. Yesterday I used the same programme to merge the 2 partitions. The computer worked fine for hours. Today, on switch-on, Windows is demanding a password, which it never needed before. Pressing Esc. tells me that the password facility is not in use! But the computer wont pass this point. Anyone any idea how to get past this point?
I haven't lost a password, there never was one!

I have computer with windows 2000 Profesional, The computer is hardly ever used. I decided to turn it into a server but cannot remember the username and password. I cannot log on at all. what do I do? I do not want to loose the OS or the data that is on it. I use it as a instrument data base at work. Now I am at a loss. Please help me. How do I log onto it with out the username and password. Please Help!!!! Best Regards, Have a blessed and great day. Kyle Wallace Sr Instrumentation Technologist.

If you read the article you'll see there's a link there to a discussion of techniques you can use. Scroll down in that discussion and you'll see lots of ideas.

You can find most of your answers at the following web site: www.theonlypcdoctor.com

The is ways to get past the windows passwords & a way to get around Dell admin passwords in CMOS.

Okay, I disagree with this article in full. "There is nothing you can do.", "You might want to use bootable Linux disc", and so on. Yeah, a bootable Linux disc is rad, and there is lots you can accomplish with that. However, you can infact retrieve your windows password from a locked down account. Some ways of doing this involve dumping the windows hash (using one of any variety of tools) and then running that hash through Lopht Crack or JohntheRipper. Another great appraoch is to use the windows administrator password reset tool that you can find simply by searching google for a few minutes. This will allow you to set your Administrator password to something else. Why would you boot up with a linux disc (or other) and copy all your data off over a silly password? That shouldn't even be a suggestion unless prompted with the question of whether it is possible. Anyway, I am ranting and it's probably rude of me to do so, but anyone who reads this deserves to know there are other ways to bypass a forgotten password on a locked down system.

Actually you're in violent agreement with the article. The article points to many possible solutions. As the article also said "that doesn't mean that all is lost."

Reset password for Windows XP by hitting f8 at bootup, select safe mode, at logon, go to the admin account, hit enter, and the password is now reset.

If not, send me your email for password decryption.

Sorry, I need to add something.

once you've logged on as admin from safe mode, go to user accounts in the control panel, click your admin account and delete password. Reset PC to normal, everything should work.

To keep yourself safe in the future, go to user accounts (if you're admin that is) and click your name. to the left of you, there should be a related tasks option there, in that menu, select "Prevent a forgotten password" have a formatted floppy handy and create the disk.

To use the disk, simply get to your logon screen, hit enter, the "did you forget your password" box should show, in this box, select "use your forgotten password disk" place your floppy in the drive, click next, and type a new password. Simply logon again with the new password.

Happy Days.

http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=305

I did it and it worked.

One thing I whould like to say though.

the article says:

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

ok when i typed that in it gave a wierd error, i dont remember what is was because it was a while back so instead i did it an alternative and more effective way.

instead type: net user [your username here] *
so if your username was tom you whould type:

net user tom *

then it asks you for a new password, be carefull when you type as it wont show you anything not even asterkis. then confirm.

continue with the repair and you should be able to login with no problems.

a website that practicly walks you through how to recover your password is Login Recovery

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