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There are plenty of ways to reset or change a lost Administrator password in Windows XP. Methods include using offline password reset tools with live CDs, using the SHIFT + F10 keystroke from Windows XP Setup screen to gain access to the Command Prompt (with full rights) and changing the password. Here is another way to reset or change the lost administrator password in your Windows XP installation.
Note: If you forget the password to a secondary administrator account, you can reset it by logging in to the built-in "Administrator" account easily. This article assumes the following:
- You have only one working administrator account in the system for which you’ve lost the password.
- You don’t have a Password Reset Disk
- You don’t have a Windows XP CD (which will be the case if you have a PC from OEM), or lost your retail Windows XP CD.
Resetting the Windows XP Administrator Password Using Locksmith
ERD Commander is part of the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) whose 30 day evaluation is available here (MSDaRT50Eval.msi – 64.2 MB). We’ve covered MS DaRT earlier in article Perform a System Restore rollback on a non-bootable Windows XP computer. Follow steps 1-7 in that article to create a ERD Commander Boot CD.
Warning: In Windows XP, the changing of a local user password by an administrator, or through a method other than by the user, will block all access to previously encrypted files (using EFS) by the user.
1. Insert the ERD Commander Boot CD into the drive and restart the system
2. Boot the computer using ERD Commander Boot CD. You may have to set the boot order in the BIOS first.
3. Select your Windows XP installation from the list
4. From the ERD Commander menu (Start menu), click System Tools and click Locksmith
5. Click Next
6. Select the administrator account from the list for which you want to reset the password.
7. Type the new password in both the boxes, click Next and click Finish
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@Michael Armstrong
Thank you for your recent explantion. There is absolutely no sofware
in this world that can view or change the Active directory Usernme / password. If you know of one please provide a link.
Yes, it is easy to reset the PC Adminstrator’s password. But onece you get in, you see would be able to view or edit the ACTIVE DIRECTORY PASSWORD. The ERD cannot even do that.
Do you have any objection to this?
The fact is that you want to regain access to your computer without formatting or re-installing the operating system. What you need is getting out of this situation, maybe you could use Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 and have a try. Follow my steps:
Step 1 – Download Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0
Step 2 -Burn your Windows Password Recovery Tool CD
To burn your CD, you’ll need a blank CD-R and the .ISO file of Password recovery
Step 3 – Put in your newly created CD and remove your Windows password.
Hope it can help.
(1). Can ERD Commander reset domain Administrator password?
(2). If you reset a domain Admin password. Is it possible to
undo to old password?
(1). Can ERD Commander reset domain Administrator password?
(2). If you reset a domain Admin password. Is it possible to
undo to old password?
I did not see any comments on this particular topic here – the reaon I am asking?
I I have personally tested a windows password recovery tool named “Windows Login Recovery”. Clearing a password takes a minute or two works like a charm.
Seems like it would have been too useful for fixing their crappy os, so they withdrew it
Dear Michael Armstrong, its not possible to go to user management tool if u r unable to log in as administrator (or any other user with admin rights). that’s y this utility is essential. I’ve used this utility, its really a superb quality of utilities. In fact its the best utility I have ever used.
how can i find erd cd
ERD Commander is a great tool but it does not have built-in driver support. There are many other tools on the market that support virtually all chipsets and RAID/SATA/SCSI that is on the market, so consider your options if ERD commander is not able to access your HDD and you don’t have the ability to download or access the driver on your own.
The erd commander software that so many people are suggesting for reseting fogotten passwords is no where to be found on the internet. All the links to this software are broken and take you to a discussion thread on the microsoft website. Wondered if you knew where I could download the 30 trial version of the software. Any help would be much appreciated.
If you forget the administrator’s password but still can log on Windows with other user names that have administrative privileges, you may follow the instructions below:
Right click the computer icon on your desktop, select Manage, find Local Users and Groups, unfold Users folder, right click Administrator, click Set password… in the menu comes up. Click Proceed in the dialog, in the pop-up, enter a New Password and confirm it. Your administrator’s password is successfully reset.
Guest account may help to log onto Windows, but it has no privilege for you to do the above to reset the administrator’s password.
If you forgot all user passwords and failed to log onto Windows, there is no other way but to format the OS and reinstall Windows, or resort to sort of software tools to remove the password and log onto Windows. These programs cost some bucks, but are worthy and better than to reinstall the OS causing consequences. The most popular programs are Windows Password Reset 6.0 etc. Generally, these programs are easy to use though turn out to be a scary command prompt to newbie. But do relax and you can fully manipulate. Let’s take Windows Password Reset 6.0 for example. You prepare a blank CD, burn the program onto the CD, boot the locked computer from the CD, come to initiate the program, locate the user name, and proceed to remove its password – all are at ease.