Anyone have an idea on how to get into a locked windows xp computer?

Question

Good Morning, I have a computer that I had used for a previous employer. After leaving the job I now wanted to redo the computer . Unfortunately, I was trying to modify the network settings and changed the logon from the domain to a workgroup. Now when I restart windows it will not accept my password plus, I can not get the computer to boot from floppy or cdrom. I have also tried booting into safe mode but still requires the password. I own the computer but don't know how to fix this problem. I believe that since the computer was verifying things previously on the server there might have been a logon script but no idea on how to macke any changes. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Two things I can say.

1. Download key enterprise edition & password recovery from www.softarchive.net may this will help you.

Answer 2

Sounds like you have more than one problem. The BIOS should boot from the floppy or CDROM if the settings are correct. Check your BIOS first to make sure the boot priorites check the floppy and optical drive BEFORE the HDD. You'll need to be able to boot in any of the "worst case" scenarios.

There ARE some password finder programs, but you'll need to run them from some OS...which means you need to be able to bootup. You'll need a bootable floppy or CD with a "mini" Windows system on them. I'm assuming that you would be able to get or make a Hirens BootCD to do this.

Otherwise...

I was just reading about your logon problem at M$.com the other day. They have a knowledge base article with a couple of work arounds, it's:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317049/en-us

They also talk about using a password disk and another workaround in this KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305

Otherwise you'll have to do a parallel install of a second OS in order to access your data; backup; then reformat just the system partition and do a clean install of the OS. Not pretty.but at least you'll have your machine back up with no data loss.

Cheers!

Answer 3

Try logging on as administrator from safe mode. This may not be password protected. If this works you can set a password for your user account. There must have been a previous account logon, it will not have the same password as your domain logon which was held on the domain. If you can remember the original password this will get you in anyway.

Answer 4

This article sums it up best, but it seems your best bet is to do the downloading of a password finder, as mentioned at the end of the article.

Answer 5

properly, borrow a xp os cd from some one and wipe out and re-installation it. specific it could be a pretend then. yet marvelous you could now shop this up and working or wait, perhaps you could enter the product key from in the back of your pc. undecided nevertheless it might settle for. let us know the effect in case you chosen to bypass this way...