Default windows xp password

[Reynolds]

I recently gave my friend my old computer. I formatted everything and started with a clean install of windows. He used it for 2 months, then the cd drive went. Replaced that, booted it up and then windows all of the sudden wants a user name and password to boot. I didn't set it up to have one during windows install, is there a default one that it sets itself to maybe after some hardware changes? thanks

[JPMNICK]

Usually when you install, you have to put in a password. Can you think of one you might have used? The username would be admin or adminsitrator

[MadMatt]

You normally create the default password during XP install. If you reformatted and didn't set one, then you should be able to get in with Administrator and no password.

Otherwise, the password is often set as "password" all in lowercase. Dells usually come that way, but I'm not sure about some other models.

Hope this helps. :bye:

[scottinnj]

If you didn't set the password, just type in the username and hit enter.

Either he or the operating system changed the security settings, and instead of the start screen that shows the username, where you just click the icon next to the user who wants to login, there is a username/password screen. If no password was set for the user, the password line remains blank.

If there was a password entered, then you'll need to remember what it is, or else you will have to format the drive and reinstall Windows. Simply reinstalling Windows on top of the current Windows without formatting will not erase the password.

[JPMNICK]

there are a lot of linux utilities that will allow you to reset the password on any XP computer

[zagman76]

Hiren's Boot CD includes a lot of PW recovery tools - you simply boot to the CD and select that from the menu system. If you're trying to recover the Admin password, just blank it - don't set it to anything with the utilities.

[Reynolds]

Ill have him try the defaults first. Problem is he doesnt know jack shit about computers, and Im in FL, he's in FL. Hard to explain. Hopefully the defaults work, thanks all.