Windows XP forgotten password

[Whiskeyportal]

My boss gave me a little toughbook laptop, only nobody can remember the Admin password and it doesn't give an option for forgotten password. Anybody know how I can log in as the Admin?

[BinaryBimbo]

My boss gave me a little toughbook laptop, only nobody can remember the Admin password and it doesn't give an option for forgotten password. Anybody know how I can log in as the Admin?

Look up the model on Internet - there is a bios reset switch for bios.

Otherwise - get a new hard drive if Windows is the problem.

[KnoxHarrington]

There's third party software that can recover it. See this link:

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

[MisterSmith]

Have you tried the most common?

password

drowssap


Those are probably the 2 most common, unless your IT person is actually doing things by using legit security SOP's in which case there is no telling what it would be.

The only free software I have seen that gets decent results can be downloaded here (http://www.download.com/Password-Recovery-Software/3000-2092_4-10554846.html?tag=mncol&cdlPid=10554847). However, I have seen it used for software passwords not the OS/Admin password (although it claims to be able to get it).

[XIII]

I've had success with this one:
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
Good luck

[Contra]

Hackers taught me that the most common paswords are GOD and SEX

[Fez4PrezN2008]

if the user id is "admin" try "admin" or "password" for the password. IT guys can be PRETTY lazy...

**PS - Your boss sounds like he could be a little bit of a jerk - Oh I've got this great laptop if you want it... /whipsers/problem is no one knows the password. **

[bionicyeti]

I've had success with this one:
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
Good luck

I second this ^ one. Unfortunately I've needed this tool a lot and it works every time. Use the option of setting the passwd to blank.

[Whiskeyportal]

i've had no luck with any of these. i can't load programs or instal anything. anymore ideas? and the laptop has no cd drive. only usb ports. I'm about to give up and get another hard drive for this piece of shit toughbook.

[KC2OSO]

Does the CMOS have an option to boot from a USB drive? Do you have the USB CD drive? If so I guess you could wipe and do fresh install. Big pain. You'd have to find all of the drivers, reinstall all those plus Office, and whatever else.

Most competent computer shops have a program that will reset/erase the PW for $50 bucks. My local guy (http://www.lifetimecomputerscorp.com) in Manville, NJ said he could do it for $50. Sucks but that's another option.

[donnie_darko]

you can't just boot from a cd and repartition it? wtf?
if you have to dl the ubuntu install cd and wipe it.
does it have a floppy drive? boot from floopy and partition it?

[Whiskeyportal]

only sd card slots and usb ports. if it is possible not to wipe everything that would be great.