Forgotten Windows Password...

So, my father has forgotten the password on his Windows XP laptop and has been unable to log in onto his computer.

He only has one user 'Administrator' and has his Windows CD.

Is there a simple way to reset the password without having to reformat?


Thanks

 

Log on the computer as administrator and change the password on your father's account. To do this, go to Control Panel, Users Account, select your dad's account and change password

 

Problem is that his laptop is off and now is unable to log on, let alone get into the control panel.

 

no, what he means is turn on your computer and go into safe mode (to do this press i think its either [f8] or [del] when the computer has just been turned on, before it gets to windows screen. then go into safe mode, and there will be a logon called "administrator" which doesnt have a password, log into that, go to control panel and change the password. reboot the comp and go into windows normally.

hope that helps

 

If that doesn't work use the below free utility. I had to use it once when I got the screen that said my password has expire. I had forgotten the password and I couldn't log in.

Note - if you have files in the computer that are password encryted. You won't be able to retrieved them once you reset the password.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

 

Thanks very much!