Re: Lost Administrator's password

From: Doug Knox MS-MVP (dknox@mvps.org)
Date: 12/17/02 

From: "Doug Knox MS-MVP" <dknox@mvps.org>
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 03:18:05 -0500

That's the purpose of the Admin level access, Mark. They can do anything they want to the machine. The original poster stated there was only one other account on the machine and that it didn't have Admin rights. The only way to reset an Admin level password without having access to an Admin account is with 3rd party software. 

-- 
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/9x
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
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"Mark" <mmarkhalle@msn.com> wrote in message news:015d01c2a5a0$7a43a880$cef82ecf@TK2MSFTNGXA08...
>      Instead of logging on to a limited user account 
> select the main administrator account.  This will exist 
> on almost every system running XP.  I have put another 
> password and changed the name of the account(secpol.msc) 
> Really the only thing I can think of to stop the access 
> is if you auditing enabled.  This part of XP almost 
> demands that a password has to be set on user accounts.  
> But only has to have a password set to user accts with 
> problems jsut clicking a blank password acct.
>      Selecting the admin account gives the CMD line when 
> comming in though safe mode command prompt.  Even since 
> my posting I have entered this way with no problem(I 
> always2x,3x,etc check).  In home XP you can not log on to 
> the system with this account(pro you can), just reach the 
> CMD sreen.
>      At the CMD screen you would already know the name of 
> the Main admin account.  Others would have to 
> CTRL+ALT+DEL a the welcome screen to get the Name first.  
> So if you have changed the name of the account type net 
> users newname anypassword
>      You may also want to try the Net localgroup commands
> (pro XP) if your finding it hard to get in your system.  
> A limited use account will block net user/net localgroup 
> to modifying the XP Account accesss.  The Net localgroup 
> command would be net localgroup "administrator" 
> anyname /add.  This again would have to be at the admin 
> acct in safe mode.  Though on the net localgroup I have 
> yet to try out, just thought of flaw and another poss 
> enterance.  
>      I would really like to be proven wrong in any thing 
> I post but mostly this one.  It is how we all learn.
>      I for no other reason have gained access to several 
> systems to try net user out.  So again maybe just a few 
> systems are dinked up and need to fixed?
> 
>                                     :-)
> 
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Hi Mark,
> >
> >I also tried your method, Safe Mode with Command prompt, 
> and logged in under
> >a Limited User account.   In the command prompt screen, 
> I entered:
> >
> >NET USER ADMINISTRATOR PASSWORD
> >
> >But I received the following ERROR message:
> >System error 5 has occurred.
> >Access is denied.
> >
> >May I know if there is other solution?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Merrvyn
> >
> >
> >"Mark" <mmarkhalle@msn.com> wrote in message
> >news:002a01c2a528$5ba72230$d5f82ecf@TK2MSFTNGXA12...
> >>      No you do not have to be a administrator to do 
> this
> >> in any type of XP. You only have to have access to the
> >> Safe Mode screen or cmd prompt.  On start up press F8
> >> choose safe mode with command prompt, type net user
> >> administrator password  enter, reboot.  at the welcome
> >> screen press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice, type in the new
> >> password.  If the welcome screen is not enabled press
> >> CTL+ALT+DEL once.  This command changed the Password 
> from
> >> when XP was installed.
> >>     The same net command will change the password for 
> the
> >> account which he forgot the password.  This can also be
> >> done from F8 safe mode cmd prompt,  type Net user
> >> oldAccountname anypassword.
> >>     If on installing XP no password was given all they
> >> have to do is get to the welcome screen.  Press
> >> CTRL+ALT+DEL twice and then can enter though the main
> >> Admin account.
> >>
> >>                                 :-)
> >>
> >>     So if you really look at it, any one with any 
> access
> >> to a command prompt F8 etc, on a system can get in the
> >> system.  If you look at Angela answer from DEC 16 to
> >> Question: Password protect XP home on start up.  She 
> has
> >> one solution with a boot password you can't get to the 
> F8
> >> safe mode screen.  The System Admin now has a new job
> >> title, turn on, enter the password, stand and wait for
> >> 300 stations to boot, one by one
> >>     Old Billy was in such a hurry to make a buck even 
> his
> >> own company can't make XP work with XP.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >Don't you have to be an administrator to do this? From
> >> his post, that is the
> >> >problem, he lost his admin password and can't log in
> >> with that account.
> >> >
> >> >There is a boot disk you can download at:
> >> >http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
> >> >
> >> >that will let you reset the password of any account on
> >> NT4, Windows2000 or
> >> >XP.
> >> >
> >> >Just follow all the default settings which are for the
> >> admin account. Used
> >> >it many
> >> >times with great success.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Bob Cerelli
> >> >NCWA - No Certification WhatsoEver
> >> >http://www.onecomputerguy.com
> >> >
> >> >"Marc" <marchewitt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >> >news:062d01c2a507$e5e43e90$d2f82ecf@TK2MSFTNGXA09...
> >> >> click run
> >> >> in the box provided enter CMD and press return
> >> >> when the black command window opens
> >> >> type "net user administrator password" without the
> >> quotes
> >> >>
> >> >> this will set the administrator password 
> to "password"
> >> >>
> >> >> Cheers
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

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