Can't log in to windows!

[FrYeS]

It's a long story that I wont go in to, but I lost the password to my windows computer. There is only one account on the computer, so I am faced with the windows XP login screen and absolutely no way to access my computer.

I was told that I could press Ctrl+alt+del at the log in screen and then I could log in as an administrator. I tried that with three failed password attempts, so when i finally remembered what the administrator password was, it told me that I couldn't log on because of an "account restriction".

What must me do?

[classicsoftware]

You can use this program to change the password of any user on the system.

This is a warning. If this is your PC, fine. If this is a compnay PC and you chnage the settings w/o the OK of the IT dept you could be fired.

[Mvymonky]

did it work?

[classicsoftware]

did it work?

Of course it works, do you think I would have suggested it unless I know it works. I've used it myself and it works fine.

[FrYeS]

Sorry I forgot to mention...

I can't log on to my computer, so I can't run any programs from windows.

Any other ideas?

[classicsoftware]

You need to download the program to a different PC and create a floppy disk to operate the program

[Paul Komski]

AFAIK - the one time password recovery/reset programs wont be allowed to function is when a domain login has been inappropriately changed to a user login.

I'm not sure about the situation when using an encrypted file system. Perhaps someone knows the answer.

[classicsoftware]

Paul:

This is obviouly NOT for a domain login as that is stored on the server itself.

The local logins are stored in what I beleive is SAM database. This reads the database and allows you to write a new password or to blank the password. It does not tell you what the password is.

I had a client who did not remember his administrator password. Someone else had set-up his system and he could login himself, but not as administrator. I was able to use the program to chnage the administrator password and login to his Windows 2000 system.

[Paul Komski]

This is obviouly NOT for a domain login as that is stored on the server itself.

Yes that's obvious - in this case - but I was making a general point (that has cropped up quite lately here) that when you have, say a work laptop, and you change it from domain to user logon - you will not be able to log on at all and will also not be able to get in to use third party apps from DOS or from linux because you will not be able to get to any logon prompt; only a reinstallation will work - so it is point well worth making.

I am used to using a linux based application from a floppy or from an EBCD both of which have worked just fine up till now (so far anyways). See http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_admini...r_password.htm and note that there are potential problems with file encrypted systems.

[deddard]

You say that there's only one account, but are you sure the Administrator account is locked?
XP has a 'hidden' administrator account which can be reached from F8 at bootup -(go into safe mode) this is often not used as an admin account, and so may not be protected.