Locked out

On my IBM T42 laptop, I think I have a virus that reset my main password-well for sure it will not accept my password any longer. Yes my XP password does NOT work now , this is after rebooting and the 1st MS XP login page comes up.

Am I SOL on getting back in? Or is there a backdoor to somehow log back in without loosing files? I can NOT loose sensitive data stored on the HD, thus will not try an F10 which sometimes will reboot with some systems and HD-but will loose all files by doing an F10 is what I was told by a puter savvy person, so not an option.

Somebody suggested that I buy a new HD and XP software and install it, and then should be able to copy the old files from the existing HD. I'm not sure if this would work, or if it the best way to recapture all the files.

So I am looking for some expert guidance here on my options. I am not looking for proprietary info, but rather what my options are so I know how to best proceed. I'll check back into the library 'puter on Friday, as people are in line waiting for use of the temp 'puter I am on now.

Thank you for your help.

Alan

 

Home or Pro?
If Home, have you tried to boot up into Safe Mode, and log in as Administrator? With Home, you can only access the Administrator account in Safe Mode. If you've never done it, it's password is still blank.
If you do get in, and remove the password for your account, boot into Normal mode. Log in, and make a Reset Password Floppy, found under "Prevent a forgotten password" in Control Panel User Accounts. This floppy would reset the password for your account to the one that exists at the time of the floppy creation.
You can install another drive as the Master, yours moved over to Slave, and put XP on the master, and copy them off.

 

The F8 option worked, thank you.

But upon thinking about it, talk about a security breach, meaning if somebody stole a laptop, and if the admin is blank-they can switch the password and get acess to a persons confidential info, like financial records, etc.. Needless to say I set a password for Admin now so it will not be so easy for a person to just wlk right in and get info.

 

Don't forget to write that password down and keep it in a safe place where it won't get lost.