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Eliminating logon password in XP pro

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by skaler2k, 2008/12/13.

  1. 2008/12/13
    skaler2k

    skaler2k Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Just bought a used laptop on Craigslist. It has a logon password. I would like to get rid of it and just boot right to the desktop without any intermediate steps. I see under USER ACCOUNTS in the Control Panel, that Password for Administrator lets you change the password by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del and select change password.
    When I do that I am prompted to enter the Old Password and the new password and confirm the new one. Do I just enter the old password and then leave the next two boxes blank and press OK? I hate to go down a path that won't let me back out. Thanks.
     
    skaler2k,
    #1
  2. 2008/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Think you will find the simplest way is to ....

    Start > Run > control userpasswords2 > OK

    and in the dialogue that opens uncheck 'Users must .....'

    And don't forget the password that you have!!

    Create a Password Recovery Disk
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2008/12/13
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Also, in order for the computer to automatically logon to your account, you must have only 1 user profile and it must not have a password.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #3
    PeteC likes this.
  5. 2008/12/13
    skaler2k

    skaler2k Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hey Pete, Thanks. When I type in user passwords2 in the run box, what pops up is the USER ACCOUNTS item from the control panel. I poked around in both the Users and advanced tabs, but I don't see anything that starts with
    "Users must... "
     
    skaler2k,
    #4
  6. 2008/12/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Pop your glasses on ?? :D
    unless it's a Pro feature, not present in Home.
     

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    PeteC,
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  7. 2008/12/13
    skaler2k

    skaler2k Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    OOps, sorry, I did in fact type control userpasswords2. I just didn't report it correctly here.
    Anyway, my User Account screen looks just like yours except that line with the checkbox is absent. This is Win XP pro, with Service Pack 2. Also, the bottom portion-password for administrators- mine says "To change your password, press Ctrl-Alt-Del and select Change Password. Yours merely says press Reset Password. I have the Reset Password button as well, but for me, it is greyed out, and unavailable.
    I have a few hardware issues , so I have been delaying installing Service Pack3. I wonder if that would account for the difference.
     
    Last edited: 2008/12/13
    skaler2k,
    #6
  8. 2008/12/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    This is not anything to do with SP3 - does the account you are logged on with have Administrative rights?
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2008/12/14
    skaler2k

    skaler2k Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Yes it does Pete. In the middle section of the user accounts page is the administrator's name. Under that are 3 buttons, add, remove, and properties. Can I add my name, then remove the existing one, or is it more complicated than that? I am typing this on a computer that has XP Media Center Edition, and the user account page is completely different.
     
    skaler2k,
    #8
  10. 2008/12/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    We are seeing different dialogues ......
    More complicated - the new user will not have access to all programs - unless installed for all users and no access to data in the current logged on account.

    Try this route to remove the password .....

    Control Panel > User Accounts - Pick an Account to change and follow the screenshots below through.

    If that fails try TweakUI - Logon > Autologon
     

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    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2008/12/14
    skaler2k

    skaler2k Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete,
    It appears that you are using either XP Home or XP Media Edition, as those screen shots that you show are what I see on this computer(XP Media Edition 2002) The Pro version is totally different.
    Is it too much trouble for you to show me how to make a screenshot?
    I could show you what I am looking at when I go through the properties screens after I enter User Accounts in the control panel.
     
    skaler2k,
    #10
  12. 2008/12/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    No - XP Pro SP3 in Classic mode (aka Win98).

    I use Fastone Capture for screen grabs - freeware version here .....

    http://www.techspot.com/downloads/2962-faststone-capture.html

    I'll revert my laptop (also XP Pro SP3) to Lunar and see if there is a difference.
     
    PeteC,
    #11
  13. 2008/12/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    There are differences between Classic Mode and Lunar - see below .....

    I removed the laptop password .....

    Pick an Account to Change - Administrator

    Change My Password

    Entered current password - left new password blank > Change password.

    Computer boots straight into Windows
     

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    PeteC,
    #12

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