Password problems in XP... always invalid, after I just changed them.

I know the rules of the password. I have and know the passwords for the administration and users. I can go into system set up and change the passwords but when I go to log on I get a message that it is invalid. The set up states the password has been successfully changed. I can lock and unlock the feature. This is a three year old computer. I have tried the option to go back to the last know configuration that worked, but I still cannot log on. Not even in Safe Mode. Any ideas?

 

Thanks. I don't have a reset password disc. The system will not log on as either my standard user name nor as Admin, Administrator or any other permutations. I can get into system setup (F12) and go to security and reset the Administrator password, it tells me it is accepted but when I go to log on the password is not valid. Right now I can't get past the log on screen.

 

Jewels is a gem having same problem with win xp

Hi there,
No ideas, but I have the same problem, only when using three different aliases in Microsoft Outlook Express 6. I'm going to tag onto your page and see if any useful advice for me comes up - OK?
Cheers Jewels is a gem:

 

System Setup is your BIOS. One can usually configure an administrator password, a user password or neither. This permits or blocks access to the BIOS and the computer itself. Any BIOS passwords that have been set can be changed by clearing CMOS. Read your motherboard manual for instructions on how to clear CMOS. Upon clearing, there will be no password necessary which is a default setting. Its a very simple procedure and you can search the BBS or Google your motherboard for specific instructions. Bill and I had a discussion about this about 3-4 weeks ago in a hardware thread. Go back and do some reading.

Your XP User passwords are a different issue altogether. They are totally unrelated to system setup and, any changes made to your BIOS passwords (if in use) have no bearing whatsoever to your Windows User password(s). For security reasons, we don't provide assistance to those who have lost, forgotten or shouldn't have access to specific Windows Passwords. That is not to say there is no hope. Windows Passwords are actually quite easy to crack, but you are not going to get help doing this on the BBS. As a suggestion, you may want to focus your search for assistance elsewhere.

 

look at this :
1. Open command prompt (Start->Run->cmd),
2. Enter the following command, then press ENTER

3. Enter the followin command, then press ENTER:
compmgmt.msc
This should open the computer management console.
4. Go to local users & groups->users. Right click on any user and select "set password ".

If you get a "access denied" do the following:

start>run>cmd
then use following commands
1) net user test /add (this command will make test named user)
2) net localgroup administrators test /add (this command will make test user as administrators rights)

and use net user command to reset your admin. password

Alternative

What if u don't know the password of your admin and still want to hack and change .. yea u can do it ..in a very easy manner.. check this. just follow the steps.. this doesn't require u to know the admin password but still u can change it..
Start >> Run >> [type]cmd // this will open your command prompt
[type] net(space)user(press enter)
[type] net(space)user(space)[windowsloginid](sp ace)*(press enter)

// for e.g. : net user HOME *(press enter)

[type] new password (press enter) and retype it (press enter).. it will show u confirmation... // caution it wont show u the password u type.. but it still types.. the blinking pointer will b there at the same place.. but it still works..
// for e.g. : password changed successfully.

 

gabieke,

I am familiar with the instruction set you referenced following the word Alternative and this has been posted on the BBS before. This instruction set is also contained in a MS Knowledgebase article and requires being logged onto an account with administrative privledges.

The first part of your post is new knowledge to me but I would think one would have to be somehow logged onto Windows or working in the recovery console. Regardless, I think you are walking perilously close to the edge re: the rules of the BBS. Just a friendly word of caution.



edit: I will refrain from further comment which could be misinterpreted as crossing the line.

 

Mr Rockster2U.... I know but note if I did give the link nowboby take a look
if I did something against the rules of the forum I feel sorry , I hope you will note this

 

I am still having problems. So far none of the above works. I can't get far enough into the process to get to where I can reset the passwords. I even tried to reload windows but it shuts down during the process and goes to a blue screen.

This weekend I am going to try and slave it to another computer, try to retrieve my important data and then wipe it clean and start over. I don't know what else to do.

 

Thanks for trying to help.

 

JMagradey:

I'm not trying to open up a can of worms but I would question any direct or casual relationship between your reported password problem and the blue screening you are now experiencing.

Since there was some initial confusion between your Windows User Password and the security settings in your BIOS which can also be password protected and since you did make password changes in the BIOS (System Setup), is it at all possible that you made other changes in the BIOS too?

I would be more inclined to investigate Power Supply, Memory, Video and even your CPU as a potential cause of your blue screening. A dirty heatsink or bad CPU fan also warrant consideration. Before you go tearing everything apart or trashing your current operating system, you would be well advised to physically inspect your computer (inside the case) and if necessary, clean and reseat your memory modules and video card. I would also suggest you go back into the setup and just let your computer run for a few hours to determine if it shuts down while idling on a BIOS screen. If its still running after quite some time go ahead and exit your BIOS (F10). Please advise results.

Without breaking any rules here, let me add that its very easy to crack Windows XP passwords. You may want to take your machine to a technician (not a box store) who can investigate the blue screening and give you a list of all accounts and their respective passwords. Not every technician is going to know how to do this but you probably don't want the ordinary Joe trying to fix your machine either.

 

Thanks. I discovered that the machine is still under warranty with Dell. I have been working with Dell technitions trying to figure out the blue screen problem. They cannot help me with the passwords but right now I cant even try to run Windows repair or even load Windows on a new hard drive.