Here’s your GEEK-steer …
ADMINISTRATOR VS ADMINISTRATOR.
It may help to understand the distinction of the word "administrator".
There is:
1. The ACCOUNT which is named "Administrator" (unless it has been subsequently renamed since initial install).
2. The WORD "administrator" as it relates to the TYPE OF PRIVILEGES (aka credentials) a user may be assigned.
These privileges are akin to a master key granting FULL access to your operating system.
USER ACCOUNT NOT SHOWN AT WELCOME SCREEN.
If you have need to login to an account (i.e., "Administrator", "Guest", etc.), but it's not shown at your "Windows XP Welcome Screen":
1. Depress and hold down, then release (in sequence) the keys 'Ctrl'+'Alt'+'Del' two times (or more if a sequence isn't recognized successfully).
2. A "Log On to Windows" dialog will display in which you can login as any registered user.
RESETTING FORGOTTEN PASSWORD.
METHOD 1:
MAYBE THERE IS NO PASSWORD.
Depending upon the login location, try it with the password input field left blank.
If you're lucky (for this situation only I mean), there has never been a password assigned to the 'Administrator' account (applies to Windows XP only).
ADVISORY:
If this is your solution, you need to assign a password to it, because there really should have been one in the first place.
Leaving the 'Administrator' account left unprotected is not only leaving the "backdoor open", but also the front door with a sign that says "come on in, I'm not home."
METHOD 2:
RESET 'ADMINISTRATOR' (OR ANY USER'S) PASSWORD VIA USER WITH ADMINISTRATOR PRIVILEGES.
1. Login to Windows as any user (with known password) that has administrator privileges.
2. Start > Run ... > type "control userpasswords2" (without quotes), then "OK".
3. Select the user account you can't remember the password to, then click "Reset Password".
4. Type a new password in "New password" and "Confirm new password", then "OK".
NOTE:
You may (you shouldn't, but you may) also have a user account that's NOT password protected AND has administrator privileges.
METHOD 3:
SOFTWARE SOLUTION.
If methods 1 and 2 are not successful, you're then left with the big gun: "Ultimate Boot CD for Windows" (UBCD4Win).
It's a FREEWARE multi-functional recovery boot disk.
One of its MANY included utilities is "Sala Password Renew".
With it, you can create a new local user with administrator privileges.
You can then successfully use method 2 to reset the "Administrator" account.
Go to this website
http://www.ubcd4win.com/index.htm and follow the guidance found there.
There are other FREEWARE all-purpose recovery boot disk available (TRK-Trinity Rescue Kit, UBCD, etc.), but in my opinion, UBCD4Win is your best choice.
NOTE:
If compelled to use this method, look upon it as a blessing in disguise.
It’s an invaluable tool you’ll likely be relieved to have many times over in the future.
In fact, you should strongly consider it even if you don't NEED it "this time".
After all, the time to have this disk is BEFORE you need it.
Good luck, and please post back and let me know how things turn out, or if you have any further questions.
"Today's the best day of my life...and NOW you're part of it!"
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