Even though Microsoft officially no longer supports this operating system, there are still many computers around the world that use Windows XP. What happens if any user of this system forgets their password? You can't recover a lost password, but there are several ways to create a new password for anyone using this operating system, even administrator accounts.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Resetting Password as Administrator
Step 1. Log in as administrator
Accounts with administrative rights can change other users' passwords. This can only be done if you know the password for the administrator account (or any other account that has admin rights.
Step 2. Open the Start menu, then click “Run”
This will open a text box.
Step 3. Type
cmd
in the text box, then press the button Enter.
A command line window (command prompt) will open.
Step 4. Type
net user [Username] *
.
For example,
netuser Wiki *
(if “Wiki” is an account that requires a new password). Make sure you put a space between * and the username as shown in the example, then press Enter.
Step 5. Type in the new password and press Enter
You must confirm the password by retyping it. Once confirmed, the password can be used to access accounts that have lost their password.
Method 2 of 5: Using the Windows XP CD
Step 1. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive
This method can only be done if you have a Windows XP bootable CD (can be used for booting). If you have a genuine Windows XP CD, it should be bootable. If you have a burned CD, it's probably not a bootable CD. You won't know if you don't try it first.
Step 2. Restart (reboot) your computer
When the computer restarts, a message will appear that says “press any key to boot from disk”. Press any key on the keyboard (keyboard).
- If the computer boots without displaying a message to press a key, it means that your Windows XP CD is not bootable.
- You can use someone else's Windows XP CD (or ask someone to make a copy of a bootable CD). You don't have to use the same CD you used to install Windows on the computer.
Step 3. Press the R key to “repair” the Windows installation
Step 4. Press Shift+F10 when the screen says “Installing Devices”
A command line window will open.
Step 5. Type
NUSRMGR. CPL
and press Enter.
The User Account Control Panel window will open. You can use this window to reset your password by selecting the desired user and adding a new password.
Method 3 of 5: Booting in Safe Mode
Step 1. Restart the computer while pressing the F8 key repeatedly
Step 2. Use directional keys to select “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” option
Press Enter key to start the boot process.
Step 3. Select the Administrator account
By default, there will be no password for this account. So, this step will work if no one has created a special password for the Administrator account. Usually, this account does not have a password.
Step 4. Type
net users
on the command line.
Then press Enter key. A list of all the accounts on the computer will be displayed.
Step 5. Select the desired user and change the password
tik
net user Wiki 12345678
. “Wiki” is the username for which the password is lost, and “12345678” is the password you selected. Press Enter key to continue.
Step 6. Type
shutdown –r
to restart the computer.
The computer will restart normally. Now, the user whose password you have changed can login using the new password.
Method 4 of 5: Booting from a Linux CD
Step 1. Boot the computer using the “live” version of Linux
Experts recommend Ubuntu. The “live” version allows you to boot using Linux without having to install it. Insert the Linux disc into the CD Rom drive and restart the computer. Press any key on the keyboard when it says "press any key to boot from CD".
Step 2. Access the Linux live desktop
Depending on the version of Linux you are using, you may be asked to choose which version to use. Select “Live” or “Try Linux” to access the Linux desktop.
Step 3. Press Ctrl+L key
This will open the location bar (location bar).
Step 4. Type
computers:/
and press Enter.
Make sure you have typed 3 slashes (/). A list of hard drives (hard drives) on the computer will be displayed.
Step 5. Mount the drive containing Windows
Right-click the hard disk containing the Windows installation, then select “Mount”. If your computer has only one hard drive, choose a drive that doesn't say "System Reserved".
Step 6. Double-click the Windows drive
Look at the top of the screen where you typed
computers:/
. Write down (or copy) the complete path shown in the window. You will need it soon.
Step 7. Open the command line by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T
You have to enter a series of commands into this terminal window. All commands are case sensitive (the use of uppercase and lowercase letters must be considered).
Step 8. Insert the Windows drive through the terminal
tik
cd /path/to/windows/drive
. The text “/path/to/windows/drive” is the full path that you noted down or copied earlier. Continue the process by pressing Enter.
Step 9. Type
CD Windows/System32
and press the button Enter.
Note that there is no slash (/) in front of the word Windows. The directory name and path are case sensitive.
Step 10. Install and run the “chntpw” tool
tik
sudo apt-get install chntpw
then press Enter key to install it. Return to the command line, then type
sudo chntpw –u username SAM
. Replace the word “username” with the name of the Windows user account whose password you want to remove. Remember that everything is case sensitive. Press Enter key to bring up a list of options.
Step 11. Delete the desired user's password by pressing the button
Step 1.
Press Enter, then y to confirm that you really want to delete the password.
Step 12. Restart the computer into Windows
Press the “power” icon at the top right of the screen to restart the computer. Boot into Windows (don't boot from a Linux CD). When the Windows login screen appears, you can now log into the problematic account without using a password.
Method 5 of 5: Accessing Files Without Password by Mounting a Hard Disk to Another Computer
Step 1. Understand the process
Use this method if you are unable to recover your password by other methods. This method can't be used to find or reset passwords, but you can access the user's files so they don't lose their data. To do this, you must have administrative access to another Windows computer.
- In the meantime, you will need to remove the hard drive from your computer and install it on another computer. To do this, you'll need to know how to remove your hard drive from your PC and install it in an external USB hard drive enclosure.
- If you don't have a case, you can also attach the hard drive to another PC.
- If this lost password occurs on a laptop, the way to do it is the same. However, you will need an external hard drive holder to connect your laptop's hard drive to your desktop computer (and vice versa).
Step 2. Remove the hard drive from the Windows XP computer whose password is lost
Turn off the computer and unplug the cable from the wall outlet, then open the computer case and remove your hard drive.
Step 3. Insert the hard drive into the external disc holder and connect it to another computer
You can also open another computer case and insert a hard drive into it.
Step 4. Turn on the computer and log in using the Administrator account
Once you've logged in as an administrator and connected your hard drive to your computer, you can now access whatever's on your hard drive.
Step 5. Copy any required data from the Windows XP hard disk to the computer you are currently using
Open File Explorer by pressing Win+E.
- Depending on the version of Windows you are using, the hard drive that has lost the password will appear in the “Computer “or “This PC” directory. Double-click the hard drive and locate the user's files in C:\Windows\Documents and Settings\User. “User” is the username on the hard disk that lost the password.
- Press Win+E key again to open another File Explorer window so you can more easily drag files from the user directory on your hard disk to a second computer. You can drag files anywhere, including flash drives (USB flash drives).
Step 6. Replace the hard drive in the original computer
Even if you can't recover the password, the data there isn't lost because you've copied it to another computer.
Tips
- Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP so you will not receive any help for this operating system. Upgrade to the latest version of Windows so you can receive support if needed.
- You can use a variety of software that claims to "hack" passwords. Only download software from trusted sites.
