Clean install WinXP Admin password blank not accepted

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silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#96027 18-Jan-2012 23:35

I've just done a clean install on a friend's computer of WinXP. As the computer is going to be given away I left the users and admin blank and didn't set passwords (it gave the option of "skip". Now I can't log in because it comes up with "Owner" and wants a password. I've tried various - like password, WindowsXP etc but no luck. I've googled and that hasn't helped either.

Thought I'd reinstall but it won't boot from CD, and just defaults to the Windows login Window.

Any ideas greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

Registered Linux user #386597 http://counter.li.org/

th3r3turn

258 posts

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#570651 18-Jan-2012 23:46

silverbirch: I've just done a clean install on a friend's computer of WinXP. As the computer is going to be given away I left the users and admin blank and didn't set passwords (it gave the option of "skip". Now I can't log in because it comes up with "Owner" and wants a password. I've tried various - like password, WindowsXP etc but no luck. I've googled and that hasn't helped either.

Thought I'd reinstall but it won't boot from CD, and just defaults to the Windows login Window.

Any ideas greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

i think your best to get a ubuntu disk, boot onto and reset the windows password from there,

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14369/change-or-reset-windows-password-from-a-ubuntu-live-cd/

easy and simple!

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#570653 18-Jan-2012 23:49

Not a Ubuntu user or fan - Pclinuxos for me, but I do have various live Linux CDs including Knoppix. Will google that.

Thanks

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

Registered Linux user #386597 http://counter.li.org/

th3r3turn

258 posts

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#570655 18-Jan-2012 23:52

silverbirch: Not a Ubuntu user or fan - Pclinuxos for me, but I do have various live Linux CDs including Knoppix. Will google that.

Thanks

not too sure on that, if it Debian then your be fine. if not then your have find a howto for your OS.

Stu

Hammered
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#570657 19-Jan-2012 00:14

Hate to state the obvious, but did you just try leaving the password field empty and trying to log in anyway? Never ever since XP was first released have I ever had the password mysteriously set by the system when left blank at installation (or on any Windows OS for that matter). Very strange!

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#570658 19-Jan-2012 00:21

Yes - my initial action was to just hit enter, and tried a couple of times, then ran through whatever I could think might be default passwords - but no joy. Have tried just hitting enter again on a number of reattempts, but nope.

What seems weirder to me since I haven't altered the BIOS is that it now won't boot from CD.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

Registered Linux user #386597 http://counter.li.org/

CYaBro

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#570665 19-Jan-2012 06:44

Have you tried changing the username to user or administrator to see if you can log in?

If you only have the option to click on the owner account then press ctrl+alt+del twice to change to the login box where you can change the username.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Stu

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#570676 19-Jan-2012 07:57

Good point. Wonder why I didn't think of that at midnight?

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xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#570678 19-Jan-2012 08:04

Also try booting into safe mode - if the administrator account isnt showing at login on a normal boot, then trying it via safe mode will usually show it and you can log in from there and reset passwords etc.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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k1w33d

138 posts

Master Geek

#570680 19-Jan-2012 08:22

Try using ophcrack. Has worked for me on numerous occasions.

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#570764 19-Jan-2012 12:25

Thanks for the suggestions - I've tried changing user name but still won't allow log in.

Sometimes I get the message "press any key to boot from CD" when I have either UBCD or WinXXXP disk in but it still reverts to the intall. I didn't chnage BIOS so don't understand why it now won't boot from the CD, and also more mystifying I can't get into the BIOS. Have tried del, F1 (which is what the computer tells me to use) and more recently at a friend's suggestion F2 and del alternately.

Thanks anyway.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

Registered Linux user #386597 http://counter.li.org/

gzt

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#570775 19-Jan-2012 12:46

In case it helps - on older machines you cannot enter the bios with a USB keyboard - only a PS2 keyboard can trigger the bios.

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#570830 19-Jan-2012 14:05

Thanks - that's it!! Amusing a USB keyboard!! Will get the other one.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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CYaBro

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#570864 19-Jan-2012 15:18

If you want to use a USB keyboard then change the setting in the BIOS for USB Keyboard support to Enabled.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#570865 19-Jan-2012 15:21

CYaBro: If you want to use a USB keyboard then change the setting in the BIOS for USB Keyboard support to Enabled.

I'm just getting it ready for my friend to donate to a worthy cause so will do it all using the PS2 and they can change it if they want to.

Thanks though.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

Registered Linux user #386597 http://counter.li.org/

xpd

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#570903 19-Jan-2012 17:16

Just easier to enable the USB function anyway.... it dosent stop the PS2 from working.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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