Archive for the ‘Windows XP’ category

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Forgot Windows Logon Password?

September 5th, 2012 by Admin

I have forgotten my Windows logon password. I am afraid to cut my computer off for fear I won’t be able to get back into it. Please help me recover my password or bypass it, either one. I need a baby steps tutorial since I am not too computer savvy as you can see. Please help. I’ll stay online until I get a response.

The Windows logon password is one of the most important passwords we have memorized and if you’ve lost or forgotten this password, the entire world can seem just out of reach. People are constantly locking themselves out of their personal laptops and home computers by forgetting the logon password. Luckily there is an easy way to reset forgotten Windows logon password so you can then log on to your computer in minutes.

How to Reset Windows Logon Password?

  1. Download the .zip archive of Reset Windows Password utility. Unzip the download file, you’ll get a bootable ISO image: ResetWindowsPwd.iso, which can run from CD, DVD or USB flash drive.
  2. In my case, I’m going to reset Windows logon password on a netbook without CD/DVD drive, so I choose to burn the ISO image to USB flash drive with ISO2Disc utility.
  3. Once the burning process is complete, we need to make some changes to the computer with a forgotten Windows logon password: Get into computer BIOS and set USB or Removable Device as the first boot device.
  4. Plugin the USB flash drive into your locked computer. Restart the computer, it will then boot from the USB flash drive.
  5. When the Reset Windows Password program is launched, you’ll see the Windows SAM registry hive and user accounts on the boot screen.
  6. Choose a user account and then click Reset Password button, it will reset your forgotten Windows logon password immediately.

Restart the computer and unplug the USB flash drive, you’ll find you can log on to your computer without being asked to enter a password. As you can see, the dread of forgetting your Windows logon password can typically be put behind you. It’s the simplest option to reset forgotten Windows 8/7/Vista/XP logon password.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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How to Reset Windows Password with Ubuntu for Free

September 3rd, 2012 by Admin

Windows has an in-built option to create password reset disk to log into system in case a user forgets the Windows account password. However, in a worst case scenario, where you don’t have a password reset disk nor have access to any administrator account, Ubuntu Live disk may help. In this article, we will guide you through step-by-step procedure of resetting Windows user account password.

While Ubuntu Live CD is widely used to troubleshoot PC problems, you can use it to reset Windows user account passwords as well. The process requires creating a Ubuntu Live CD or Live USB, and then booting it to gain full system access for resetting forgotten Windows password.

Note:  This method is free and easy for Linux users. For Windows users, we recommend you to try the Reset Windows Password bootable utility – Which is based on Windows PE and you can use it to easily reset forgotten Windows password on Windows 8/7/Vista/XP/2008/2003/2000.

Step 1: Create a Bootable Ubuntu Live USB

To get started, grab Universal USB Installer, and then download Ubuntu 10.10 (32-bit or 64-bit) from here.

Launch Universal USB Installer, select Ubuntu 10.10 from drop-down menu, and then click Browse to select the Ubuntu ISO file. Now, select the USB drive letter and set the persistent file size.

Once all settings are in place, click Create to begin creating a bootable Ubuntu Live USB.

Step 2: Boot from Ubuntu Live USB

After the Ubuntu Live USB is created, reboot your PC and access computer BIOS by pressing ESC, F2, F10, F9 or other system defined key. Head over to Boot menu and set USB/Removable Hard disk as first boot option. Once boot priority is changed, save the changes and reboot the system. From boot menu, choose Run Ubuntu from this USB option to load Ubuntu 10.10.

Step 3: Install Chntpw

Once your booted into Ubuntu, hit Ctrl + Alt + T to open a Terminal window. I know this may seem a little scary but it is actually quite easy. Once this window is open, simply type sudo apt-get install chntpw and hit Enter. It should download and install the program without needing further assistance. Once it’s finished and your back at the regular prompt, simply type exit and hit Enter. Now you should be back on the Desktop.

Step 4: Reset Windows Password

Now, you need to mount the hard disk partition where Windows is installed. You will be able to access all the removable drives and hard disk partitions from Places menu.

Open all partitions to find the drive with Windows folder. When you find it, make a note of the drive’s label that appears in the menu bar of the file browser.

Once the drive with Windows folder is mounted, open Applications menu from panel, and select Terminal from Accessories menu.

In Terminal window, enter cd /media command, and then list all mounted media drives with ls command.

Once listed, you have to navigate to drive that contains Windows folder. Enter the following command to do so.
cd <hard drive label>

Since we have to make changes to Security Accounts Manager (SAM), which is residing in Windows/System32/config folder. Enter:
cd Windows/System32/config

Once you’re in config folder, use chntpw tool to read Windows user account credentials and make changes to saved passwords. Enter following command to run chntpw tool.
sudo chntpw SAM

The chntpw shows all the configured Windows user accounts with their current status.

It presents 4 different Windows user account tweaking options at the bottom, including clear the admin account password, replace current password/edit password, promote standard user, and unlock locked user accounts. You can reset Windows admin user account password by pressing ‘1’ followed by ‘Y’,  However, to edit the admin password, press ‘2’, enter a new password, hit enter and then press Y to change the password.

The sudo chntpw SAM command can only make changes to Windows admin account password. If you want to change standard user’s password, use the switch –u followed by correct user account name.
sudo chntpw –u <user account name> SAM

Once you’ve changed the user account password, reboot your system, and plug out Ubuntu Live USB. If you’ve just reset the admin password, Windows will not prompt you to enter the password. However, if you changed the password, use the new password to log in to Windows.

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Posted in Free Software, Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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Forgot Administrator Password in Windows 7/Vista/XP

August 31st, 2012 by Admin

Forgot your Administrator password? Can’t remember the administrator password? How can you get out of this situation without formatting and re-installing the operating system? You’ve come to the right place! We have a tool for resetting forgotten administrator password in Windows 7/Vista/XP, it is called Reset Windows Password. This software comes with very simple and easy to use user interface. We can use it to reset forgotten administrator password of any Windows computer in just a few mouse clicks.

How to Reset Forgotten Administrator Password?

  1. Download the Reset Windows Password tool onto a computer you have access to. After download, extract the file, there is an ISO image: ResetWindowsPwd.iso. Burn this ISO image to a CD using ISO burning software such as BurnCDCC. The CD is needed for booting your computer with a forgotten administrator password.
  2. After the CD is ready, place it in the CD drive of your locked computer. Go into computer BIOS and set CD/DVD as the 1st boot device, your computer will boot from the CD you’ve created after restarting.
  3. Once the boot procedure is complete, it will launch the Reset Windows Password utility. Choose the administrator account and then click Reset Password button to remove your forgotten password.
  4. Eject the CD and restart the computer. You will find that it is not asking for password for the administrator account. That’s it, you are done.

Forgot Administrator Password in Windows 7/Vista/XP? With this method you can reset administrator password quickly and easily, no need to reinstall the whole operating system.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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How to Retrieve Windows Password

August 30th, 2012 by Admin

Here is the situation. You just changed your Windows admin password. The next morning when you boot your PC, you can’t remember the password to login to your Windows. You got nervous and don’t know what to do. Every passwords you entered were wrong. But, be calm… Every problems have their solutions. Here are 2 solutions to help you reset / retrieve Windows password quickly and easily.

Solution 1: Retrieve Windows Password with Ophcrack

All you need is Ophcrack, a Windows password recovery tool. Borrow someone PC, download the tool and burn it in CD. Then boot your PC with the Live CD and Ophcrack will start do its work. But make sure to set your BIOS to 1st boot from CD or you will end up with boot in Windows. Launch the program and wait the password to be retrieved.

Ophcrack won’t work against strong passwords – particularly if you are trying to retrieve a Windows Vista/7 password. The cracking process can take some time, as well, depending on the password you are trying to crack. Simple passwords tend to be quick – complex passwords take more time. If you used a complex password on a Windows Vista/7 machine you may be out of luck.

Solution 2: Reset Windows Password Instantly

Retrieving Windows password is a time-consuming task, but you can reset forgotten Windows password quickly and easily. Reset Windows Password utility could be used to reset Windows 8/7/Vista/XP/2008/2003/2000 password in no time. Let’s see how it works:

  1. Download the self-extracting Zip file of Reset Windows Password package.
  2. Unzip the download file, there is an ISO image: ResetWindowsPwd.iso. Burn it onto a blank CD/DVD or USB flash drive using ISO2Disc or any CD/DVD burning software you like.
  3. Boot your locked computer from the Windows password reset disk.
  4. Wait until the boot process is complete. When a window pops up with all your Windows accounts, select an user account and then click the Reset Passwordbutton.Reset Windows Password
  5. It will reset Windows password immediately.

Now you can then log in to your account with a blank password and regain access to your computer immediately! No need to spend a long time to retrieve your forgotten Windows password.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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How to Reset Your Windows Password without A Reset Disk

August 26th, 2012 by Admin

Have you forgotten your windows login password? This is the common problem which may arrive to every user at some point of time. The simplest way to reset a forgotten password is by using a previously created password reset disk. You can create such disk on a USB removable media or floppy within the Windows User Accounts Menu, for which go to Windows Control Panel > User Accounts > Create a password reset disk which you will find in the left pane. You can do this to your new PC as once you have the disk, insert it when starting the PC in turn it will cause Windows to display the Reset Password option at the login screen, in this way you will regain an access to your system.

But imagine worst case scenario when you try to login to your computer after many days (months may be) and you forget your Windows password and also haven’t created a password reset disk beforehand. What to do next? Here we’ll show you an easy way to reset your forgotten Windows password without a reset disk.

How to Reset Your Windows Password without a Reset Disk?

After forgetting your Windows password, the computer will become inaccessible and you can’t install any software to get around the problem. The only way is to create a Windows password reset disk and then use it to boot your computer, so you then have the ability of resetting your Windows password. Let’s begin.

Step 1: Create a Windows Password Reset CD

  1. To prepare for the password-resetting procedure, you need another computer to connect to the Internet, download the Reset Windows Password utility.
  2. Unzip the download file which contains an ISO image file: ResetWindowsPwd.iso.
  3. Next, burn the ISO image to a CD/DVD with any CD burning software such as BurnCDCC. A Windows password reset disk will be ready in one or two minutes.

Step 2: Boot Your Locked PC from the Password Reset CD

  1. Now that you’ve prepared the Windows password reset CD, go to the computer for which you have forgotten the password.
  2. Insert the Windows password reset CD and turn on the computer.
  3. When it is powered on, check the boot-screen for setup key (i.e. DELETE key, F8 key, F2 key) to enter BIOS Setup Utility.
  4. Change its BIOS settings to make it try to boot from the CD first.

Step 3: Reset Windows  Password

  1. Once you have configured the BIOS correctly, your computer will boot from the Windows password reset CD.
  2. After a while, the boot CD will launch the Reset Windows Password program.
  3. Choose the SAM registry hive from the list, the program will display a list of Windows user accounts on the computer.
  4. Select the user account whose password you forgot, then click Reset Password button.
  5. It will reset your forgotten Windows password in no time.

Now take out the password reset CD and reboot your computer. You can then log on to your computer without be asking for a password. It’s also super easy to reset your forgotten Windows password even if you haven’t created a password reset disk beforehand.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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How to Disable Autorun in Windows 8/7/Vista/XP

August 22nd, 2012 by Admin

Autorun is a feature in Windows that is meant as a convenience. A lot of times it is, but more often than not it become a hassle, as users do not always want to launch a CD or thumbdrive just because they put it in the computer. Aside from that, it is a fast way for viruses to spread. If a thumbdrive contains a virus, all it needs to launch itself is for autorun to initiate.

Keep in mind that just because autorun is disabled you can still get to your CD or USB drive by going to My Computer and launching the CD ROM or USB drive.

How to Disable Autorun in Windows 8/7/Vista/XP:

  1. Launch the Run dialogue box by pressing Win + R, then type Gpedit.msc and press Enter.
  2. The Group Policy window should open. In the left pane, double-click Administrative Templates.
  3. In the right pane, double-click System.
  4. Scroll down and double-click Turn Off Autoplay.
  5. In the Turn Off Autoplay Properties window, select Enabled. Then from the dropdown next to Turn Off Autoplay on, select All drives and then click OK.
  6. Exit Group Policy by selecting File, then choosing Exit from the menu.

So disable the autorun option in Windows to help keep your computer safe from USB transmitted viruses.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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How to Reset Forgotten Windows Password with Ease

August 10th, 2012 by Admin

There may be times when you may have forgotten your Windows passwords and are unable to login to your PC, this can cause huge frustrations, if you do not have any other users on the PC, or do not have access to the administration account.

The most dire consequences of forgetting your password could be reformatting and reinstalling your OS, however there is a way in which you can reset lost Windows passwords for your computer. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps of using a password reset CD to reset forgotten Windows password with ease.

How to reset forgotten Windows password? The procedure can be divided into 3 steps:

Step 1: Create a Windows Password Reset CD

  1. To prepare for the password-resetting procedure, you need another computer to connect to the Internet, download the Reset Windows Password utility.
  2. Unzip the download file which contains an ISO image file: ResetWindowsPwd.iso.
  3. Next, burn the ISO image to a CD/DVD with any CD burning software such as BurnCDCC. A Windows password reset disk will be ready in one or two minutes.

Step 2: Boot Your Locked PC from the Password Reset CD

  1. Now that you’ve prepared the Windows password reset CD, go to the computer for which you have forgotten the password.
  2. Insert the Windows password reset CD and turn on the computer.
  3. When it is powered on, check the boot-screen for setup key (i.e. DELETE key, F8 key, F2 key) to enter BIOS Setup Utility.
  4. Change its BIOS settings to make it try to boot from the CD first.

Step 3: Reset Forgotten Windows Password

  1. Once you have configured the BIOS correctly, your computer will boot from the Windows password reset CD.
  2. After a while, the boot CD will launch the Reset Windows Password program.
  3. Choose the SAM registry hive from the list, the program will display a list of Windows user accounts on the computer.
  4. Select the user account whose password you forgot, then click Reset Password button.
  5. It will reset your forgotten Windows password in no time.

You’ve done! Eject the password reset CD and restart your computer, you can then log in to Windows system without entering a password. With the password reset CD you can reset forgotten Windows password on Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP and Windows Server 2008, 2003 and 2000. It also supports 64-bit operating system.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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How to Erase Windows Password When You Forgot It

August 7th, 2012 by Admin

I gave my father my old HP computer. He tried to set it up. I thought that I erased the need for a password, but it keeps asking for a password. I know repair workers can bypass and erase passwords. How can I do this to allow my father access to my old computer?

You’ve probably landed on this page while looking to find out how to erase Windows password. Whether you’ve simply forgotten your password, or you want to help your friends or colleagues to erase Windows password, I’m going to show you a really easy way to help you erase Windows password when you forgot it.

You only need to create a Windows password reset disk, then use it to boot your locked computer and it can help you erase Windows password in just a few mouse clicks! Let’s go on the detail steps:

Step 1: Create a Windows Password Reset Disk

  1. To prepare for the password-erasing procedure, you need another computer to connect to the Internet, download the Reset Windows Password utility.
  2. Unzip the download file which contains an ISO image file: ResetWindowsPwd.iso.
  3. Next, burn the ISO image to a CD/DVD or USB flash drive with ISO2Disc software. A Windows password reset disk will be ready in one or two minutes.

Step 2: Boot Your Locked PC from the Password Reset Disk

  1. Now that you’ve prepared the Windows password reset disk, go to the computer for which you have forgotten the password.
  2. Insert the Windows password reset disk and turn on the computer.
  3. When it is powered on, check the boot-screen for setup key (i.e. DELETE key, F8 key, F2 key) to enter BIOS Setup Utility.
  4. Change its BIOS settings to make it try to boot from the CD or USB first.

Step 3: Erase Windows Password

  1. Once you have configured the BIOS correctly, your computer will boot from the Windows password reset disk.
  2. After a while, the boot disk will launch the Reset Windows Password program.
  3. Choose the SAM registry hive from the list, the program will display a list of Windows user accounts on the computer.
  4. Select the user account whose password you want erase, then click Reset Password button.
  5. It will erase the forgotten Windows password in no time.

Now you are done! Remove the Windows password reset disk and restart the computer. It should start as usual now, displaying the Windows logo, and finally showing the Windows login screen. Just click on your login icon (if it asks for a password, leave it blank) and you should enter Windows without the password! Now you can open Windows Control Panel to create a new password for your account. Take care to remember it this time, or you would have to go through this procedure again.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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Forgot Windows Password on Your Old Laptop?

August 3rd, 2012 by Admin

Is there anyway to recover, or wipe out, or get past the login screen for Windows XP? I have an old laptop, haven’t used it in 4 years, and want to clean it up and donate – but I can’t remember the login password.

Forgot the administrator password on your old laptop? Just bought an old Dell laptop but didn’t know the Windows password? How to regain use of the laptop without reinstalling the system if you have no idea idea what the password is? In this tutorial I’ll show you how to reset lost or forgotten Windows password on your old laptop.

How to Reset Forgotten Windows Password on Your Old Laptop:

  1. Before the work, prepare a blank CD/DVD. Then install and run Password Recovery Bundle on another accessible computer. Click Windows Password button to bring up the ISO burning dialog, then burn the default ISO image onto your CD.
  2. Insert the CD into your old laptop. Set the laptop to boot from the CD.
  3. Restart the laptop, it will start to boot from the CD. After a while, your laptop will launch the Reset Windows Password program. The software automatically detects the Windows SAM registry hive and show a list of user accounts existing on your laptop.

  4. Choose the user account whose password you already forgot, then click Reset Password button to reset your forgotten laptop password.
  5. Remove the CD and restart your computer.

Now you should be able to log on your laptop without entering a password. If you laptop doesn’t have CD-ROM drive, Password Recovery Bundle also enables you to create a Windows password reset USB drive and you can reset your laptop password using the same method above. This guide can help you reset forgotten Windows 7/Vista/XP/2003/2000 password on all brands laptop.

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Posted in Tips & Tricks, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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