Can't login on W2K..Fixed

[rb56]

I db W2K and XP and haven't used W2K in a while. Today I booted to W2K and decided to remove some of the profiles that I had on it. So I delete all the profiles (including the one I was log on as)except for administrator and logged off. Now I am unable to log back on as administrator. It asks for my password and I don't think I ever set one for the administrator.(just left it blank)

Is there anyway that I can figure out what my password is or get logged on?

thanks,
rb56

 

[Bunch]

Try and get a copy of a program called ERD Commander (for 2000). It creates boot disks that allow you to view and change account information, including passwords.

 

[rb56]

thanks, Bunch I'll see if I can find it.

 

[rb56]

Well checked commander out and with the demo I can't effect any changes. Any other programs out there that will get the pw?

I haven't got anything on this partition that I need so my next question I guess is if I can't get the pw how about just reinstalling the os. The problem in that is that the boot file for my XP partition is also on the W2K partition (C) right? Am I going to have a problem booting to XP if I reinstall W2K?

What's the easiest way to get this resolved?

thanks
rb56

 

[n0cmonkey]

If you left it blank (a silly thing to do really, but I wont get into that) there shouldb e no password. So enter Administrator for the login, and a blank password and you should be set. This will hopefully teach you to pay attention to what you are doing and not go deleting things willy nilly

 

[SaigonK]

If you can get NTFS pro you can delete the SAM file and it will reset any passwords on the PC.

 

[rb56]

SaigonK, thanks for the idea. I booted to XP went in to the Winnt folder in W2K, deleted the SAM file, rebooted to W2K and bingo!

n0cmonkey, your right I should have a password on the Administrator login , and I must have because I did try to login as you suggested. I installed W2K over a year ago, an have never had to login under administrator. No more willy nilly for me (I hadn't hear that since I was a kid)

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< SaigonK, thanks for the idea. I booted to XP went in to the Winnt folder in W2K, deleted the SAM file, rebooted to W2K and bingo!

n0cmonkey, your right I should have a password on the Administrator login , and I must have because I did try to login as you suggested. I installed W2K over a year ago, an have never had to login under administrator. No more willy nilly for me (I hadn't hear that since I was a kid) >>



I was tired and feeling old

 

[SaigonK]

rb56: Glad to hear it worked for ya!
Just know that when you delete the SAM file it wipes out any profiles you have besides the default ones.

BUT if you need to get into a PC that his a bit hosed then you can do that fix and it works like a charm, also works for Windows NT 4.
Sometimes you get a BSOD that says "SAM security file corrupted" this is an easy fix for it.