Now you've done it....

[AlienCraft]

OK, This is my situation. Was cleaning a computer that I had loaned a friend a while back. Was deleting users and was trying to reset the admin password when my cat jumps in my lap and with some quick paw strokes, shuts the damn thing down.
Now, I don't have the password right, apparently she added some characters when she landed in my lap.

When the laughing dies down, if anyone has any suggestions on how I can gain entry into this thing without doing a re-install, I would be happy to get a clue.

Thanks.....
BTW, it's a P3, 450mhz, Win2K machine

 

[GeekDrew]

Don't you have to type the password twice in order to change a password? It's rather... improbable... that a cat would do that.

Nonetheless, there are some utilities you can google can find that will boot your PC and change your admin pass for you. I can't think of any off of the top of my head, but they're there.

 

[drag]

There are numerious was to reset administrative passwords in Windows.

It involves boot disks.

My personal favorite is to use Knoppix-STD and the chntpw (think: change nt password) program. But there are other ways.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Don't you have to type the password twice in order to change a password? It's rather... improbable... that a cat would do that.

Nonetheless, there are some utilities you can google can find that will boot your PC and change your admin pass for you. I can't think of any off of the top of my head, but they're there.

WEll thats my story and I'm stickin' to it. All I know is just as I'm typin in the confirming PW I have a lap full of cat ( right on the keyboard) and the damn thing is spoolin down and turning off. I go to turn it on and I type what I know I did at least once before and no go.

And I've tried the old one, nope.
sooooo, my googeing continues.
thx

 

[Geiser34]

Good luck

 

[thescreensavers]

Here type what you typed before and get the cat to jump on you again. Access approved

 

[ForumMaster]

there are linux boot discs that access the ntfs parition and change the password. google has the answers.

 

[Dahak]

Offline NT Password Reset works like a charm for me, I ususally set the password to password and then boot up and remove or change it as needed.

 

[skulkingghost]

easier way

wait till the windows loading screen comes up
shut the pc down real fast
now it will ask you if you want to boot to safe mode
say yes

safe mode requires no password

delete the administrators account (still dont need a poassword)
create a new account.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: skulkingghost
easier way

wait till the windows loading screen comes up
shut the pc down real fast
now it will ask you if you want to boot to safe mode
say yes

safe mode requires no password

delete the administrators account (still dont need a poassword)
create a new account.

or just hit f8 repeatedly as the computer starts to get the safe mode prompt.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: skulkingghost
easier way

wait till the windows loading screen comes up
shut the pc down real fast
now it will ask you if you want to boot to safe mode
say yes

safe mode requires no password

delete the administrators account (still dont need a poassword)
create a new account.

Nope, this doesn't work, as windows is still asking for administrators p/w.

I had such hopes , too.
I may just get my quicken files off the drive and wipe it and start over.

 

[Robor]

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Robor
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

his one keeps coming up in referrals.
I'll be trying this one this weekend when I get time to play.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Don't you have to type the password twice in order to change a password? It's rather... improbable... that a cat would do that.

Nonetheless, there are some utilities you can google can find that will boot your PC and change your admin pass for you. I can't think of any off of the top of my head, but they're there.

WEll thats my story and I'm stickin' to it. All I know is just as I'm typin in the confirming PW I have a lap full of cat ( right on the keyboard) and the damn thing is spoolin down and turning off. I go to turn it on and I type what I know I did at least once before and no go.

And I've tried the old one, nope.
sooooo, my googeing continues.
thx

did you try utility Dahawk linked to?
shoot cat or install Beatrix it was named after a cat.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: daniel49

did you try utility Dahawk linked to?
shoot cat or install Beatrix it was named after a cat.

I'm doing that one this weekend, if the "Honey do" list is short enough to let me do my thing.