Password problem after software update

[AlNasty]

A few days ago I down loaded a Windows XP update, at the same time I was either downloading or installing other software. They both required a reboot and so I waited until both were finished and then rebooted.

Windows asked me for my administrator password (which it never has before), and when I type it in it says that its wrong. I only use one password for all my logins, so its not like I forgot it. I tried it with caps on and caps off.

Anyone have any idea why this has happened, and if there is a way to correct it.

Thanks.

 

[Malak]

Did you try just hitting enter? Maybe you didn't put in an admin password.

 

[Navid]

I don't have a solution.
I did a search on Google and got lots of hits.
This is one.
Link

Let me say again. I have no idea if this works!

 

[mechBgon]

If he wants to reset the hidden Administrator account's password, he can log on with any Admin-class account (presumably he has one named after himself) and use the command net user Administrator AlNasty@AT or another strong password of his choice. Or log on in Safe Mode, and then Administrator will be visible in User Accounts and he can change it there.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Or log on in Safe Mode, and then Administrator will be visible in User Accounts and he can change it there.

Correct me if I am wrong. But, he would need the original password in order to change it this way, wouldn't he?

 

[AlNasty]

Thanks all. I managed to use a security hole exploit as mentioned by another member on the tech forum.

Strange, it would except my password in the repair console, but not on the main login screen. Definitely had something to do with doing two updates at once.

Thanks again

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Or log on in Safe Mode, and then Administrator will be visible in User Accounts and he can change it there.

Correct me if I am wrong. But, he would need the original password in order to change it this way, wouldn't he?

Let's say your computer has two Admin-class accounts, the built-in Administrator account and one called Navid. You can log on as Navid in Safe Mode, then go to User Accounts and change your normally-hidden Administrator account's password in the usual fashion. One Admin-class account can change the password of another.

 

[Navid]

I have XP pro SP2 (slipstreamed).

I just rebooted and went to safe mode.
After windows came up, it gave me two accounts to log into. Administrator and my usual account that I always use. I clicked on my account and logged in. Then, I went to the control pannel and user accounts. The only accounts shown were my account and the "Guest" account, which is not currently active on my machine. There was no "Administrator" account shown!

 

[mechBgon]

Bah, your computer is a non-conformist!



Go here and if you scroll down a bit, you'll see a handy AddAdministrator.reg thing that will make that sneaky Admin account begin showing up at the log-on screen. You should (famous last words) be able to change its password using that command-line command I gave above, if nothing else.

BTW, I'm starting to wonder if one of the things SP2 changes is to go and set a strong password on the hidden Administrator account behind your back, just to get it secured against exploit. If anyone knows one way or the other, or would care to do an experiment pre-SP2 and post-SP2 to check that, I'd be curious to learn more

 

[Navid]

Wait a minute!
I have not forgotten my password for the Administrator account.

I was just curious about one of the suggestions that came up and thought that it was not correct.
I gave it a try and I still think that it is not correct.

But, I may have made a mistake. That is why I explained what I did. I am interested to learn. I am always grateful to people who teach me new things.

Thanks,

Navid

Edit:
I did see the Administrator account at the login screen when I went to the safe mode. But, I did not see it when I logged into my normal account and went to the user accounts on the control panel.