Using the hidden administrator password in win xp

[TiziteLayinLow]

we get computers into work (best buy, pc tech).. and the windows password is sometimes set and i know theres a way to login with the admin account and create a new user with full prevs.. any one know where to login as admin?

thanks.

 

[spyordie007]

If it's XP Pro do a control+alt+del+del (tap delete twice) at the fast user switching/welcome screen to bring up the login dialog. Keep in mind that during the XP install a password would have been set on administrator account so you would need that password anyways. You can not do this under XP Home as it will not allow you access to the local administrator account.

Your best bet is going to be to get the user to either give you their password or create an account for you to use (you could have them do that when they drop it off).

 

[shiftomnimega]

my laptop came with the administrator password BLANK!

ugh, talk about security flaw.

 

[TiziteLayinLow]

well another tech that works with me.. i started a pc and it required the user pw and when i came back he had added a pw.. on the way out he said to login as admin and create a user that its usually blank.. im guessing maybe hes just had a coincedence with it?? maybe he knows something i dont..lol but i cant let him beat me on the bench so you know how that goes.

also if theres any great utilities that might come in handy on a tech bench feel free to throw in the names..lol

thanks guys

 

[kursplat]

been saving this one but haven't tryed it yet.
good luck

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: shiftomnimega
my laptop came with the administrator password BLANK!

ugh, talk about security flaw.

wow who built that thing? Talk about total lack of best security practices...

 

[harsh]

my laptop came with the administrator password BLANK!

wow who built that thing? Talk about total lack of best security practices...

It probably came blank so that the end user could set their own password. My neighbor recently got a new lappy and his was blank as well. Right in the initial set up instructions it told him this and proceeded to tell him that he needed to to change it and how to do so. Just an idea, you might want to check your instructions to see if there is something like that. If there isn't I would contact the manufacturer and ask.

 

[TiziteLayinLow]

nope folks we are talking totally different things here... we have customers come in and they have a user password that they've created.. only 1 user.. and its not admin.. i have a fellow employee who can login as admin assuming the pw is blank and create a new user.. this is done without any additional software.. it has to be something in the startup i just dont know how to get to it.. does anyone know how this is done?

thanks

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: TiziteLayinLow
nope folks we are talking totally different things here... we have customers come in and they have a user password that they've created.. only 1 user.. and its not admin.. i have a fellow employee who can login as admin assuming the pw is blank and create a new user.. this is done without any additional software.. it has to be something in the startup i just dont know how to get to it.. does anyone know how this is done?
thanks

Your question was already answered by spyordie007. There is ALWAYS an administrator account, XP just hides it once there is a user account. This just means the original machine was setup without an admin password duing install.

Bill

 

[earthman]

Start up in safe mode and you'll have the option to log in as administrator. Then you can set up accounts as you wish. (hit F8 when its booting but you knew that, right?) Does any typical user actually set passwords? I've seen very few that do, or even know they should. And don't forget, the first user account is an administrator by default.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: spyordie007

Originally posted by: shiftomnimega
my laptop came with the administrator password BLANK!

ugh, talk about security flaw.

wow who built that thing? Talk about total lack of best security practices...

Do I detect sarcasm?

 

[NEVERwinter]

I don't know whether this works or not, but give it a try:
- open Command Prompt, then type "net user Administrator * " << watch the * key , and follow the instructions....