Expert: Brian Benosky - 4/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: You have helped me a lot recently with a computer I had a blue screen problem with. The last thing we did was run a program to test my memory. You even gave me some additional instruction to help me us the software to test the memory. It did not appear to find any problem with the memory and for a while the computer seamed to work ok. But it recently had a corrupt file error and when it rebooted it ran scan disk and next thing I know it is asking me for a password for windows xp pro to log into that it has not asked me for in about 6 years. needless to say I cannot log in because I cannot remember that password. I have tried to follow some instructions using a disk I found that I assume is a reset disk or something of that nature that came with the syetem. Its boots to the disk and I end up at a screen that says to set up windows xp now press enter or to repair a windows xp installation using recovery console, press r. to quit setup without installing windows xp, press f3. I press r it opens the recovery console and says which windows installation would you like to log onto. There is a 1 c:\windows or press enter to cancel. I press 1 and then enter and it says type administrator password.

HELP

ANSWER: Hi Rodney

After canceling Windows Setup, usually leaving the Administrator password blank and pressing Enter will log you on.  
If that works and you can log on as Administrator, you can reset your user account password by following Method 2 here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305
If leaving the Administrator password blank does not work, try using one of the password recovery tools listed here:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm
Note that you will need to burn the program to a live CD (boot disk).
Let me know your status after trying these suggestions.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK. I have downloaded the ophcrack-xp-livecd.2.1.0 iso file to my desktop. I then down loaded the easy free burner version 3.8.0. to my desktop. I installed the easy burner as described and burned the cd as described in the step by step on line instructions. I feel that the disk is not being burned correctly because when I put the windows cd in the computer it will boot to that and say press any key to boot to your cd and it does but when I put this oprcrack iso file that has been burned to the cd it does not prompt me and never starts the program like it describes it should. But I know I have done what the instructions have told me to do. The disk I burn shows a boot file and the ophcrack file and a read me file when I view its contents in windows explored on my notebook. What do you suggest I do now.

ANSWER: Hi Rodney

First, uninstall the free easy burner.  If that is the same program I am thinking it is, it's an adware magnet.  Download IMGBurn from here:
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
Install the program.  Insert a blank CD-R.  Right click on the .iso file and choose "Burn Using ImgBurn".  The program will open, click on the button to start the burn and that's it.  Then try that CD in your computer.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It worked this way but ophcrack did not find the password. Do you think I should try the offline nt password & reg editor. Sounds a little more complicated. I hope I can do it. What do you think?

Answer
Hi Rodney

Yes, I was going to suggest resetting the password if you couldn't crack it.  There is a screenshot of the program here:
http://www.internetvibes.net/2006/07/19/reset-xp-administrator-password-utility/
The official site is here:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
As you can see by the screenshot, it's a simple DOS program.  You only need to tell it which account to reset, then confirm the action.  I have used it and it does work.

Brian