Change XP Password With Install CD
If you forgot your Windows login password which contains your most valuable data with your all favorite setting and you fear about loosing all the data and settings? Then you don’t worry about this problem, if unfortunately you have this problem. Here is the best method to restore your Windows login password provided if you have the Windows installation CD.
1. Place your Windows XP CD in your cd-rom and start your computer (it’s assumed here that your XP CD is bootable – as it should be – and that you have your bios set to boot from CD)
2. Keep your eye on the screen messages for booting to your cd Typically, it will be “Press any key to boot from cd”
3. Once you get in, the first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting your system and loading files.
4. When you get to the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now
5. The Licensing Agreement comes next – Press F8 to accept it.
6. The next screen is the Setup screen which gives you the option to do a Repair.
It should read something like “If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it”
Use the up and down arrow keys to select your XP installation (if you only have one, it should already be selected) and press R to begin the Repair process.
7. Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.
8. Shortly after the Copying Files stage, you will be required to reboot. (this will happen automatically – you will see a progress bar stating “Your computer will reboot in 15 seconds”
9. During the reboot, do not make the mistake of “pressing any key” to boot from the CD again! Setup will resume automatically with the standard billboard screens and you will notice Installing Windows is highlighted.
10. Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen and when you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. This is the security hole! A command console will now open up giving you the potential for wide access to your system.
11. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. Voila! You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel.
12. Now simply pick the account you need to change and remove or change your password as you prefer. If you want to log on without having to enter your new password, you can type control userpasswords2 at the prompt and choose to log on without being asked for password. After you’ve made your changes close the windows, exit the command box and continue on with the Repair (have your Product key handy).
13. Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password (or without a password if you chose not to use one or if you chose not to be asked for a password). Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.
on November 10th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
[…] Change XP Password With Install CD – If you forgot your Windows login password which contains your most valuable data with your all favorite setting and you fear about loosing all the data and settings? Then you don’t worry about this problem, if unfortunately you have this problem. Here is the best method to restore your Windows login password provided if you have the Windows installation CD. […]
on February 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
this didn’t work
on January 13th, 2012 at 11:36 am
Thank you for this helpful and precise guide! Our site licensed installation CD has never given me a problem before, but this time—after wiping a hard drive with Secure Erase, reformatting the HDD, and reinstalling Win XP—, it somehow put a password on the primary new user account. Your guide helped me to remove that password and complete the installation.
Thank you again!
Tim
on May 15th, 2012 at 3:32 am
Even if guest accounts are off xp still has a safe mode admin account. you don’t need an xp cd.
1. press f8 on start up and select safe mode with command promt.
2.select administator
3.when started use the NUSRMGR.CPL
4.remove or change any password on any account
on June 30th, 2012 at 7:22 am
Thank you!
on November 29th, 2012 at 7:14 am
Well done!!! The first method with the repair did not work. Waste of time!!! But the start up f8 etc worked great!!!!!
Thanks
on February 8th, 2013 at 4:19 am
I really need this trick but some how I haven’t tried yet
look start up with F8 key very interesting
on June 13th, 2015 at 7:41 pm
The “repair” and Shift-F10 method did work for me.
I never set a password on my fresh install of XP but I was also locked out as I did not know the password that had (somehow???) been set by the CD.
I’ve used the same installation CD on numerous occasions, and this is the very first time that I have encountered this password problem.
Before I found this solution, I did try to changed / delete the password by using the F2 setup command.
I entered the BIOS and cleared out all of the passwords and rebooted but I kept running into the same problem as the original poster.
Thanks for the Shift F10 info, as it did work for me.
on June 13th, 2015 at 8:01 pm
I spoke too soon.
The Shift F10 appeared like it worked and then upon reboot, it took me right back to where I started: the User screen and the password box.
on June 16th, 2015 at 7:58 am
theres a few methods of password reset listed on our site , check those out