Until I set up a user profile, I never had to login to my computer. After setting up a user profile with zero priveledges, I am now prompted to enter a user name and password. Not having but one Admin login, I do not know its associated password. I can't do a bloody thing with this pc now. Can I through the CDMOS setup, or by adjusting BIOS features, prevent this login screen from appearing at all and have full priveledges? Or, can I somehow detect (yes, I know Microsoft says you can't, but we know better, don't we?) the password for the Administrator login so I can go in and reset it? Thanks for any help. Chris ~`^%

A trawl via google or similar for: by pass W2K logon will bring up numerous "how to" ... e.g.: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/Windows2000/UserTips/Miscellaneous/BypassW2Klogonscreen.html also (with other "tweaks) http://www.winguides.com/registry/tweaks.php/WindowsXP/ and there are many more "out there"... As regards the admin-passsword: did you ever set one? If not then try a blank password entry, also try using Administrator. If no joy that way, then essentially you can run various utils to remove the SAM file thus removing all passwords. When you reboot you are presented with a fresh admin logon with a blank password box. If this is your own PC (not a company's) then leave it blank? You also have to recreate all other user accounts afresh Depending on the file format of the installation depends on which of various approaches you may need to use. There are also password crack utils... If this a company PC contact your IT admin people...

Hi and thank you for your reply. I cannot reset anything since I can not login as administrator and I have no other administrative account set up - just a limited user account. I cannot even reinstall Windows. Anything I wish to do in order to change system settings requires an Administrator - I don't have that password, never set one up, never had to login before I set up this user account which has no priveledges. I need to do something from bootup in the CMOS setup or BIOS setup or something like that. I have tried every conceivable password I can think of, even a blank, a space, 'admin', 'admininstrator', 'Admin' etc. I've screwed myself here and I admit it. ~`^%

Try loging in as administrator with password as blank. Sometimes administrator passwords are blank until it is changed. If you're able to, you can try disabling username and password use by going to the Control Panels -> Users and Passwords. Uncheck the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer"

There is handy tool in the form of a bootable cd that can be found at home.eunet.no/~pnordah/ntpasswd/cd040818.zip It boots linux and runs a utility that allows you to reset passwords for any account on an XP machine and it’s free. Or if you want a floppy version use this home.eunet.no/~pnordah/ntpasswd/bd040818.zip It’s simple to use but take care and READ every step before pressing Enter

That util does work: is a little demanding in that you "must" read the instructions carefully and wait accordingly. Once you have managed to get back in and reset the Admin password, write it down and keep somewhere safe. Also create a separate user account for yourself - that may also have admin access; maybe also one that doesn't have admin access. Idea being that having a second admin level (user) account allows you gain access if you screw up the first. Having a non-admin access (standard user) account (for day to day use) means you can access etc. and not risk screwing up the admin account(s).