How can I figure out my Admin password on windows XP if I dont know it?

Question

I need to run a program as admin but i do not know what my admin password is. Is there a default password that administrator account starts out with? Can I reset it somehow? I'm not sure what to do..

Answer 1

There is nothing like a default admin password. The admin password is what you you set as password when installing windows.

Did you install windows yourself? Then try to remember the password you set. If not you need to contact the person who did the installation for you. Moreover, you may do an upgrade with your Windows installation CD and set a new admin password.

Answer 2

most windows installations have an account named administrator that is hidden if you are using the windows welcome screen. the only way you get to boot to this account is in safe mode, but most of the time is isn't using a password, so start in save mode and click the administrator account and boot up.

if this doesn't work because of password you can download a nifty tool to reset it for you called "Offline NT Password & Registry Editor" from http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

you make a boot disk and run it it will run through some options and you can reset your administrator password in a flash.

i wouldn't recommend this if your using a corporate computer  because the administrator password will be gone and your admin will be pissed at you and you may be fired.