How can i recover a windows xp administrative password?

Question

my problem seems to go a little deeper than askers of past threads. my machine is not even bootable now as i blue screen with every startup mode: 3 safe modes, last good config, or regular startup. i attempted a repair with an install disk, but in order to do so i need the admin password, in which i have 3 tries to get it right before the machine must be rebooted. as the software was installed by my school some years ago, i have no idea what the password would be. normally i wouldnt mind reinstalling windows, but i have some irreplaceable pictures of my little one that i foolishly didnt back up. if anyone knows any tricks besides the ones posted in prior threads, i would be forever indebted.

Answer 1

You have the Blue Screen of Death. The only solution is to re-install Windows. You cannot log on or access any files with the BSOD. The Blue Screen basically means that your hard drive has failed and everything on it is now gone.

So sorry for your lost.

Answer 2

Not sure if this stilll works? But there use to be jumpers on motherboards. if you take the cover off your computer there should be instructions as to what each jumper does? One use to be able to clear administrative passwords off by changing a setting on the jumper. Another thing you could try is remove the CMOS battery from the motherboard for a few minutes and then put it back. That may also reset the passwords.  

Answer 3

I had a similar problem on my PC and found the password was    clear.

Answer 4

There's no way to hack the passwords if the PC wont boot up

It's a Catch -22 and one of the Top Gazillion Reasons why so many people dont like Microsoft.

My best suggestion  to Recover specific files  is to Physically remove the Hard Drive  and install it into another computer as a "Slave Drive"

You'll have to have the Bootable Drive/"Master Drive" jumpered as "Master",,,,and the wonky problem drive jumpered as SLAVE.

Or,,both jumpered as Cable Select if they are from PC's made within last 5~7 yrs or so

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OR...for about $20 you can get an External Drive box that connects via USB cable.

They are Very simple to set-up.

*Put the "bad" drive in the box

*Plug the box's usb cable into your other PC's usb port.

The good 'puter will be able to read the bad drive,,it will probably be labelled as "D" Drive or some such

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You SHOULD be able to then Read the "bad drive" and transfer the files to the Good Drive

You can also run diagnotics on the "Bad" Drive and maybe fix it

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Blue on Boot is often a HARDWARE Prob.

A Corrupted XP installation will Usually just FREEZE during boot.

You can TRY to make a Boot Disk set(it's about 4 or 6?Floppies) and a pain,,,but lottsa times that can start a Bad XP.

http://www.bootdisk.com/

If the Dead PC has more than a single stick of RAM,,,try removing them all but 1.

If it has ANY add-on cards,,,like NIC/Ethernet,,,Sound,,,Dial-Up Modem,,,remove them

If it has Onboard Video,,,and also an Add-On Video Card----remove the card & it should default to the Built In Vid.

Ya never know if any of those may be the culprit???

Might get Lucky??

I Hope So,,,I hate it when that sorta stuff happens

Good Luck