Re-set Your Admin Password With a Bootable Windows CD-ROM

Step 1:
Modify your PC's BIOS so that it will boot from the Windows CD-ROM. Insert the Windows CD into the drive and boot up the PC. Watch the screen messages until you see the prompt: "Press any key to boot from CD."

Step 2:
Go through the boot-up process until you get to the "Setup" screen where you have the option to install or repair. Choose the option to repair and press "R" which will launch the repair process. As the repair runs, Windows Set up will do a check on your disks and then begin to copy files. This may take a few minutes. Your PC will then re-boot itself automatically.

Step 3:
Open a command prompt after your PC reboots and resumes set-up. Here's how:

* In Windows 2000, wait until the point where it's registering components, and then pres the "Shift + F10" keys.

* In Windows XP, watch the bottom left-hand side of your screen until you see a progress bar that reads: "Installing devices," and then press the "Shift + F10." This will open a command console.

Step 4:
You can now gain access to your Control panel. Here's how:

* In Windows 2000, enter this command: control.exe

* In Windows XP, type: nusrmgr.cpl

* Press "Enter," and you will have access to the control panel.

Step 5:
Use the tools provided to reset your passwords. When you are done, close the control panel and then type in "Exit" to close your command console. Allow the repair to complete as usual. You will then be able to log on using your new password.

Alternative ways to Access your PC

Step 1:
Log into another administrative account on the same computer, if you have one. Reset the password for the account whose admin password you lost. Log out and log-into your administrative account. This simple method of resetting an administrative password makes it highly advisable to have two admin accounts on a PC if there is a chance you may forget the password.

Step 2:
Disconnect your hard drive and re-install it on another PC as a slave drive. Using this method, you will be able to access the files that you had stored on the account whose admin password you lost.

Step 3:
Re-set your password using third-party software such as the Offline NT Password and Registry Editor by Petter Nordahl-Hagen (See Resources below). This application gives you access to accounts on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and NT systems.