How to Reset Windows XP Passwords [Complete Guide]

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on April 22, 2024

This passage provides seven methods to reset Windows XP password:

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What should we do when we forget our Windows XP passwords? You must regain access to your computer by resetting your password.  You can reset your Windows forgotten XP password if you know the proper methods. In this article, tools will teach you different useful methods, so read thoroughly and understand every instructional step.

Read Also: Crack Windows Password

How to Reset Windows XP Password?

There are seven effective ways to reset your forgotten Windows XP password. Let's delve into these methods and begin trying them out.

Further Reading: Unlock HP Laptop Without Password, Reset Lenovo Laptop Password

Method 1: Via Password Reset Tool

The quickest method to reset the administrator password in Windows XP is by using a professional tool, such as the Partition Master Pro, which offers a Password Reset feature to assist you effortlessly. It provides straightforward steps to reset passwords, making it easy even for beginners.

This method enables you to reset Windows XP administrator password without logging in. Download this tool for free and enjoy the convenience it offers!

Step 1. Connect the USB drive/external drive to a functional computer, open the Partition Master (RE) tool, and click "Create Bootable Media."

Step 2. Choose the Boot Toolkits and any other components you require. Then, click "Next."

Step 3. Choose your removable device and click "Go" to create an image on your USB drive/external drive.

Step 4. Before creating the bootable media, you'll see a warning that your data will be erased. Click "OK" to confirm.

Step 5. Connect the created bootable drive to the problematic computer and restart it while holding down "F2" or "Del" to enter the BIOS. Next, set the WinPE bootable drive as the primary boot device and press "F10" to exit.

Step 6. Next, the computer will enter the WinPE desktop. Locate and launch Password Reset.

Step 7. Choose your Windows version and select the Windows account you wish to reset.

Step 8. Click "Confirm" when prompted to continue with the Windows password reset.

Step 9. Wait patiently, and you'll receive a message confirming the password was changed successfully. Click "OK" to finish the password reset process.

tools Partition Master also supports other Windows systems; this way, you can also reset Windows 10 password without logging in.

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Method 2: Via Ctrl + Alt + Del

If your Windows XP system is set to log in via the Welcome screen, let's first try this method to quickly reset the Windows XP password using Ctrl + Alt + Del. However, this approach has a limitation as it only works if there is no existing password for the Admin Windows XP account.

Here are the steps to reset a Windows XP password without using a CD/USB: 1. Restart your computer: Turn off your computer and then turn it back on. As it starts, press the F8 key repeatedly to enter the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2. Select Safe Mode: From the boot options menu, use the arrow keys to highlight "Safe Mode" and press Enter. 3. Log in with an Administrator account: If you have another administrator account with a known password, log in with that account. If not, proceed with the next step. 4. Open Command Prompt: Click on "Start," then "Run." In the Run dialog box, type "cmd" and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt. 5. Type the command: At the Command Prompt, type the following command, replacing "username" with the actual username of the account whose password you want to reset: `net user username *` 6. Reset the password: You'll be prompted to enter a new password. Type a new password and press Enter. Confirm the new password by typing it again and press Enter. 7. Update the SAM file: Since we're in Safe Mode, we need to update the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) file with the new password. Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each: `cd \Windows\System32` `ren sam sam.bak` `copy sam.bak sam` 8. Restart the computer: Close the Command Prompt, click "Start," then "Shut Down," and restart your computer normally. 9. Log in with the new password: Now, when you log in to Windows XP, use the new password you just set for the specified account. Remember, this method only works if you have access to an administrator account or if there is another administrator account with a known password. If you don't have an administrator account, you may need to use a password reset disk or seek professional assistance.

Step 1. After booting your system, it will display the Welcome Screen. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete twice to access the user login panel.

Step 2. Next, click OK to log in without a username or password. If this doesn't work, enter "Administrator" into the Username field and click OK.

Step 3. In the Password box, type the administrator password and click OK. (If you don't know the administrator password, leave it blank and click OK.)

Step 4. You can reset the password through the Run window: type control userpasswords2 and click OK.

Step 5. Select the target user account and click Reset Password.

Step 6. Enter and confirm the new password, then click OK.

We'll continue to provide more solutions to reset administrator password in Windows XP. If you like this page, click the social buttons and share it with others who might need it.

Method 3. Through Command Prompt

The next approach is to reset the Windows XP password via Command Prompt. Firstly, we'll attempt the reset through "Safe Mode with Command Prompt." However, if that doesn't work for any reason, we'll proceed via CMD while booted into Safe Mode.

Here's how:

Step 1. Restart your PC/Laptop to access the Windows XP Safe Mode.

Step 2. While your computer is booting, press the F8 key.

Step 3. Next, you need to choose the third option, "Safe Mode with Command Prompt."

Step 4. After entering "Safe Mode," you must go to Control Panel > User Account > Change Account. From there, select the account for which you want to change the password and follow the on-screen instructions.

Occasionally, you may encounter computer issues that prevent you from altering user settings, such as a virus. In such cases, you can use the Command Prompt in Safe Mode to address these problems.

Step 5. While in Safe Mode, press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box. Then, type CMD, and press Enter to launch the Command Prompt. In the Command Prompt, enter the following command: net user [account name] [new password]

The result should appear as follows:

That command selects your account and sets a new password. If you want to remove the existing password and set a new one, you can use this command instead: net user [account name] *.

This method might be a bit complicated. You can use the tool Partition Master for an easier way to crack Windows password:

For a detailed guide on resetting your password on a Windows PC, please click on the following video.

 

Method 4. Through Another Account

You can reset your Windows XP password through another account, but keep in mind that this method only works if you're using Windows XP Professional. First, we'll attempt to reset the password via Computer Management. If that doesn't work, we'll utilize Remote User Management. For Remote User Management, you'll need another computer on the same network.

Please carefully follow the instructional steps and do not miss any steps. This method also enables you to reset the Windows password without using a USB drive:

Step 1. Right-click on My Computer and select Manage to open the Computer Management window.

Step 2. In the Computer Management window, navigate to the following path using the left-hand navigation bar: System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users. Right-click on your user account and select Set Password. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your Windows XP admin password.

If you're not familiar with the operations, try using the tool Partition Master to fix your password error:

Read Also: HP Default Admin Password, Dell Default Admin Password

Through Remote User Management

If you can't access the Computer Management window from your account, you can try using remote access. To do this, you'll need another computer on the same network (it doesn't have to be a Windows XP system, but it must be running a Windows operating system).

1. Right-click on **Computer Management (Local)** from the **Computer Management** window and choose **Connect to another computer > Another Computer.**

2. In the "Another computer" field, type the IP address of the computer you want to connect to, or type the computer name (such as \\DesktopPC).

3. Click on "Browse" and "Advanced." Choose "Find Now" to scan your local network for computers.

4. After gaining remote access, go back to the **Computer Management** window and navigate to **System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users.**

5. Right-click on the user account whose Windows XP administrator password you've forgotten, and choose "Set Password." Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the password.

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Method 5. Via Boot CD [Return to top](#4)

You can also utilize the Windows XP password reset USB method. This approach necessitates a bootable CD to bypass or decrypt Windows XP passwords. Firstly, you need to create a bootable USB or CD drive, and then proceed with the following steps:

Please kindly follow the below operational steps and pay attention to each step carefully:

Step 1. First, you should create a bootable Windows USB/CD drive.

Step 2. Insert the bootable drive into your Windows XP PC and restart it from the bootable disc. When you see the message saying, "Press any key to boot from CD," press any key on your keyboard.

Step 3. While on the Setup screen, follow the prompts and press the F8 key to accept the license agreement.

Step 4. Use the arrow keys to select the Windows XP installation, and then press the R key to start the repair process. When the repair is finished, Windows XP will restart and display a message that says, "Press any key to boot from CD."

Step 5. When you see the "Installing Device" progress bar in the bottom left corner, press Shift + F10 on your keyboard to open the Command Prompt window. Type "nusrmgr.cpl" into the CMD window and press Enter.

Step 6. In the pop-up window, select "Change an account", and then choose the account for which you want to change the password. Next, click on "Create a password" and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Or you can try the tool Partition Master for an easy solution:

Method 6. Via Regedit

Here, we will explain a method involving the Registry Editor, but please note that this approach carries some risk and should be attempted with caution.

It's crucial to carefully follow each step to prevent any harm to your system.

Step 1. Open CMD and type Regedit.

Step 2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList.

Step 3. Locate the "Administrator" option in the right panel. If it's not present, right-click in the right-side panel, select a new DWORD, name it "Administrator," and press Enter. Next, double-click the newly created option, enter the value 1, and press OK.

Step 4. Restart your computer, and you'll see a new Administrator user login without a password. You can now log in to this account and change the password for the forgotten account.

If you'd like to learn more about bypassing passwords, please click the provided link.

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Method 7. Via Reinstallation

If all other methods have been unsuccessful, and you're still unable to access your Windows XP account, there's one final option to regain entry to your computer. However, it's crucial to mention that this approach necessitates some technical knowledge and should be approached with caution.

Firstly, you need to remove the hard drive from your computer and connect it to another device to back up any crucial data you don't want to lose. After backing up your data, you must format the hard drive, which will erase all its contents.

Upon completing the formatting process, you can reinstall Windows XP and set a new, secure yet easy-to-remember password. This approach might seem extreme, but it can be the only solution when all other methods fail. If you're unsure about performing these steps on your own, seeking professional assistance is recommended.

Conclusion

It can be frustrating when we forget our Windows XP passwords and become unable to access our computers and stored data. In response to this issue, we have explored 7 different methods to bypass password security and reset your password, allowing you to regain access. We hope that the solutions mentioned above will work effectively for you and that you can swiftly resolve this problem. If you are aware of any other useful methods, please share them with us. We are always eager to learn from others.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resetting Windows XP Password

If you still have questions or require more information about resetting your Windows XP password, the following frequently asked questions might be of assistance.

< strong > 1. How to reset Windows XP password without a CD?

There are several ways to easily reset a Windows XP password without using a CD. You can reset your Windows XP password using Ctrl + Alt + Del, CMD, or Regedit. All three methods are straightforward, and we have provided detailed steps for each one above. With these methods, you won't require a USB or CD drive.

2. How to unlock an HP laptop if you forgot the password without a disk?

There are several methods to unlock your HP laptop without a disk. However, bear in mind that each approach has its pros and cons; some may erase all your stored data and format the entire system. You can unlock your HP laptop by accessing a hidden administrator account, using the HP Recovery Manager, performing a factory reset, or by contacting a local HP store.

< strong >3. How to reset a forgotten password on Windows 10?

If you've forgotten your Windows 10 password for a local account on Windows 10 version 1803 or later, you'll need to answer security questions to sign back in.

尝试输入错误的密码后：

Step 1. Go to the sign-in screen and select the "Reset password" link. However, if you use a PIN to log in, please refer to the PIN sign-in issues section.

注意: 如果您使用的是连接到网络的工作设备，重置密码或PIN的选项可能不可见。如果出现这种情况，别担心！您可以联系管理员以获取更多帮助。

Step 2. Enter your security questions.

Step 3. Create a new password.