How can I regain a password from a computer that has only one account?

My pastor forgot his password on one of his computers. We can't go through. How can I get the old password or how can I make a new password? The computer has only one account -administrator account. Your help is greatly appreciated. God bless you.

How can I regain a password from a computer that has only one account?
You probably have nothing to worry about as long as you have your Windows XP CD!!














1. Place your Windows XP CD in your cd-rom and start your computer (it�s assumed here that your XP CD is bootable � as it should be - and that you have your bios set to boot from CD)





2. Keep your eye on the screen messages for booting to your cd Typically, it will be �Press any key to boot from cd�





3. Once you get in, the first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting your system and loading files.





4. When you get to the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now





5. The Licensing Agreement comes next - Press F8 to accept it.





6. The next screen is the Setup screen which gives you the option to do a Repair.





It should read something like �If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it�





Use the up and down arrow keys to select your XP installation (if you only have one, it should already be selected) and press R to begin the Repair process.





7. Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.





8. Shortly after the Copying Files stage, you will be required to reboot. (this will happen automatically � you will see a progress bar stating �Your computer will reboot in 15 seconds�





9. During the reboot, do not make the mistake of �pressing any key� to boot from the CD again! Setup will resume automatically with the standard billboard screens and you will notice Installing Windows is highlighted.





10. Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen and when you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. This is the security hole! A command console will now open up giving you the potential for wide access to your system.





11. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. Voila! You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel.





12. Now simply pick the account you need to change and remove or change your password as you prefer. If you want to log on without having to enter your new password, you can type control userpasswords2 at the prompt and choose to log on without being asked for password. After you�ve made your changes close the windows, exit the command box and continue on with the Repair (have your Product key handy).





13. Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password (or without a password if you chose not to use one or if you chose not to be asked for a password). Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.





Hope It helps!
Reply:There is no simple, easy way to go about it. I would remove the hard drive and put it into another computer where I could run password cracking software on it.
Reply:turn it on, and tap F8 repeatedly, and wait. you should now be in something called safe mode, and it's about the same thing as normal Windows, except you can't load any drivers. Or, if you don't have any important files, and still have the CD for the operating system (windows), go to the command prompt in accessories, and type in deltree, which deletes EVERYTHING, and put in the CD and it will be like having a new computer.
Reply:There are a few methods to do this, but the easiest one is using 3rd party software that run *outside* Windows.





I think the best option is the first link I mentioned in my source list. Yes, it may take some blood, sweat and tears to get yourself through it, but in the end, I guess it's worth it.


And just for the record, I doubt that the warning on that site about EFS should be of any concern in this case.





If you want an easier approach, then you could try loginrecovery.com. You basically make a boot floppy (or a boot CD, but I'd rather not do that), boot the computer from that disk, and upload the files created on the floppy to loginrecovery.com. They'll give you your password in 72 hours.





If both fail to work, please look at the last link I mentioned.
Reply:http://www.wikihow.com/Log-on-to-Windows...
Reply:well the only way to do that is to reinstall windows. put in the windows cd turn off the pc then turn it back on then it will take you step by step from there. but the catch is you'll lose all previous memory
Reply:hmm.. wath bout deleting evry thing pc u getting password back but deletes all u got on pc like when it was new








when u turn of and on press f10 and then it starts deleting or something ;) god luck buddy
Reply:There are ways to get it, if you really need it
Reply:There are several programs you can use from a different computer, you go to their site and download it. What you do then is copy the file onto a cd, and bring it over to the password blocked computer.





Load the cd when the password screen comes up and then wait paitiently. If the file is working, the file will start finding EVERY single one of your passwords you've ever used on the computer from the login screen. (This excludes like form passwords, JUST your login screen)





For the files, I read it in a PC world magazine and can't remember exactly what their called. You can try searching about a program like that, but to be safe, I'd search in the PC world's site.





You could also format your computer. And try Cntrl + Alt + Delete during the login page to get a username and password. To some people, that usually sparks a memory.





Hope I help!