forgotten password!!

[notfrom-oz]

im not sure if there is anyway around this but iv'e forgotten my laptop start up password!
what can i do?

[BillyNoMates]

The power-on BIOS password or the Windows logon password ?

[notfrom-oz]

windows

[mikeyp]

If it's windows xp you could try logging on as the administrator account? If you're using home edition if you boot in safe mode. Then the administrator account should be visible, you can log on as that (password usually blank or "administrator") and use that to change your regular account password. If the admnisitrator account has a pasword on it then i'm afriad that's bad news!

You can retrieve your documents etc by installing a second copy of xp on the same machine alongside your current one.

[notfrom-oz]

ok im going to sound really thick now.....boot in safe mode??

[mikeyp]

It's been a while since i've done anything with the admin account so i hope i'm not talking complete nonsense! But to boot in safe mode:

Restart your computer, then basically as it starts hit F8 a few times. You'll know you've been successful because a menu will appear with a few options, choose safe mode. (If the windows icon appears before you get that menu you've missed the window)

Once its booted up you should see the blue windows logon screen with your account, and a new "Administrator" account.

[notfrom-oz]

should i set as defult

[woodchopper]

There is a way to get into Windows with out the paswword - it was a question raised by someone previously on these pages - it has been posted since march but can no longer remeber the exact date so you might have to do a bit of hoking to find it.

[notfrom-oz]

well i put in a second copy of win xp and i have a message that now reads
windows cannot start because of the following file is missing or corrupt\
\WINNIT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEMced