How to Reset Windows XP Passwords [Full Guide in 2023]

This passage offers six methods toreset Windows XP password:

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 XP password if you know the proper methods.And the type of password that can be reset is the admin password.

In this article,EaseUSwill teach you different useful methods, so read thoroughly and understand every instructional step.

How to Reset Windows XP Password?

在Windows X忘记管理员密码P can be incredibly frustrating and prevent you from using your computer normally. However, six effective methods are available to crack your Windows XP password. Let's explore these methods and start trying them out. In this section, we'll learn six ways to reset Windows XP passwords.

Method 1. Reset Windows XP Password via Ctrl + Alt + Del

If you set the Windows XP system to log in through the Welcome screen, let's try this first method to reset the Windows XP password quickly using Ctrl + Alt + Del keys. But this method has a drawback because it only works if there is no existing password for the Admin Windows XP account.

Let's follow the operational steps:

Step 1.After booting your system, it will load the Welcome Screen. PressCtrl + Alt + Deletetwice to access the user login panel.

Step 2.Next, clickOK没有用户名和密码登录。如果这doesn't work, enter"Administrator"into theUsernamefield and clickOK.

Step 3.If you can log in, go toControl Panel > User Account > Change Account. From there, select the account you want to change the password and follow the instructions on the screen.

We will continue to offer more solutions to reset Windows XP password. If you like this page, click the social buttons and share it with others in need.

Method 2. Reset Windows XP Password via CMD

The next method is to reset the Windows XP password throughCommand Prompt. First, we'll try to reset through"Safe Mode with Command Prompt."But for any reason, if it doesn't work, we'll try throughCMDfrom withinSafe Mode.

Here's how:

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

Step 2.While your computer is booting, press theF8key.

Step 3.Now, you have to select the third option,"Safe Mode with Command Prompt."

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

Occasionally, you may encounter computer issues that prevent you from changing user settings, such as a virus. You can utilize theCommand Promptfrom withinSafe Modein such cases.

Step 5.While inSafe Mode, open theRun dialogby pressing theWindows Key + R. Next, typeCMD, and hitEnterto open theCommand Prompt. From there, input the following command:net user [account name] [new password]

The outcome should look like this:

That command selects your account and sets a new password. In case you want to remove the password and set a new one, you can use the following command instead:net user [account name]."

Method 3. Reset Windows XP Password via Another Account

You can reset your Windows XP password through another account, but a drawback is that this method only works if you use Windows XP Professional. We'll first try to reset throughComputer Management. If this doesn't work, we'll useRemote User Management. ForRemote User Management, we need another PC on the same network.

Please follow the instructional steps carefully and don't miss any step:

Step 1.Open theComputer Managementwindow by right-clicking onMy Computerand selectingManage.

Step 2.Within theComputer Managementwindow, navigate to the following path via the left-hand navigation bar:System Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users.Right-click on your user account and chooseSet Password. Track the on-screen instructions and reset your Windows XP admin password.

Via Remote User Management

If you cannot access theComputer Managementwindow 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 on a Windows platform).

1. Right-click onComputer Management (Local)from theComputer Managementwindow and chooseConnect to another computer > Another Computer.

2. In the"Another computer"field, type the IP address of the computer you like 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. Once you have remote access, return to theComputer Managementwindow and navigate toSystem Tools > Local Users and Groups > Users.

5. Right-click on the user account for which you've forgotten the Windows XP administrator password, and select"Set Password."Then, follow the instructions provided on-screen to reset the password.

Method 4. Reset Windows XP Password via Boot CD

This method requires a bootable CD to break or decrypt Windows XP passwords. First, we should create a bootable USB/CD drive if you don't know how. You can watch a tutorial on YouTube or read a how-to guide about it.

Kindly follow the below operational steps and be careful regarding each step:

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 a message displaying,"Press any key to boot from CD,"你必须从你的键盘按任意键。

Step 3.While on the Setup screen, follow the prompts and press theF8key to accept the license agreement.

Step 4.Use the arrow keys to choose the Windows XP installation, and then press theRkey to initiate the repair process. Once the repair process is complete, Windows XP will restart and show a message,"Press any key to boot from CD."

Step 5.When you notice the"Installing Device"progress bar at the bottom left corner, press theShift + F10keys from your keyboard to open theCommand Promptwindow. Then type"nusrmgr.cpl"into theCMDwindow and pressEnter.

Step 6.In the pop-up window, you must choose"Change an account"and the account you want to change the password for. Next, select"Create a password"and follow the on-screen prompts to finish the process.

Method 5. Reset Windows XP Password via Regedit

Here we will explain a method involving the Registry Editor, but please note that this method can be risky and should be attempted with caution.

It's essential to follow each step carefully to avoid causing any damage to your system.

Step 1.OpenCMDand typeRegedit.

Step 2.Navigate toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserListin theRegistry Editor.

Step 3.Locate the Administrator option in the right panel. If it is not there, right-click in the right-side panel, choose a newDWORD, name it"Administrator,"and pressEnter. Then double-click the newly created option, enter the value 1, and pressOK.

Step 4.Restart your computer, and you will see a new Administrator user login without a password. You can now log in to this account and change the password of the lost account.

Method 6. Reset Windows XP Password via Reinstallation

If all other methods are failed and you still find yourself locked out of your Windows XP account, there is one last option to regain access to your computer. However, before starting, it is essential to note that this method requires some technical expertise and should be cautiously undertaken.

Firstly, you must remove the hard drive from your computer and connect it to another machine to back up any important data you do not want to lose. Once you have backed up your data, you must format the hard drive, erasing its contents.

After completing the formatting process, you can reinstall Windows XP and set a secure and easy-to-remember new password. This method may seem extreme, it is sometimes the only option when all else fails. Pursuing professional service is recommended if you are not confident in your ability to carry out these steps independently.

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Conclusion

It's frustrating that sometimes we forget our Windows XP passwords and cannot access our PC and stored data. In this regard, we experienced six different methods to neutralize password security and break it so you can create a new password. We hope above discussed solutions will work best for you and that you'll get rid of this issue quickly. If you know another useful solution, please let us know. We'll love to learn from you.

FAQs About Reset Windows XP Password

If you still have questions or need further information about resetting your Windows XP password, here are some frequently asked questions that may help.

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

Several methods allow you to easily reset the Windows XP Password without a CD. You can reset your Windows XP Password via Ctrl + Alt + Del, CMD, or Regedit. These three are straightforward, and we mentioned the detailed steps above. Through these methods, you don't need any USB/CD drive.

2. How to unlock the HP laptop forgot the password without the disk?

There are several ways to unlock your HP laptop without a disk. But remember that each method has advantages and disadvantages; some can erase all your stored data and format everything. You can unlock your HP laptop using a hidden administrator account, HP recovery manager, factory resetting, or contacting a local HP store.

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

On Windows 10 version 1803 and later, if you've forgotten your Windows 10 password for a local account, you must answer security questions to sign back in.

After attempting with an incorrect password:

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.

Note:Remember that if you're using a work device connected to a network, the option to reset your password or PIN might not be visible. If that's the case, don't worry! You can contact your administrator for further assistance.

Step 2. Enter your security questions.

Step 3. Create a new password.