Computer problem

[Doughbroz]

Rather than trash it, a friend gave me her old XP Pro system to run a bookkeeping spreadsheet. Since it will never be on the 'net, I deleted the AV, antispyware, and all the other superfluous stuff. It was set up to require a simple username and password at logon, such as Mary Smith, 100 Elm Street. She didn't mind me using the same info to logon, but, genius that I am, I decided to change them; and the computer name too, since I figured something like Mary's Bedroom wasn't very appropriate. In so doing, I tinkered with the computer name, username, domain, workgroup, and who knows what else. Bottom line, at bootup it comes up with the same username as before, but the old password doesn't work. I have tried every term I used while messing with it, as both username and password, with no luck. In safe mode, "Last known good configuration" doesn't work either. I don't want to crack a password, I just want to get it back to the way it was originally, so I hope I'm not asking a forbidden question here. Is there some way to just get it back to the way it was? I promise never to screw with it again. Thanks

 

[J.R.69]

Can't you just ask your friend for the original data? She should still remember all of it.

 

[Doughbroz]

Read my first post carefully. While tinkering with this stuff, I managed to change one or all of the original username, password, workgroup, domain, etc. So, the original password and/or username don't work. Probably doesn't matter, I found a tool that might get me in without having to reformat the thing, which is probably more trouble than it's worth. I just hate to have to tell a friend that I managed to screw up a freebie to the point that it's not worth the time it takes to fix it. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Luke Duke]

You can reinstall XP

 

[Hornin Hong Kong]

try admin as the password

otherwise reinstall

 

[Doughbroz]

Without giving any hints to those who might want to crack someone's passwords, let me just say that I was able to obtain a free program that got me right in, and it wasn't too difficult. So, for anyone who thinks that their computer is snoop-proof just because it is password protected, don't be too sure. If a relative amateur like me was able to do it, I wouldn't feel safe unless a computer was under lock and key and the key was hanging around my neck.