Adminstrator Password Change

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alan C. Brown
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Alan C. Brown

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Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing or
removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?

Thank

Alan C.Brown

I
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

Alan C. Brown wrote:

> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
> or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?

From an account with administrative privileges:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type "mmc" (without the quotation marks), and then click
OK to start MMC.
3. Start the Local Users and Groups snap-in.
4. Under Console Root, expand "Local Users and Groups", and then click
Users.
5. In the right pane, right-click Administrator, and then click Set
Password.
6. Click Proceed in the message box that appears.
7. Type and confirm the new password in the appropriate boxes, and then
click OK.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

Click Start/Run/and type in: Control Userpasswords2 and then press OK
Next click on the Advanced tab and then click Manage Passwords.

JS
www.pagestart.com

"Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message
news:OfVAcpU1IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
> or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>
> Thank
>
> Alan C.Brown
>
> I
>
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

In addition to what the others posted if the Administrator password is lost
or forgotten you can use this tool to blank it
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tools/ntpassword/ntpasswordhack.zip

--

Xandros


"Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message
news:OfVAcpU1IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
> or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>
> Thank
>
> Alan C.Brown
>
> I
>
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:23:53 -0700, Malke <malke@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>Alan C. Brown wrote:
>
>> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
>> or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>
>From an account with administrative privileges:
>
>1. Click Start, and then click Run.
>2. In the Open box, type "mmc" (without the quotation marks), and then click
>OK to start MMC.
>3. Start the Local Users and Groups snap-in.
>4. Under Console Root, expand "Local Users and Groups", and then click
>Users.
>5. In the right pane, right-click Administrator, and then click Set
>Password.
>6. Click Proceed in the message box that appears.
>7. Type and confirm the new password in the appropriate boxes, and then
>click OK.
>
>Malke

This does not work in home edition. Must use control panel user
accounts
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

elmarsa dice wrote:

>
> This does not work in home edition. Must use control panel user
> accounts

So? The OP stated they had XP Pro, SP3. Why would I give instructions for XP
Home then? Answer: I wouldn't.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2


"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:ez3qI2U1IHA.5472@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Alan C. Brown wrote:
>
>> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
>> or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>
> From an account with administrative privileges:
>
> 1. Click Start, and then click Run.
> 2. In the Open box, type "mmc" (without the quotation marks), and then
> click
> OK to start MMC.
> 3. Start the Local Users and Groups snap-in.
> 4. Under Console Root, expand "Local Users and Groups", and then click
> Users.
> 5. In the right pane, right-click Administrator, and then click Set
> Password.
> 6. Click Proceed in the message box that appears.
> 7. Type and confirm the new password in the appropriate boxes, and then
> click OK.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!

----------------------------------------------
Malke

Thanks for the advice.

Apologisies for this long reply, but I'm somewhat confused.

Tried to follow your instructions on my Satellite
Pro M70 laptop in which I've just reinstalled Win XP Pro SP2 from the
Toshiba Recovery Disk supplied with the laptop (I have not actually updated
as yet to Win XP Pro SP3) :

- I started MMC & a "Console1" window opened up, showing 1 folder called
"Console Root".

- there was no "Local Users & Groups Snap-in" in the File tab of the
Console1 menu, but there was an "Add/Remove Snap-In" on the dropdown list,
which I used to add a "Local Users and Groups" Snap-in in the "Console Root"
Folder.

Under "Console Root/Local Users and Groups" I clicked on Users (in the left
pane), and then right-clicked on"Administrator" in the right pane, and then
on "Set Password". A warning message box popped up, and at the bottom I
clicked on the "Proceed" button.

A "Set Password for Administrator" box popped-up showing a "New Password
Box" and a "Confirm Password Box" with the warning text underneath:
If you click OK, the following will occur:

- The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted
files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates

- Any password rest disks the user has created will no longer work.

Neither of these currently apply to my Pro M70 laptop, because I've only
just
installed Win XP Pro SP2 (a 2nd attempt) from the Toshiba Recovery Disk
supplied with the laptop.

Unfortunately, I do not remember whether or not I entered an Administrator
Password during my 2nd attempt at installing Win XP Pro SP2, although I
know that if I had done so, then it would be the same password that I
entered on my 1st installation attempt.

If in fact I had entered an Administrator password during the 2nd XP PRo
SP2 attempt, I would like to change it.

The normal convention for setting a new password is that you enter the
current
password before setting the new password. The fact that in the "Set Password
for Administrator" box you are not asked to enter the current Administrator
Password before setting a new password, would suggest to me that I did not
set an Admistrator Password during the installation of XP Pro SP2.

I also right-clicked on my username (underneath the Admistrator) in the
right
pane of the Console1 box, and then on "Properties", and then on the "Member
Of " tab, which indicates that I (as the user Alan) am also a member of the
Admistrators Group (together with Administrator). It then occurred to me
that maybe as a member of the Administrators group, I am allowed to
set/reset the
Administrator Password without first entering the current password. If this
is
correct then I still don't know whether or not I entered an Administrator
password during the installation of XP SP2.

Would appreciate if you could clarify this for me.

I'm puzzled as how I ( as the user Alan) have been automatically assigned to
the Administartors Group, which obviously happened during installation of XP
Pro SP1.

Note - There are no other Users set up for this laptop.

How do you remove a password using Win XP Pro (i.e not 3rd party utilities)
?

By the way, how else apart from run "mmc", can you access the Console ?

Thanks again

Alan C. Brown
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Alan C. Brown wrote:

(much snippage)


> The normal convention for setting a new password is that you enter the
> current
> password before setting the new password. The fact that in the "Set
> Password
> for Administrator" box you are not asked to enter the current
> Administrator Password before setting a new password, would suggest to me
> that I did not
> set an Admistrator Password during the installation of XP Pro SP2.

No, this is incorrect in this instance. The advantage of changing the
administrator's password this way is that you don't have to know the
previous password. So just change it to whatever you want and write it down
somewhere.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

JS

Thanks for your reply. Did as you suggested, which brought up the "Users
Accounts" box, but found that the "Reset Password"
button is in the "Users" Tab. I assume this is what you had intended ?

The "Manage Passwords" button in the Advanced tab brings up the "Stored
User Names and Passwords" box, which seems to be for something quite
different.

My other comments & questions are the same as in my reply to Malke.

Alan C. Brown

----------------
"JS" <@> wrote in message news:%23rDBQ4U1IHA.5832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Click Start/Run/and type in: Control Userpasswords2 and then press OK
> Next click on the Advanced tab and then click Manage Passwords.
>
> JS
> www.pagestart.com
>
> "Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message
> news:OfVAcpU1IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
>> or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>>
>> Thank
>>
>> Alan C.Brown
>>
>> I
>>
>
>
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

Should read as follows:

Click Start/Run/and type in: Control Userpasswords2 and then press OK
Next click the 'Users' tab (if it's not already selected).
Now click on the user's account name.that you want to change/reset the
password for, and
Click the 'Reset Password' button located at the bottom right.
Enter the new password into the 'New password' box,
Enter the same password again in the 'Confirm new password' box.
Next click the 'OK' button.
Finally restart your PC, and logon using the account name and password you
entered.

JS

"Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message
news:eRnrE9s1IHA.5564@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> JS
>
> Thanks for your reply. Did as you suggested, which brought up the "Users
> Accounts" box, but found that the "Reset Password"
> button is in the "Users" Tab. I assume this is what you had intended ?
>
> The "Manage Passwords" button in the Advanced tab brings up the "Stored
> User Names and Passwords" box, which seems to be for something quite
> different.
>
> My other comments & questions are the same as in my reply to Malke.
>
> Alan C. Brown
>
> ----------------
> "JS" <@> wrote in message news:%23rDBQ4U1IHA.5832@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Click Start/Run/and type in: Control Userpasswords2 and then press OK
>> Next click on the Advanced tab and then click Manage Passwords.
>>
>> JS
>> www.pagestart.com
>>
>> "Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message
>> news:OfVAcpU1IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for
>>> changing or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>>>
>>> Thank
>>>
>>> Alan C.Brown
>>>
>>> I
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2


"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:eUHNQqr1IHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Alan C. Brown wrote:
>
> (much snippage)
>
>
>> The normal convention for setting a new password is that you enter the
>> current
>> password before setting the new password. The fact that in the "Set
>> Password
>> for Administrator" box you are not asked to enter the current
>> Administrator Password before setting a new password, would suggest to me
>> that I did not
>> set an Admistrator Password during the installation of XP Pro SP2.
> ---------------------
> No, this is incorrect in this instance. The advantage of changing the
> administrator's password this way is that you don't have to know the
> previous password. So just change it to whatever you want and write it
> down
> somewhere.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!

--------------------

Malke

Would appreciate if you could confirm/clarify the following :

I guess that as a member of the Administrators group I have administrative
privileges, which allows me to reset the Administrator password (?)

However, I'm still puzzled as to how (as user "Alan") I have been
automatically assigned to the Administrators Group, which obviously happened
during installation of XP Pro SP1. Would appreciate if you can throw any
light on that.

Note - There are no other Users set up for this laptop, and as User "Alan",
my name is the only one that appears on the Log On screen that comes up when
I click Start> Log Off> Switch User; that is the name "Administrator" does
not appear. How come ?

I assume that as a member of the Administrators group I should also set up a
user/logon password for User "Alan", otherwise anyone turning on the laptop
will have full administrative privileges (?)

I assume "User password" and "Log On password" are the same thing ?

Also - How do you remove a password using Win XP Pro (i.e not 3rd party
utilities) ?

Do you just leave the "New Password" and "Confirm New Password" fields in
the "Reset Password" box blank, and click the "OK" button ? (although that
would be a dangerous way of doing it, unless there's a confirmation warning
to prevent accidents).

Thanks again for your help

Alan C. Brown
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

Xandros

Thanks for the link. Looks like a useful website.

Alan C. Brown


-----------------------
"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmailcom> wrote in message
news:uAHEEXV1IHA.5560@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> In addition to what the others posted if the Administrator password is
> lost or forgotten you can use this tool to blank it
> http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tools/ntpassword/ntpasswordhack.zip
>
> --
>
> Xandros
>
>
> "Alan C. Brown" <acbrown@intnet.mu> wrote in message
> news:OfVAcpU1IHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
>> or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>>
>> Thank
>>
>> Alan C.Brown
>>
>> I
>>
>
>
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Alan C. Brown wrote:

> I guess that as a member of the Administrators group I have administrative
> privileges, which allows me to reset the Administrator password (?)

In Windows XP all user accounts with administrative privileges are equal,
including the built-in Administrator account. All computer administrators
can reset passwords for any other user account.
>
> However, I'm still puzzled as to how (as user "Alan") I have been
> automatically assigned to the Administrators Group, which obviously
> happened during installation of XP Pro SP1. Would appreciate if you can
> throw any light on that.

If you created a separate user account called "Alan" along with the built-in
Administrator account during initial installation, then it was set as
"Computer Administrator" by default. You could have gone into the User
Accounts applet in Control Panel (or Administrative Tools>Computer
Management>Local Users & Groups, etc.) and changed this if you liked.
>
> Note - There are no other Users set up for this laptop, and as User
> "Alan", my name is the only one that appears on the Log On screen that
> comes up when I click Start> Log Off> Switch User; that is the name
> "Administrator" does not appear. How come ?

When a user account with administrative privileges is created in addition to
the built-in Administrator account in XP Pro, the built-in Administrator
account is hidden. This is by design.

> I assume that as a member of the Administrators group I should also set up
> a user/logon password for User "Alan", otherwise anyone turning on the
> laptop will have full administrative privileges (?)

If you are concerned about security, then you should create strong passwords
for all user accounts on the system, including the built-in Administrator
account. However, please be aware that any computer running any operating
system can be accessed by someone with 1) physical access; 2) time; 3)
skill; 4) tools.

> I assume "User password" and "Log On password" are the same thing ?

Yes.

> Also - How do you remove a password using Win XP Pro (i.e not 3rd party
> utilities) ?

Go to the User Accounts applet or to the Local Users & Groups section in
Administrative Tools and change the password to a blank. A blank password
is still a password; it is a null password.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

Windows XP Professional Resource Kit - Understanding Logon and
Authentication - http://tinyurl.com/qf7bj

User Management and Security in Windows XP -
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/wxppusrm.html

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

On Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:36:55 -0700, Malke <malke@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>elmarsa dice wrote:
>
>>
>> This does not work in home edition. Must use control panel user
>> accounts
>
>So? The OP stated they had XP Pro, SP3. Why would I give instructions for XP
>Home then? Answer: I wouldn't.

Forgive my error. I didn't read it correctly.
>
>Malke
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Malke

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. Just a comment and question below

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:ensxhYu1IHA.2188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Alan C. Brown wrote:

>> However, I'm still puzzled as to how (as user "Alan") I have been
>> automatically assigned to the Administrators Group, which obviously
>> happened during installation of XP Pro SP1. Would appreciate if you can
>> throw any light on that.

> If you created a separate user account called "Alan" along with the
> built-in Administrator account during initial installation, then it was
> set as "Computer Administrator" by default. You could have gone into
> the User Accounts applet in Control Panel (or Administrative Tools
> Computer Management Local Users & Groups, etc.) and changed this if
> you liked.

If during the installation process I was asked if I wanted to create a User
Account separate from the Administrator Account, then I guess I must have
done so, but I cannot rember either being asked, or doing it. Should have
recorded each step of the installation process.

>

>> Also - How do you remove a password using Win XP Pro (i.e not 3rd party
>> utilities) ?

> Go to the User Accounts applet or to the Local Users & Groups section in
> Administrative Tools and change the password to a blank. A blank password
> is still a password; it is a null password.

I assume you are asked to confirm this after you click the OK button ?

Alan C. Brown
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Alan C. Brown wrote:

> I assume you are asked to confirm this after you click the OK button ?

Try it and find out! ;-)

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
 
Re: Adminstrator Password Change

I have XP-Pro SP3. I tried this and successfully started MMC. See below.

"Malke" wrote:

> Alan C. Brown wrote:
>
> > Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the procedure for changing
> > or removing the Administrator Password in Win XP Pro SP3 ?
>
> From an account with administrative privileges:
>
> 1. Click Start, and then click Run.
> 2. In the Open box, type "mmc" (without the quotation marks), and then click
> OK to start MMC.
> 3. Start the Local Users and Groups snap-in.

At this point I see only an empty box except for an open folder named
"Console Root"

I do not see a way to start the local users and groups snap-in

Please let me know



> 4. Under Console Root, expand "Local Users and Groups", and then click
> Users.
> 5. In the right pane, right-click Administrator, and then click Set
> Password.
> 6. Click Proceed in the message box that appears.
> 7. Type and confirm the new password in the appropriate boxes, and then
> click OK.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!
>
 
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