[ofrog2007]

I am removing Linux on 2nd drive
Need to use FixMBR
When entering password for login in XP recovery console, I get kicked out
I cannot remember what I set up 2 years ago
I have the login for my profile which has full administrative access
Is there a workaround to change the password on the actual administrator profile from with my profile?

Help & thanks

[bhc7447]

If you're in the recovery console from the XP CD, the one where you select "r" for repair, there should be an option to boot into a windows installation. You press the corresponding number, then it asks you to login. The name is administrator or admin, the password field should be blank in default instances. Try just hitting enter. Your cursor should then go to the default windows drive.

[ofrog2007]

There is a password.

Can the profile with full administrative rights reset the password of another. if so how?

[ofrog2007]

That was some great info but since I have a dual boot with linux I can't seem to access safe mode. F8 doesn't do it. It then gives 5 linux choice or full win mode?

[ozrom1e]

I see I have to take a little time to re-read the tech support rules on password problems, I was informed that password problems where slightly a problem not to be worked on here at TSG.... Maybe the person that jumped all over my yomminies several oens ago was wrong.

ozrom1e exiting stage left.

bye....

[Elvandil]

The rules about passwords are not all-encompassing. We just won't help anyone defeat a password, but getting into a legit system by a person with admin rights who has the password to log onto their own account is not a "cracking" process. It's something that can be found in Help & Support in the Start Menu.

[ozrom1e]

I am sorry but that is not what was explained to me by several of the moderator types here and it was also explained to me that failure to abide by the rules would result in my being sort of asked to not participate here anymore.

The question i have is how do you determine the ownership of the computer as belonging to that particular person?

How do you determine if they are really trying to gain access to another computer that has someone else's sensitive info on it say like in a divorce setting?

I relaly want to stay here but the thing is until the problem with the rules are worked out and I get an aplogy for being told what I was told I am exiting

bye

If you have any other words please email me at the email address I have provided.

Thank you....

[Elvandil]

The one thing that makes this a legit problem is that the procedure requires that a person be signed in to an account with administrative privileges in order to execute the procedure. So that person must already have the password to sign in and change the password.

Can you give an example of somewhere that yo think the rule was possiby over-enforced? These things are all subject to discussion and people make mistakes, including me.

[ozrom1e]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

The one thing that makes this a legit problem is that the procedure requires that a person be signed in to an account with administrative privileges in order to execute the procedure. So that person must already have the password to sign in and change the password.

Can you give an example of somewhere that yo think the rule was possiby over-enforced? These things are all subject to discussion and people make mistakes, including me.

That person must have the password?

If the person has the password why is the person asking for help?

If you want to find out about the possibility of as you say over-enforcement on the password rule then you should take a read on the posts that are closed because of it. I have used the little triangle many times asking and it seems they all get closed. I will admit that the rule seems to need a bit of defining but until then any computer that you can not verify a persons ownership is in the realm to be closed. How did you verify this ownership?

I do have to aplogize for taking up all of this time on this but it just really gets me going. Maybe I should just take my own advise and go. It is too late now anyways.

[Elvandil]

It is my belief that if the person has the password to sign into an account with administrative privileges, then they are entitled to make changes on the machine that are clearly spelled out in Help & Support. There is no issue of bypassing anything here. The person already has full, unrestricted access to all parts of the machine, all files and folders. It is really just the performance of a routine administrative task that is being explained.

Ownership is not relevant. Administrators rarely own the machines that they administer. Ownership is really only linked to legitimate privilege in a home environment in which case they are usually one and the same.

[jmwills]

<Edited out by Elvandil>

(Please do not recommend methods for bypassing passwords. - Elvandil)

[ofrog2007]

I happily married and do not need to get into my spouse's sensitive files or any body else's files. I do have administrator rights to the one and only profile on my laptop.
I loaded Ubunto to experiment with on my second drive and it has too many issues with my HP software. Loading was easy unloading has been a different story. When I got my laptop I created only one profile. I do not remember setting a password to administrator when I got it but I must have as to protect myself so that no one could get into my files. I am very A.R about writing down my passwords. My usual sets of password should work but doesn't. Maybe I capitalized when I marked down that I didn't.

In any case. Thank you for all you suggestions. I am trying them after I sign off here.

[ofrog2007]

I got into recovery and now I can run fixmbr
However the warning that comes with it is pretty scary.
"May cause you not to be able to access the drive"
I have backed up my files

If this goes sour is there a fix as in re-formatting the drive or does this really screw things up?

[Elvandil]

The drive can always be reformatted. Hopefully, it won't come to that. And your files can still be recovered.

[Elvandil]

ozrom1e:
I asked other moderators for their opinions on this thread. They agree with you that the prohibition against help on password issues should be total and that individual judgement should not enter into it. This is similar to the rule against help regarding P2P issues.

Thank you for your opinions and your help in clarifying this issue for me and others.