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Log on to Windows XP Using the Default Blank Administrator Password

1.      Reboot your machine.
2.      Press F8 before the Windows boot screen appears. Do not press F5 as used on the NT/9x versions of Windows. You will be be prompted with a boot options menu.
3.      Select the Start Windows in Safe Mode option.
4.      Click through several self-explanatory screens until your reach the familiar 'Welcome' screen.
  1. Note that this welcome screen is limited to 256 colors and 640x480 resolution because the primary graphics will have been set to the Windows Safe Mode software VGA adapter. You will not be able to change this mode even in Display options, while Windows is running in Safe Mode.
  2. Find the icon for the Administrator user. If the default settings of your system haven't been changed, there should be no password for this account.
  3. The Safe Mode Welcome screen might display some of the other users on your system.
  4. Login as the admin.
  5. Press Yes at the prompt asking if you would like to continue using Safe Mode.
  6. Open up the command shell. Press START, click RUN, and type in CMD, press ENTER. This will bring up a window likely unfamiliar to you. This is the command line, it allows you to manage files or change settings without restriction (no restriction on the administrative account). Before the graphical environment of Windows, this is what Microsoft users used.
  7. Change the password of the account. Type in (without the quotes, and yes, the asterisk (*) is necessary) "net user (username) *". It will ask you to type in a password, then to retype it. You just changed the password!
  8. Log in. Exit the command shell dialogue, don't type in anything else if you don't know what you're doing, you could really hose down your computer. Log out of the administrative account, then log back in to your account with the new password.
  9. Reboot your computer. As long as you don't press any keys (e.g. F8) during the boot-up the computer will start up normally.

14.  Login as the user for which you set the password.

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