Forgot the login password of your Windows XP machine? How to break Windows XP administrator password? Anyone who has ever forgotten a Windows XP password on the computer knows how frustrating it can be. In this article we’ll show you several options of breaking Windows XP login password easily. Quickly get back into your computer without formatting and re-installing the operating system. These methods work with any Windows XP Home or Professional edition.
Option 1: Break Windows XP Password with Password Reset Disk
Using a password reset disk is the simplest way to get back in business if you forgot Windows XP password. Of course, it assumes that you had the forethought to create a password reset disk when you set up your computer.
- Restart your machine, and when the Windows login screen comes up, click your Username and hit Enter.
- Under the login dialog, there will be a password reset link — click there, and a wizard will take you through the process of setting a new password. Have your reset disk ready to load when the wizard prompts you. After that, it’s just a matter of typing in a new password, and restarting your computer.
Option 2: Break Windows XP Password from Safe Mode
For most Windows XP systems, there is a built-in Administrator account that can be accessed without a password. But first you have to start your computer in safe mode. Follow these instructions, and you should be back in your system immediately:
- Restart your computer, and when you see the BIOS POST screen (basically, a few seconds after you hit the power button), repeatedly press F8 key.
- When the Windows boot menu appears, select the safe mode option.
- On the login screen, you should see an Administrator login option. If you don’t, press Ctrl + Alt + Del twice and type in Administrator and leave the password area blank.
- Windows should now start up, and you can go to the Control Panel and change Windows XP password easily.
Option 3: Break Windows XP Password Using Bootdisk
Reset Windows Password is a program that runs off of a CD (or USB drive) and can help you boot up a locked Windows XP computer and reset your forgotten Windows XP login password easily. Here are step-by-step instructions:
- Download the bootable ISO image of Reset Windows Password utility on an alternate PC.
- Burn the ISO image to a CD (or USB flash drive) with any ISO burning application, such as ISO2Disc.
- Boot up your PC with the bootable CD.
- When the Reset Windows Password program opens, select one of the local user accounts and click on “Reset Password” button.
- Once removing the password, reboot the computer and take out the CD from the drive.
- After booting to the Windows login screen, left the password blank and you can log on the PC successfully.