Safe password recovery tool for Windows XP?

**xtena** · 06-17-2011, 02:16 PM

DD hosed up our old laptop. A few months back she set up multiple user accounts; set herself as admin and apparently deleted my admin account. Then the laptop got put away out of sight/out of mind.

Of course she can't remember her password now, so we can't get the internet security package updated. I know there are tools you can purchase for password recovery; are there any free ones that aren't malware?

**Gabe** · 06-17-2011, 06:17 PM

from microsoft.
How to log on to your Windows XP-based computer if you forget your password or if your password expires

looks like you can't login as the default admin. so that scratches that option. unless you have a password recovery disk.

sorry looks like you are out of luck

**xtena** · 06-17-2011, 07:06 PM

I actually want to buy a new one anyway but I thought I'd better try the frugal way first. Really, this laptop is OLD (8 or 9 years???) and SLOW which is why it was put out of sight to begin with. I thought if I got it working DD could continue playing around on it. She's already been admonished to NEVER mess around with any admin accounts ever again...at least until she's older and buying her own equipment to mess up.

**shoiji** · 06-17-2011, 07:28 PM

Try contacting MSN to see what other options might be available.

**Gabe** · 06-17-2011, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by xtena

I actually want to buy a new one anyway but I thought I'd better try the frugal way first. Really, this laptop is OLD (8 or 9 years???) and SLOW which is why it was put out of sight to begin with. I thought if I got it working DD could continue playing around on it. She's already been admonished to NEVER mess around with any admin accounts ever again...at least until she's older and buying her own equipment to mess up.

Install linux. Ubuntu is easy (did I say free) to use for a laptop/desktop computer. Might be worth a try.

How old is your daughter?

You can get hundreds of educational software on Linux. Well worth it!

Download an ISO from ubuntu boot up from it on the laptop.

Easy as pie! What have you got to lose?

**xtena** · 06-18-2011, 02:59 AM

DD is 9 and very precocious. She borrowed Windows for Dummies last year from the library and read it cover to cover. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

I've actually considered playing around with linux from time to time over the past couple of years but never had the nerve to try as I didn't want to mess up our 'working' computers. I have nothing to lose now, so thanks for suggesting it Gabe!