How to reset administrators password on windows xp?

[RnmEvo9]

Hey all, my old man has had this Dell laptop for several years acquired from the hospital that he works in. He mainly used this to go on the hospital website and input patient information, diagnosis etc and to check email. He barely used it and 'gave' it to me for my personal use (schoolwork, study etc.) Its a decent laptop that suits me for my studies, however, I want to start logging my 135i with the jb4 and in order to do that, I don't have enough privileges as the regular user. I know the first instinct is to go back to the hospital and see if they would reset it, but uh lol, I don't think they will do that and just take the laptop back as he doesn't use it.

Anyways, thanks in advance for suggestions as spending a few bucks for privileges is better than going out and spending another 500 or so on a new laptop.

[- Paul -]

That hard drive will have patient info on possibly? Do the right thing and get it wiped - new OS install.

Or even better - give it back to the people who own it - the Hospital!

[MB330]

HD is cheep now days -get new HD, install new OS and made your self admin.
When times come to return laptop -return with original hard drive.
If this is not possible, read the post above .

[RnmEvo9]

Yeah it is more trouble than it's worth, plus it's a bit heavy to take to school anyways. I will leave it alone and purchase a more portable laptop/netbook.

[WWONG]

Is it Windows XP Home, Professional, or Media Center?

If it's any of the above except Home, there's this old trick to "hack" into it due to shitty Microsoft design. On the login screen after Windows starts up, hold CTRL + ALT and tap Delete twice. Type "Administrator" as username and hit enter and you're in. This, of course, doesn't work if the password was changed.

[John-JCs]

Microsoft stores the passwords in sam files, which are easy to reverse-engineer.
Just google for one of the following:

Kon-boot
Hirens boot cd
Backtrack OS

If that doesn't work, you may have the governments lame protection system on there.
This is easily bypassed by flashing the EEPROM (soldering may be required)