Cant start Recovery Console

[brain29]

Hi I need to use the Recovery Console for XP to run fixboot and fixmbr. I had SUSE 9.1 installed and didn't like it. I can start the Recovery Console and whenever it asks for the Administrator Password I type it and it says it is incorrect. I only have one account and I have changed the password and even removed it and I still can't login. I have installed SP2 if that is any help.

Thanks
Brian

 

[nihl8tor88]

ummmm, don't type anything, just hit enter?
if this works , you owe me 5 bucks

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: brain29
Hi I need to use the Recovery Console for XP to run fixboot and fixmbr. I had SUSE 9.1 installed and didn't like it. I can start the Recovery Console and whenever it asks for the Administrator Password I type it and it says it is incorrect. I only have one account and I have changed the password and even removed it and I still can't login. I have installed SP2 if that is any help.

Thanks
Brian

Make sure you are typing the password for the generic Administrator account. Even if you have created only one account, you still have the Administrator account present, and this is the one you need for the Recovery Console.

To check the password:

Right-click on My Computer, click on Manage.
Expand System Tools.
Expand Local Users and Groups.
Click on Users.
On the right, right-click on Administrator (shoudl be first one listed) and click Set Password...
Enter a new password, or leave both blank to clear the password.
*Note = you must be logged on as an account with Administrator privileges to do this.

If you removed the password from the Adminstrator account, do as nihl8tor88 says and just hit enter at the prompt.

 

[brain29]

Tried both solutions still no luck.

 

[Smilin]

Do this then:

Go to Local Security Policy under administrative tools.

Under Local Policies, Security options find "Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon" and set it to enabled.

While you're there, flip on floppy and CDrom access. It's one of those things that by the time you need it you'll no longer have a booting computer that lets you set it

Be sure you have good physical security for your computer if you fool with these. I can break into your computer in 60 seconds if I'm able to sit in front of it.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

If all else fails, google "EBCD" - Emergency Boot CD - and use that to hose the password completely in about 30 seconds.

- M4H

 

[oog]

you can reset the password with this utility: http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

it may be something similar to what m4h posted, but i've used this one before.

 

[brain29]

Well I fixed it. I used the program that oog recommended. I tried Smilin's idea but I didn't have anything called Local Security Policy installed under Admin. Tools. Anybody know why?

Thanks again

brian

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: brain29
Well I fixed it. I used the program that oog recommended. I tried Smilin's idea but I didn't have anything called Local Security Policy installed under Admin. Tools. Anybody know why?

Thanks again

brian

Glad you got in. That missing tool is kinda worrisome. What happens when you start|run SecPol.msc ?

 

[Bucksnort]

Originally posted by: brain29
Well I fixed it. I used the program that oog recommended. I tried Smilin's idea but I didn't have anything called Local Security Policy installed under Admin. Tools. Anybody know why?

Thanks again

brian

Because you have XP home instead of pro

 

[brain29]

Because you have XP home instead of pro

Thats true.