Member Avatar for kincumber

I have a xp home PC networked with a xp Pro. I want to set up Spybot on the second computer but am asked for Administrators password. I have no password on my home computer for Administrator and had no trouble there. Inserting the password that I believe is right for the second computer does not work either. Does Administrator password apply to each computer or the network?

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Dani AI

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Following the pointers from and , here are concrete, safe steps to regain administrative access on the XP Pro box so Spybot can be installed.

First try the non-destructive checks on the machine itself: verify Caps Lock and keyboard layout, and make sure you’re entering the correct local account name. Reboot and press F8 to start Windows in Safe Mode. On many XP installs the built‑in Administrator account appears there; if you can log in, create a new account and give it Administrator rights (Start -> Control Panel -> User Accounts), or change the password for the existing admin account. Then reboot normally and install Spybot from that admin account.

If Safe Mode does not let you in, use a bootable password-recovery tool to clear or recover the local Administrator password. Common choices are Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (to clear a password) or Ophcrack (to attempt recovery). The high‑level process is: make a bootable CD/USB on another machine, boot the locked PC from that media, select the Windows partition, choose the user account and follow the tool’s prompts to clear or recover the password. After changing a password this way, create a new admin account and reboot into Windows.

Important cautions: clearing or changing a Windows account password can break access to EFS‑encrypted files and stored credentials (network shares, Outlook profiles). Back up any recoverable data first if possible. If these steps feel risky, seek local technical help or consider reinstalling Windows as a last resort.

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Member Avatar for DimaYasny

if you don't have a domain controller there, the passwords are local to the computers, not network-wide

Member Avatar for kincumber

Thank you that is what I wanted to know. Now I have the little problem of why the Administration password wont work on comuter 2!

Member Avatar for jbennet

because its XP home

XP home doesnt support domains or security policy

Member Avatar for DimaYasny

because it's a different password

Member Avatar for kincumber

The second computer has xp Pro.

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