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I have an IBM Thinkpad Laptop (T22) that was giving to me, because my friend no longer uses it - he forgot the password. In order to recover the password I used Offline NT password recovery (tried OPHCRACK it did not work), which does not recover the password but allows you to replace it. Having completed all the needed step, when I tried to reboot the computer it just booted to the Windows XP logo and the scroll bar below just lock up. The only way I can access the system is in Safe Mode. I'm not sure what is causing the problem - I have tried to reboot to the "Last Known Good Configuration" and it will not boot in Normal mode.

Can anyone help me with this problem?

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Dani AI

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Good to see 's boot‑logging tip found the ACPI load failure and that the machine now boots normally. The remaining question is licensing, and there are three practical facts to check first: look for a Windows Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker (usually on the laptop bottom or in the battery bay) to identify the exact edition and product key; check whether the ThinkPad still has its OEM recovery partition or recovery‑media creator (ThinkVantage/Rescue & Recovery); and confirm whether the installed image is a corporate/volume build rather than a retail/OEM install. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the laptop shipped with Windows preinstalled, the OEM license is generally tied to that machine; in many cases you can reinstall the matching edition using the COA key and factory/recovery media without buying a new license. By contrast, volume or company images (KMS/MAK activated) are managed by the organization and are not a transferable personal license — using those keys outside the company would be noncompliant and may fail activation. If the image came from a company, contact the original admin or use your own retail/OEM license. (devicepartner.microsoft.com)

Options that make sense for an old T22 used for diagnostics:

  • If a valid COA exists, create factory recovery disks (or obtain a matching XP Pro install disc) and do a clean reinstall, then install ThinkPad drivers.
  • If no valid license is available, consider a lightweight Linux build for general tools or run XP inside a virtual machine on a host with a valid license.
  • If you keep XP on the bare metal, isolate it from the Internet and use it only offline for diagnostics — Windows XP reached end of support in April 2014 and no longer receives security fixes. (thinkpads.com)

Practical next steps: back up any data, physically inspect the COA, try the ThinkVantage recovery menu (or create recovery media while the system boots), and only reinstall if you have matching media/key or explicit permission to use a corporate image. If getting genuine recovery media from Lenovo, use the vendor channel rather than random downloads. These safeguards keep the machine legal and reduce activation headaches later. (thinkwiki.org)

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Member Avatar for Member #119018

Have you tried using system restore while in safe mode?

Member Avatar for khakilang

Password is there for a purpose. Either you ask your friend to try to remember the password or if you have the CD just reformat the laptop if there are no important data since he is not using it.

Member Avatar for CitadelPC

I"m trying to save the operating system - not I do not have the recovery CD or windows xp pro software. I may have to just buy and load a new program. This only started when I reset the administrator password. Not sure if the two (resetting the password and boot up in normal mode problem)are related?

Member Avatar for rch1231

Try turning on boot logging instead of safe mode and the system will create a log as it loads drivers and you will be able to see where it is crashing. Or second try VGA mode and see if it is something to do with the resolution. Third, get ahold of UBCD4Windows CD and use the system restore utilities to go back before you messed with the hive files and then use the password crackers to properly edit the registry.

For khakilang, the passwords are there to keep the honest people honest. It takes less than 2 minutes for me to crack any windows, linux or MAC OS provided I can get to the physical system. Passwords really work to keep people out of your system when they are working from a distance. But if you can get to the box it boots the way you tell it to.

Member Avatar for CitadelPC

Try turning on boot logging instead of safe mode and the system will create a log as it loads drivers and you will be able to see where it is crashing. Or second try VGA mode and see if it is something to do with the resolution. Third, get ahold of UBCD4Windows CD and use the system restore utilities to go back before you messed with the hive files and then use the password crackers to properly edit the registry.

For khakilang, the passwords are there to keep the honest people honest. It takes less than 2 minutes for me to crack any windows, linux or MAC OS provided I can get to the physical system. Passwords really work to keep people out of your system when they are working from a distance. But if you can get to the box it boots the way you tell it to.

Thank rch1231 I've tried making a boot logging and found the problem. Then used the internet to find a solution and fixed it. It "did not load my Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC". I found a web site called Windows XP Annoyances Discuss Forum help me to fix the problem.

So far the system is working just find, but not sure I can keep this version of XP - because it is a company network version. Which it is licensed and controlled through an administrator. That is why Ophcrack could not crack the password it uses Net Password to store the password. Do I have to reformatt the hard drive to load a licensed version of XP? I'm looking for a inexpensive relaible version of Windows XP to run on this computer.

I'm just using this computer to run diagnostic automotive and computer software programs.

Once again thanks for you help rch1231.

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