I just inherited my mom's computer this weekend. Windows is password protected and I can't get by the login screen. Safe mode may work but I can't remember how to do that. I just need to either get by the password or get the files off of the computer.

Any suggestions?

8/21/2006 9:16:36 AM

you'll still need the password to get into windows in safe mode (press f8 before the windows loading screen comes up).

However, you could just remove the hard drive and plug it into another computer.

8/21/2006 9:42:39 AM

If its XP Home edition, there is a good chance she never passworded her ADMIN account.

Reboot the machine, pressing F8 to get into safe mode

At the login screen see if there is an "Administrator" account. If its there, log into it (If it has a password, you are out of luck at this point"

Once into the account, go to the control panel, user accounts, click on her passworded account, and click remove password.

8/21/2006 9:44:25 AM

why are there 2 threads on this?

8/21/2006 9:50:09 AM

One time I tried for hours to guess a password because the person forgot what it was.......and then I realized that there really was no password, you just had to enter in the user name, and press ok with nothing in the password blank. Give it a try.....

8/23/2006 2:48:57 PM

i'll retrieve files for you for $15

8/23/2006 3:50:00 PM