Help needed with XP Professional OS

I wonder if there is a solution to my problem. My Brother in Law inherited a computer but not the original OS disk. He asked me to install his recently purchased DSL Internet connection.

First there were two users listed, password protected of course. However with the "hint" given, I was able to come up with the password after about one hour of trying.

However, when I tried to install the Internet connection, the computer came back telling me that I have no Administrator privileges.

The question is, will I need to re-install an OS or is there a way to over-ride the password request, and how would I go about it?

Any help would be appreciated

 

Yes- there are some utilities available that will remove passwords. I haven't used it but a program called Cain & Abel can supposedly do this. You can also try Active@ Password Changer....
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=5062 = Cain & Abel
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Active_Password_Changer_d4707.html = Active@
Active@ isn't free, but I know it works 'cuz I've used it before....
Good Luck!!!

hd2k

If you happen to come across the Windows XP install CD, read the text file (use Notepad) I've attached. It has info on removing passwords during an XP install thru a generally unknown 'backdoor' for lack of a better word. It may be of some use, if not to you, maybe someone else. NOTE- I've never used the info so I can't vouch for it....

 

You can start the computer in safe mode which will then allow you to log on as system administrator. Go to user accounts and change the priveledges of whichever account/s you want.
Works for me

 

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

 

Thank you hopperdave2000, mulletgut and Just Playin for your much appreciated help. I will try and make use of it next weekend.

Technology has changed so much over the past 40 years that I at 76,just can't keep up with it. I built my first computer from a kit that I ordered from "Edmunds Scientific" in 1967. It had to be programmed in binary by setting toggle switches to 1's and zeros and the readout would show up on rows of lights which one had to translate. Later I did a lot of programming in Fortran and even dabbled a bit in Cobol, than came compiled Basic, proprietory to the Dec Mini-computers in our Engineering Office. Never did catch on to C and C++ etc, getting too old for that. Now I'm totally lost, so thanks again for all your help.
Breslau