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Am I doing this wrong, with safe mode, or does it just not work?

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My grandfather gave me a computer that he didnt know the password to. I tried safe mode but it doesnt go through the password login. Is it because it is windows xp porfessional or if that doesnt make a difference then i could be entering safe mode wrong?

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Clarifications

In reply to Am I doing this wrong, with safe mode, or does it just not work?

Clarifications

Just

In reply to Am I doing this wrong, with safe mode, or does it just not work?

after post tap the F8 key until the screen comes up.

Safe Mode is designed not to require a password,

In reply to Am I doing this wrong, with safe mode, or does it just not work?

…if I recall correctly.

What you could do is boot into Safe Mode, copy his files to a separate partition or physical disk (you can get a good hard drive for < $100, and install it pretty easily with a philips screwdriver), then re-install Windows. You're pretty much stuck with re-installing Windows, unless you want to learn a boatload about Windows first.

PS, this belongs in ‘Questions’, not ‘Discussions’

In reply to Safe Mode is designed not to require a password,

‘Discussions’ are arguments, jokes, BS.

‘Questions’ are, well, questions! 🙂

Happy Saturday!

Password

In reply to Am I doing this wrong, with safe mode, or does it just not work?

When you say “it doesnt go through the password login”, do you mean it goes straight to the desktop? If you get to the desktop then you can go into Control Panel and remove passwords from other accounts. If there is an administrator account password then you would need some type of passowrd recovery software like Active Password Changer: http://www.killdisk.com/products.htm#password_changer

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