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How Do I View Login Password While Logged In?

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by lenny_zuber 1 view

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Dear TechRepublicans,
I forgot my Admin password in XP pro. I can though, login as an Admin using my 3 answers to the 3 questions I once provided. But I just can't find anywhere what my password is/was eventhough I'm logged in as an Admin. In order to change the password I need to know the old one. Can you help me please?

Thank you, Lenny

10 replies

by thumbsup2

Passwords are not viewable. All you see is dots/asterisks in the field. But you can change it once logged in.

While logged in, press ctrl+alt+del. From the window that pops up, select change password.

by lenny_zuber

I just tried your suggestion but it didn't work. It askes me my old password in order to change, and I just don't know it. I'm sorry for my incompetence.

by tig2

And there is no way around that. Even changing your password at the Control Panel-> Users will require your password. Although it MAY let you go the three questions route.

You may be looking at a rebuild. Wish there was better news.

by faradhi

as administrator, then you could create a user with administrator rights. Log into the machine with the user you just created. Then change the administrator password from the users mmc. This of course assumes that you actually got logged into the machine as an administrator.

Also know that you will lose access to any files encrypted under the administrator account.

by scott_heath

Open a command prompt and type:

net user

Example:

net user Administrator Passw0rd

If you are logged on with administrative priviledges this will work.

by lenny_zuber

That's exactly what I did. I created a new Administrator, gave him a new password, and deleted the old one. Sure, I lost the specific data related to that administrator, but that's no problem.
Thanks

by faradhi

of the old administrator from the new administrator and not lost any non-encrypted data.

Just an FYI if you ever need to retain the data.

by scott_heath

That would change the password to whatever you like. Then you know what it is. :)

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