So a friend of mine asked me to help get around a forgotten password on their XP Account. I though it would be an easy fix, but I soon realized that they had forgotten the Admin Password and to my knowledge there is no fix for that. Please correct me if im wrong. The only way around it is to reinstall XP.
She has some important stuff on the HDD, I was just wondering if I connected her HDD to my PC could I access it? ot would the OS on the HDD conflict with mine? Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks.
Dan

What you are asking us to do is help you crack passwords and hack into someone's protected computer and/or copy their protected data! Sorry but that's not going to happen! We have no way of knowing if you are a fence or not, or if this friend is a drug addict with a stolen PC trying to get some quick cash for their next fix! That's for our protection, the site's protection, the PC's real owner's protection, and for your protection too.

What needs to happen is your friend needs to take the computer and the Windows license to a legitimate shop where they can verify that copy of Windows is legal and the PC does not appear to be stolen.

Also note that you risk your own status here by violating D-A-L Rules and Terms of Service which you agreed to comply with when joining. Note Rule 11d states you can be banned for the following unacceptable behavior (my bold underline added),

Discussions that encourage, promote or provide information about illegal or criminal activities (including pornography, explosives, weapons, drugs, programming viruses, computer hacking and copyright infringement).

Please understand that virtually every technical support site has the same policy. We have to err on the side of security and safety, even if it imposes an inconvenience for a few. I hope you understand.

Thanks for your reply.
Thats fine, I understand the reasons you have to be careful, like you said, you dont know me.
In regards to taking it to a legitimate shop will there be much they can do?
If I take it to them and they spend 3 hours playing with it and come to the same conclusion that I have and I have to pay the $200 bill I'd rather just format the thing and start again.

I hope I'm not digging myself deeper into my violation hole by asking this. If so please delete this post and/or thread. I apologise, the terms and conditions didnt even occur to me when I posted this thread.

In regards to taking it to a legitimate shop will there be much they can do?

Yes, there are tools that can be used to reset the admin password. And a reputable site should be able to tell you up front how much it will cost since it does not require troubleshooting a fault - noting that troubleshooting and determining the exact problem is often the most time consuming part of fixing a broken computer.

Thanks for your understanding.

Digerati said all that there was to be said and hence your post is deleted.

Originally Posted by Digerati

What you are asking us to do is help you crack passwords and hack into someone's protected computer and/or copy their protected data! Sorry but that's not going to happen! We have no way of knowing if you are a fence or not, or if this friend is a drug addict with a stolen PC trying to get some quick cash for their next fix! That's for our protection, the site's protection, the PC's real owner's protection, and for your protection too.

What needs to happen is your friend needs to take the computer and the Windows license to a legitimate shop where they can verify that copy of Windows is legal and the PC does not appear to be stolen.

Also note that you risk your own status here by violating D-A-L Rules and Terms of Service which you agreed to comply with when joining. Note Rule 11d states you can be banned for the following unacceptable behavior (my bold underline added), Please understand that virtually every technical support site has the same policy. We have to err on the side of security and safety, even if it imposes an inconvenience for a few. I hope you understand.