Can't Log In On XP

[Road Rage]

My dad bought a new laptop. He set the log in and password as <T. Smith> <password>
now he can't log in since XP doesn't recognize the log in or password. I tried all the variations I could think of, but nothing works. Can you use a log in with a period, space
combo? Is there a chance I could log in with a default or administrative log in and password? Or is my only hope to reload XP? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

RR

 

[Wolf00]

The "Administrator" account still exists, but you still have the problem of a password. If you (or your dad) knows what the Administrator password was set to, then you can login with that account. To do this, you have to hit ctrl+alt+del two times when you're at the Windows Welcome Screen and then you should get the old login box where you can type in a user name and password. Type in Administrator for the user name and try any passwords you and your dad can think of. If all that fails, you can either re-install Windows, or you can look into software like ERD Commander that can reset the password of local accounts of a Windows installation without needing to know the original password.

Good Luck

 

[Dahak]

Another option is, if the old login box does not come up like wolf00 said, you can boot up the machine into safe mode by tapping the f8 key before the windows logo shows up and it will show the administrator account on the welcome screen. all you have to do is go in under administrator and change the password.

 

[Road Rage]

Thanks Wolf00 and Dahak. I'll give it a try. If it doesn't work, I guess it's time to reload XP.
My dads really frustrated with himself, it's his first laptop.

RR