Locked out of Windows XP admin account

[Goddess Arilya]

Long story short, my boyfriend had this computer down in his room that was acting screwy. He had to go away for a bit, and while he did the woman that is living with his mother reformatted it. He brought his computer to my house once he got back, and found that his previous passwords to the Administrator account would not work. When he asked her, she told him she had no idea why she'd know the password to HIS computer. I think she does know the new password, but they don't get along. I think she's just being really catty and won't tell him.

Since then I've been trying to get into the admin account. We've tried all of his passwords, with caps on, with caps off (just in case), we've started it in safe mode, and that does not seem to make a difference, it still asks for the password. I tried booting it up with Windows 98 with a floppy disc that we had around the house but that would not work either.

I have no idea what to do. I'm not super savvy with computers, so I'm not sure what else to try, or if I'm doing any of what I am trying correctly.

Help T__T

[Treklink256]

If the woman he's living with made a password reset disc, he can use that to reset the password. If not, there's no way that I'm aware of to reset the password (short of reformatting/reinstalling again).

[The Last Rydian]

There's ways to reset the password, but we can't tell you because anybody can read this (even without a gaia account), and there's a lot of angry kids on the internet.

You can usually find a local computer repair shop that will do it cheaply.

Not a big-name store like best buy, contrary to popular belief the guys you see there are just salesmen nowadays.

[Ruryou]

The Last Rydian

There's ways to reset the password, but we can't tell you because anybody can read this (even without a gaia account), and there's a lot of angry kids on the internet.

This isn't exactly top secret knowledge, anyone can google it and get plenty of useful results.
Of course, the ethics of it can be discussed but when you essentially say, 'Yeah I know but I'm not gonna tell you," isn't that a bit of a bitchy thing to do?

[The Last Rydian]

I'm sure the OP would appreciate a user simply saying "We can't help you and here's why" than reporting their thread (or leaving it until a mod finds it), which would cause a mod to remove it, potentially with a warning placed on the account.

[Ruryou]

I'm not sure why you would report this in the first place; I'm afraid I can't see anything remotely illegal, or close to such, about this thread.

[The Last Rydian]

Just because you don't agree with the rules doesn't mean they're void.

Please read the stickies and rules/TOS of gaia if you have any question about what's not allowed.

[Caitlyn McKenzie]

Ruryou

I'm not sure why you would report this in the first place; I'm afraid I can't see anything remotely illegal, or close to such, about this thread.

It doesn't have to be illegal to be against the rules. Policy around here is don't teach people to crack passwords. More often than not it is for nefarious purposes.

[Ruryou]

Caitlyn McKenzie

Ruryou

I'm not sure why you would report this in the first place; I'm afraid I can't see anything remotely illegal, or close to such, about this thread.

It doesn't have to be illegal to be against the rules. Policy around here is don't teach people to crack passwords. More often than not it is for nefarious purposes.

Well, can't be helped then, I suppose - personally, I think it's a tad hysterical but I'll leave it be.

[The Last Rydian]

Ruryou

personally, I think it's a tad hysterical but I'll leave it be.

You'll find many of us agree with you to varying degrees depending on the policy.