Recovering Lost Administrator Password XP Pro

[defrag]

Does anyone know how to recover a lost administrator password without using the expensive
3rd party utilties availalbe when one searches them out on the web, without using the Hint
mechanism, and without using an extremely long regedtit I have seen to do this?
I have not lost mine, but I am trying t find a solution for someone who has using XP Pro.

Thanks much.

defrag

[kaplinb]

It's easy: reinstall Windows.

[cbaldrey]

Of course we know you won't want to follow this suggestion.. if you can find another way to do it.

Keep an eye out for more suggestions. Somebody is sure to have an idea for you - that IS REALISTIC.

[LegareColeman]

If someone else has a suggestion "that IS REALISTIC," then what would be the purpose of having administrator passwords?

[DaveA]

Also if this machine has NTFS your going th really have a tough time. Besides one of the selling points about the NT line including XP is the security. This also this OS to be used by the USA government in a very secured area. If one was to read the screen when they installed XP it stated DO NOT LOSE this password, this is like shooting oneself in the foot.

[jimvan]

Will it run setup from the CD without administrator privileges? <img src=/S/question.gif border=0 alt=question width=15 height=15>

[LegareColeman]

I don't know. I refuse to trust access to my data to the bugs in the Registration/Activation Wizard code in the XP products. Therefore, I have not installed any XP products.