XP Recovery Console Will Not Accept Administrator Password
You find the fix that will bring your Windows XP (pro / home versions) OS back inperfect working condition. You make your way to the Recovery Console using the XP Installation CD, you are asked for the administrator password, you type it in with confidence only to discover that access is denied because your password is not accepted.
Well, the fix is easy and hopefully you have found it while you are still able to boot into Windows XP and set one Registry Value.
1. Go to ‘Start > Run – In the open field type regedit.exe
2. In the Registry Editor navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\
Setup\RecoveryConsole
3. Change the value of SecurityLevel to 1
4. Close out of regedit and reboot your computer.
You will not be asked for the Administrator Password again while in the Recovery Console.
** Click the link below to see a visual demo. **
Topic Demo
Entries (RSS)
I would like to thank you for providing information about the XP Recovery Console not taking the administrator’s password. I followed your instructions however I do not see the Recovery Console.
In your instructions, you show WindowsNT and I have XP. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any help you can provide since I am probably going to have to reinstall the OS and can not thanks to Dell. I never setup a password so could not figure out why the default password of blank (hitting the enter key) was not being recognized.
I discovered information on Microsoft’s site about how it is possible to enter a correct password, including the default “blank” and have it come back as invalid.
If the manufacturer used a certain program to install XP, this program caused changes in the key configuration in Recovery Console that would cause a correct password not to be recognized.
Thanks again.
June
Hello June,
In regard to your first problem – not being able to see the Recovery Console: These instructions only let you edit the XP registry so that when you get into the Recovery Console you will not be asked for an administrator password, so that you can continue on with recovery.
If you have never edited the XP registry, try the link just above your comment for a visual demo. It is slow and the audio is choppy, but it should help. Read over everything again very slowly and follow the instructions the the letter and the next time you enter XP’s Recovery Console you will NOT be asked for a password. I don’t know much about OEM recovery disks as I use retail versions of XP, but it should not make much difference as it sounds like you have already entered RC via your disk.
Hope this helps, Tim…
Hello Tim,
thanks for the reply. Rebooted and followed step by step again and I was able to to change the vale to 1. This gave me access to the recovery console.
Thanks for all the help.
June
What if you are not able to boot into Windows XP because of a corrupt registry in the first place? I’ve tried some password recovery tools like ophcrack to boot my machine from a CD in linux and the admin password is blank. However, when I try to access the Recovery Console, a blank password is not accepted. Ideas?
Hi Pete,
I take it you tried booting into Safe Mode. You might also try booting with your XP CD and choose the Repair Option. This may get your system healthy enough to boot.
This link may help if you do NOT have an OEM installed operating sysytem:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 (read the warning heading).
I have not run into this before now. Hopefully you have everything backed up. If so (or not), you may be in for a full format and install.
Let me know how it turns out. Your solution could help others in the same boat.
Tim
Hey Everybody,
My problem is that my system crashed after i updated it, because of the file vgaoem.fo. However now that i run Recovery Console and try to expand the file, it tells me ACCESS IS DENIED. How can i come around the problem? I know it has something to do with the administrator password, but how do i put that on the recovery console?
Any ideas?
Asad
Hello Asad,
You cannot add a password to the Recovery Console, but you can stop Recovery Console from asking for one by (very carefully) following the instructions above. Try the visual Topic Demo link above these comments if you are not sure on how to change the registry value.
Of course you need to be able to boot into XP (normal or safe mode) in order to edit the registry in this manner.
This link may also help: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315338
Tim