Windows xp recovery console commands forgot password full version#
Windows xp recovery console commands forgot password Pc#
Windows xp recovery console commands forgot password windows#

Windows xp recovery console commands forgot password windows#

Windows XP’s Safe Mode is a minimally functional version of Windows designed to give you enough power to go in and fix a problem - if you can figure out what the problem might be. System File Checker has a bunch of command line options that aren’t documented correctly in many places. So far, knock on wood, I haven’t encountered any problems with SFC. I always run SFC with great fear and trepidation, anticipating that it pulls old versions of files from the CD, when Windows XP should be running with the latest files - particularly with the massive changes in Service Pack 2. If it does find corrupt files, it asks for your permission, and then automatically pulls good copies from the Windows XP CD. If System File Checker doesn’t find any corrupt files, it exits without saying anything.

Figure 63-2: SFC keeps you apprised of its progress.

This process is painstaking and can take 15 minutes or more, particularly if you have more than a few bad files. The System File Checker starts its scan (see Figure 63-2).

Figure 63-1: Start System File Checker only from the command line.

It isn’t, really, but it sure acts like the old graybeard.Ĥ, At the command prompt, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. You are forgiven if you think of this as the old DOS command line. If you didn’t get a backup CD with your new computer, call the manufacturer and complain loudly.Ģ, Close any installation screen(s) that appear automatically.ģ, Choose Start All Programs Accessories Command Prompt.

If you bought a computer with Windows XP pre-installed, you probably have a backup CD.

Windows xp recovery console commands forgot password full version#

This CD contains the full version of Windows XP. If you want to make sure that your system files are all kosher:ħ. You must have an Administrator account in order to run System File Checker. System File Checker verifies that you have Microsoft-blessed versions of the system files running. Sometimes installers sneak past Windows XP’s protective layers and replace good system files with dubious versions of their own choosing. Hardware problems, particularly a hard drive that’s misbehaving, can corrupt system files. Windows XP is quite protective of its crown jewels, but nonetheless, sometimes system-wide files do get clobbered. You need to fix the program that’s gone bad, and SFC doesn’t even touch programs - it works with Windows system files only. If you’re having problems with an individual program locking up - say, Internet Explorer works for a while and then suddenly freezes, or Outlook tells you that it’s quitting - don’t even bother with SFC. Running SFC is also a good idea if Windows itself freezes periodically: Your mouse won’t move, the keyboard gets locked up, and even the old standby Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn’t work anymore. An SFC run is particularly valuable if the screen just goes blank from time to time, and you can’t get it back. If your computer starts normally, but shuts down or hangs unexpectedly, consider running the System File Checker (SFC). But if you want to fix what’s going on right now, this technique is for you. If you want to roll back your system to a previous state, try Technique 64. If you can’t get anything to work and you need a boot disk, look at Technique 67. Ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer chances. Or you can breathe new life into an ailing system. You can mess up your system with one bad keystroke. That’s where clones of the old, familiar, Windows Me-and-earlier commands live. Those of you who feel adept at the command line may want to get into the Windows Recovery Console some day. No matter how you get there, you want to get out - quickly. Sometimes you need to get into Safe Mode - Windows’ analog to the Twilight Zone, where some things work and others don’t.

Windows xp recovery console commands forgot password Pc#

SFC looks at all the system files on your PC and makes sure they’re intact. If you can get your system to boot into Windows, but every so often your screen goes blank and Windows is out to lunch, try running the System File Checker. Maybe your system boots okay and runs for a while, and then it dies mysteriously. Maybe the Windows splash screen appears, with its rolling beads, and then everything goes dark. Maybe the computer goes through its normal memory check and lists the hard drives and then. Sooner or later it happens to every system: Windows goes to that big bit bucket in the sky. Hauling out the Big Guns: Recovery Console Trying Safe Mode to see if you can fix relatively minor problems

Finding out what options you have - before you tear your hair out