XP Pro in safe mode doesn't accept password

[TomH]

I rebooted Win XP Pro into safe mode by changing my
boot.ini to /bootsafe. (per diagnostic instructions from
a software vendor's website). My password does not work,
nor does Administrator with a blank password. Any
ideas. I am locked out of my office PC. posting from my
home PC.

[Earl F. Parrish]

"TomH" > wrote in message
...
> I rebooted Win XP Pro into safe mode by changing my
> boot.ini to /bootsafe. (per diagnostic instructions from
> a software vendor's website). My password does not work,
> nor does Administrator with a blank password. Any
> ideas. I am locked out of my office PC. posting from my
> home PC.

The switch should have been "/safeboot" and not what you put in.
You have to run the Recovery Console from the bootable Windows XP CD
to run bootcfg to change the boot.ini back to the correct format.
Once you get up to the GUI state, you might want to install the
Recovery Console on the hard drive to make it easier the next time.
You can always boot in Safe mode by interceding in the boot process.
Do not lock yourself into a method from which you cannot escape.
Nothing stops you from putting anything you want in the boot.ini
file but it is not a good idea to hard wire a temporary boot
sequence.

--
Earl F. Parrish

[Earl F. Parrish]

"Earl F. Parrish" > wrote in message
...
>
> "TomH" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I rebooted Win XP Pro into safe mode by changing my
> > boot.ini to /bootsafe. (per diagnostic instructions from
> > a software vendor's website). My password does not work,
> > nor does Administrator with a blank password. Any
> > ideas. I am locked out of my office PC. posting from my
> > home PC.
>
> The switch should have been "/safeboot" and not what you put in.
> You have to run the Recovery Console from the bootable Windows XP
CD
> to run bootcfg to change the boot.ini back to the correct format.
> Once you get up to the GUI state, you might want to install the
> Recovery Console on the hard drive to make it easier the next
time.
> You can always boot in Safe mode by interceding in the boot
process.
> Do not lock yourself into a method from which you cannot escape.
> Nothing stops you from putting anything you want in the boot.ini
> file but it is not a good idea to hard wire a temporary boot
> sequence.
>
> --
> Earl F. Parrish
>

After further consideration, I believe that the software vendor
wanted you to put the safe mode option as an additional operating
system choice rather than a replacement for the /fastdetect choice.
If in fact it is an addition, the /fastdetect choice should still be
available. It just might not be the default any more. If that is
not the case, my earlier message should be followed. If the choice
is there, select the regular operating system and change the
incorrect choice by editing the boot.ini file from the System applet
in Control Panel. It is under Advanced and the last button on the
next screen.

--
Earl F. Parrish