I thought I might as well post in here to see if anyone would have a solution for this.

Recently I got a used computer for free, which has windows XP professional installed on it. Unfortunately, I do not have the administrator password, or the installer CD. Does anyone know a way I could get into it without having to fork out some real life money?

I'm willing to pay 100k ICs to whoever finds me a methood that works.
 
-----------------------
Raiders
SL/SGT_Darr-Rann/3SQD/1PLT/1COM/1RGT/1BAT/VEA/VE/Tadath [LoR][CoR]
|EXO/WO2_Demonic/Kaph 5/PheonixWing/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE| (=*A*=)(=*SA*=)(VC:B)(MC2)(VEB)(DSM)[BWC]{O1}-=TOP PILOT=-
SERGEANT
WARRANT OFFICER, 2ND CLASS
Communications Technician
Part time Webmaster Guy
"DICTATOR DARR"

You have two options.

1.  If the data isn't worth much, take Cosmic's advice and just reformat/reinstall.

2.  If you really want to get in, do this:  Take the HD out of the PC, and put it in another PC, so that you can browse the file system.  You'll want to find "logon.scr".  I think it's in windows/system32, but if not, just do a search of that drive.  Rename it to "logon.scr.bak".  Now find cmd.exe.  I think it's in the same directory, but again, you may have to search.  Now make a copy of "cmd.exe", and rename it to "logon.scr".  Make sure that you leave it in the same directory as "logon.scr.bak".  Now put the drive back in the original PC, exactly like it was, and boot the PC.  When the logon prompt appears, let the PC sit for 10 or 15 minutes.  You'll want to wait until the logon screen saver normally appears, which can take a bit.  But now, instead of the logon screen savers, the command prompt will apprear.  When it does, type the following: "net user administrator password"  This will change the administrator password to "password".  If the administrator account is a different name, like "admin", you'll want to change the command line appropriately.  Now close the command prompt, and login with the administrator username, and "password" as the password.  It should work, but you might need to reboot after closing the command prompt if it doesn't work right after.

Please post your results.


 
-----------------------
--Am

All you're doing is renaming cmd.exe to logon.scr, so that after 10 minutes or so, the system will execute logon.scr, which will actually run command prompt, allowing you to run a system command to rename any account, as long as you know the name of the account.   
 
-----------------------
--Am

That would be "F8". 
 
-----------------------
--Am

The problem is that he doesn't have the installation CD. Without it, you just have a computer with no OS after f11.
 
-----------------------
SL/GSG Garet Daimun/2SQD/2PLT/1COM/1RGT/1BAT/Tadath/VEA [ES2C] [IH]

Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift?
-Zaroff, Most Dangerous Game

It probably won't work.  Usually any other "F" options are from proprietary programs that have been embedded/installed in the master boot record or Bios to allow for startup before the OS.  Some OEMs, such as eMachines do this, but many don't.
 
-----------------------
--Am

Okay, I'm going to say it again - I want to keep the OS. I could install home XP on this, but I want to keep the Pro. I got this computer with nothing but the box and a sticker on the side with processor and OS info - I know it's 256mb ram from examination
 
-----------------------
Raiders
SL/SGT_Darr-Rann/3SQD/1PLT/1COM/1RGT/1BAT/VEA/VE/Tadath [LoR][CoR]
|EXO/WO2_Demonic/Kaph 5/PheonixWing/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE| (=*A*=)(=*SA*=)(VC:B)(MC2)(VEB)(DSM)[BWC]{O1}-=TOP PILOT=-
SERGEANT
WARRANT OFFICER, 2ND CLASS
Communications Technician
Part time Webmaster Guy
"DICTATOR DARR"

Have you solved your problem yet?
 
-----------------------
--Am

Yes, a very old one at that.    I used to use it on the old Intruder Wing and New Imperium forums where the avatar sizes were 80x80.  It needs to be redone though.
 
-----------------------
--Am

I just uploaded it.
 
-----------------------
--Am

Yep, worked like a champ...  I'll eventually make another one at the correct size.  It's nothing special though.  It uses a 256 color web adaptive pallete.
 
-----------------------
--Am

lol

I had another old one that showed an X-Wing exploding, and a TIE Defender flying out of the explosion towards the camera, but it was lost in an HD crash a while back.
 
-----------------------
--Am

Yea.  I was going through some of my old backup CD's the other day and found some old 3DS Max scenes I did a while back, and I thought that one might be in those, but no luck.  :P
 
-----------------------
--Am

Hmm...  as far as PC's go, I have my A+, A+ Networking, and Cisco certs. I'm working on a degree in Network Administration.

Other skills would be:
HTML
dHTML
some PHP
some Flash
Shockwave

Apps:
Photoshop (all versions)
3D Studio Max 4-8
Lightwave 5.5 (old)
TrueSpace

That's it for the most part, although there is the possibility that I've left something out. 


 
-----------------------
--Am

Looks like you've got more than enough there to be valuable to anyone. 
 
-----------------------
--Am