Reset Windows login password help

I am donating my old laptop, OS Windows XP home edition, to my grandparents so thay they can use the internet and word processing functions, but I have forgotten my windows logon password.

As such, I have searched somewhat extensively on how to bypass this hurdle and create a new password and/or reformat the computer. Most of the solutions I have come across require:

A. Internet connection
B. Desktop accessibility

...of which I can't due to not being able to logon to windows.

What ought I do????

This computer is a 2+ year old HP 17 in bohemeth. Also, upon reviewing the manual that it came with, i've discovered that when the technical support option expires, I would have to pay about $40.00 for a consultation; this would be an insanely waste of time and money.

I will be away from the computer a lot of the day today, so thank-you for any feedback and please be understanding of the delay in any responses to your questions.

The built-in administrator password on any XP and up system can be reset using a bootable CD with a password reset utility. I haven't used one in a while so I can't make any specific recommendations but here's one I just found:

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

The Admin account on Windows NT Kernel OSes (XP, Vista, 7, 2000, 2003, 2008) is a built in account. All accounts are identified by the OS by GUIDs instead of the name of the account, so if you change the name of an account Windows still knows which account it is. The built in accounts use the same GUID across all instances of that OS, so what these utlities do is locate the built in account by the known GUID it resides under and overwrites the password hash with a new one.

Once you can get into the built in admin account, you can manage all the other accounts on the system. If you change the password on another account using the admin account, this may result in a loss of some data on that profile.

-Byshop

The other solution would be to perform a factory restore on that laptop. Many laptops have a hidden partition that actually contains a snapshot of how the laptop is configured when it ships. Using this restore option makes it act as though you just bought it from the store, but any data on the laptop would be lost.

-Byshop

They are all rubbish solutions, give ophCrack a go.

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

Why not just format and re-install like you mentioned?

They are all rubbish solutions, give ophCrack a go.

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

GTR12

How is resetting the admin password a "rubbish solution"?

-Byshop

that's no biggy at all, now just to find that so-called partition.rwrden

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=bph07145#N1112

-Byshop

[QUOTE="GTR12"]

They are all rubbish solutions, give ophCrack a go.

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

Byshop

How is resetting the admin password a "rubbish solution"?

-Byshop

Because you have to reformat.

[QUOTE="Byshop"]

[QUOTE="GTR12"]

They are all rubbish solutions, give ophCrack a go.

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

GTR12

How is resetting the admin password a "rubbish solution"?

-Byshop

Because you have to reformat.

Why would you assume resetting the admin password requires a reformat? It does not. I also offerred the option of using the factory restore since in his situation (giving away the laptop to someone else) reformating might be a more desirable option. The idea is to give the TC all the information to allow them to make an informed descision rather than simply telling them what to do.

-Byshop