I have a HP Pavillion 533w,that has been sitting for about 4 years no use. It has a Windows XP system in which there is a password but I don't have a clue as to what the password is and I can't get into the computer. I have tried to enter the safemode but only get to a Phoenix BIOS setup area and have no clue as to what they heck I am doing or what to look for there. I have tried several times to load by using the F8 key but only return to the setup area.I have files I now need off this computer and need to know how to get into it with no password. Please I really need help to get to these files so I can copy them tocd's as I have met asingle mother of 4 that needed a computer and since this one just sat I offered it to her for her college studies and work, but I have to be able to get my files and then clear the computer so that she will have a clean slate to work with.Please if anyone can help me I would be forever grateful and I am sure the single mother would be grateful as well. HELP PLEASE2 people need an answerI do too

You can't get to Safe Mode from the BIOS (Setup). Try pressing F5 instead of F8 to get into Safe Mode.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

Hey, Mal...... My Brother has not used his computer in a few years and cannot remember his password. I'm in one State trying to help and he is in another.I'm using Win 7 and he' s using XP.I've tried Solution Center and Account Settings (where there is NO CREDENTIALS to add per HELP). When I click on send password to alternate address, I am given no current optiopn to advz which email address to send his password to. Password reset doesn't do it either.Brother has a HOTMAIL address and I blv is Win Live. Is there a simple way for me to retrieve his old password without going to 3rd party?Very anxious!!!I love MSFT!!!ladycdcdcd

No. But there is possibly a simple way for your brother to get into Windows. Standard answer: If you have forgotten your password, if you have another user account with administrative privileges you can log into that account and change your original user account's password from the User Accounts applet in Control Panel. If you don't have another account like this set up or don't have the password to it, you'll need to log into the built-in Administrator account. In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not work here. Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden Administrator account. The default password is a blank. In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen, do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in "Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up Windows. If you have XP Pro or Media Center and were using the built-in Administrator account for your regular work and it is therefore the only user account on the system, there are ways to change the password for that account to a blank. Microsoft doesn't permit us to tell you how in these forums. Their house, their rules. Use Google or ask a local computer tech (not a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place).MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!