Recover lost password?

I have friends laptop with Windows Media Editon installed. The computer had
viruses and spyware which have been removed. Since removing the viruses,
spyware & fixing the registry, it now brings up the log in screen.
Originally when you started Windows, it would just go to the desktop
bypassing the log in.

It's been so long since this person used their password, they don't remember
it or the one for the admin account. With Windows being inaccessible, I
can't even find out how much space is left on the drive to do a new
installation of windows and copy information over.

Is there any utility or something that will recover a lost/forgotten
password for either account? Or is wiping the drive and reinstalling
everything the only option?
Thanks for any help/information.

Jim

A Google search will yield a couple of utilities to accomplish a password
reset, my favorite is the linux based boot floppy/cd.

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"Jim" <jim RemoveThis @gordonferon.com> wrote in message
news:OcMR44lyIHA.1772@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I have friends laptop with Windows Media Editon installed. The computer had
>viruses and spyware which have been removed. Since removing the viruses,
>spyware & fixing the registry, it now brings up the log in screen.
>Originally when you started Windows, it would just go to the desktop
>bypassing the log in.
>
> It's been so long since this person used their password, they don't
> remember it or the one for the admin account. With Windows being
> inaccessible, I can't even find out how much space is left on the drive to
> do a new installation of windows and copy information over.
>
> Is there any utility or something that will recover a lost/forgotten
> password for either account? Or is wiping the drive and reinstalling
> everything the only option?
> Thanks for any help/information.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>