How to recover files from a partition with password?

@Harold_ks (1673)
June 7, 2012 9:15am CST
A pc with Windows XP OS, with 2 partitions suddenly had a problem. It always restarts. The farthest it can reach is the Windows Logo screen, then it will restart again. Any mode, even Safe Mode is not working. I tried to repair it using Windows XP CD but it didn't work. I now took out the hard disk and made it a slave to another hard disk. I was able to browse the 2nd partition, but the one with OS, has a password, and I cannot access the files inside it. That is my problem, I need to back up the files before I reformat the drive. Do you know how to? I'm looking forward for your answer. Thanks in advance!
2 responses
@dadans (13)
• Greece
7 Jun 12
The password was set up via windows? Is it the one you used to log in windows?
@Harold_ks (1673)
9 Jun 12
Yes, it is the user account password. But when I tried to read the the hard disk into another hard disk, the partition with password cannot be accessed.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Jun 12
The most likely possible solution is to access the drive using Linux. There are Linux apps which can recover passwords (under certain circumstances) and Linux is often able to read a drive which is inaccessible to Windows.
@Harold_ks (1673)
7 Jun 12
Hi owlwings! That gave me an idea. Now I have to search for that Linux software that can browse and bypass the password in my hard disk, for me to able to backup files inside. Thanks for your nice suggestion. Good day!