A friends son has tidied up 'unwanted' files on his computer which is running XP to the extent that it completes its power on boot tests gives a single peep saying all its hardware is OK but then fails to even start loading windows with a message about 'no NTLDR'
He has a rescue/repair disc but this asks for an administrator password which he can't remember ever setting and if he did set one hasn't a clue what it was. I can browse his hard drive as slave in my machine after removing about 40 W32.wullik infected files and some dialers (leaving 60 other manual removal bits of malware) where might I find passwords please?
HELP!

If he didn't set one then it may just be blank.

If it's not blank then there's a bootable CD I've used in the past that can reset the admin password to blank. It's based on Linux, but don't worry - it just boots to a menu allowing you to select which installation of Windows you want to access & stuff. I'm pretty sure this link is to the CD I've used.

But honestly, you're best off using your PC to pull all his data off the old disk & telling him to reformat the drive. His files will be in C:documents & settings<his name>my documents and email will be in something like C:documents & settings<his name>application dataMicrosoftidentitiesoutlook express but I just pull everything off & worry about it later.

Stroller.

Press f8 before windows starts, select boot device. Place original XP disc into selected drive and re-install windows if all else fails. It will not overwrite any documents but slap his hands as a due punishment!

Excellent. I'll give it a go. I've already told him its probably caput but there is stuff on there he wants to try and save.

Like the Haynes manual's 'Check you have petrol in the car', make sure he doesn't have a non-booting floppy disk inserted.

Really it does happen