After I enter my password and press enter, the program shuts down. I get an error message that states that "Passwords Plus has unexpectedly shut down. How do I fix this?

press the off/on button of the computer
hold it in until the computer shuts down
wait a few minutes then press it on and it will start up
you may get a message on the screen saying --experienced unprogrammed shut down-- start in safe mode or normally--press enter for the highlighted normally word or high light normal and enter

Cry. Seriously, remove the drive and copy off of it any and all files that you want and need. Then format the unit and reinstall the operating system and programs from the backup disks that you have. No backup?

Now you are really ******* - see if you can get set from notebook manufacturer. If not check with your computer literate friends to see if any of them have OS installation disks.

http://www.metacafe.com/tags/passwordrecovery/
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_passwords.htm
Find Passwords Without Programs

Almost everything on a computer or on the Internet requires passwords.
If you are like most people, between home, school, work and your social networking, you have a host of passwords.
So what happens when you cannot remember your most basic passwords, such as your Windows password?
There are programs that can find passwords for you, but there is a way to find them without a program or software.

Open your computer's Start option.
Click on Accessories panel. Under this, you will see the program "Run," and click on it.
You will have a black window with a typing bar that is displayed DOS Mode.
Write down your passwords for future reference.
Type in "cmd" in the blank, then press the Enter button.
You should then be given a screen that looks like the old Disc Operating Screens, just a blank screen with information.
You will see the words "Account information."
Type "netuser/user" and press "Enter."
Computer passwords are a key to our computer and online privacy.
Look at the list of all your computer's programs that appear on your screen.
Pick the program that you wish to change the password for, and after that program name type in "netusername", hit space and and click "star" key.
So if you're Bob, it would read "netuserbob *".
Be sure and put in the name you use for the specific computer you are changing passwords on.
You can then create a new password that will allow you to get back into the program.
If you have forgotten more than one password, you can repeat the process for other programs.
Do not exit the black screen but simply go back to the other program's names and repeat the same process with "netusername *",
Enter, and new password.

EMachines is a brand of entry level, affordable computers now owned by Acer.
The computers come with the Windows operating system.
To keep your computer secure, it is a smart idea to continually reset and change your password. Changing the password will take only a moment.
Log in to your user account.
Press "Ctrl" plus "Alt" plus "Delete" simultaneously.
Click "Change Password" from the list of options.
Enter your old password.
Enter your new password twice to confirm.
Press "Enter" to save the changes.

Reset An eMachine
eMachines manufacturers a series of netbooks, desktops and laptop computers.
Certain applications and circumstances will require you to reset your computer.
Resetting your eMachine computer is a quick process that can be used to fix problems, complete program installations and access the BIOS or other Windows tools, such as Safe Mode.

Click "Start" in the Windows taskbar.
Click "Shut Down."
Click "Restart."
Normal Restart for Windows Vista/7
Click the "Start" orb in the Windows taskbar.
Click the arrow next to "Shut Down."
Click "Restart."

Change your Windows password
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-your-Windows-password

Reset My eMachine password
EMachines is a brand of entry level, affordable computers now owned by Acer.
The computers come with the Windows operating system.
To keep your computer secure, it is a smart idea to continually reset and change your password. Changing the password will take only a moment.
Log in to your user account.
Press "Ctrl" plus "Alt" plus "Delete" simultaneously.
Click "Change Password" from the list of options.
Enter your old password.
Enter your new password twice to confirm.
Press "Enter" to save the changes.

Reset An eMachine
eMachines manufacturers a series of netbooks, desktops and laptop computers.
Certain applications and circumstances will require you to reset your computer.
Resetting your eMachine computer is a quick process that can be used to fix problems, complete program installations and access the BIOS or other Windows tools, such as Safe Mode.

Click "Start" in the Windows taskbar.
Click "Shut Down."
Click "Restart."
Normal Restart for Windows Vista/7
Click the "Start" orb in the Windows taskbar.
Click the arrow next to "Shut Down."
Click "Restart."

Change your Windows password
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-your-Windows-password

EMachines is a brand of entry level, affordable computers now owned by Acer.
The computers come with the Windows operating system.
To keep your computer secure, it is a smart idea to continually reset and change your password. Changing the password will take only a moment.
Log in to your user account.
Press "Ctrl" plus "Alt" plus "Delete" simultaneously.
Click "Change Password" from the list of options.
Enter your old password.
Enter your new password twice to confirm.
Press "Enter" to save the changes.

Reset An eMachine
eMachines manufacturers a series of netbooks, desktops and laptop computers.
Certain applications and circumstances will require you to reset your computer.
Resetting your eMachine computer is a quick process that can be used to fix problems, complete program installations and access the BIOS or other Windows tools, such as Safe Mode.

Click "Start" in the Windows taskbar.
Click "Shut Down."
Click "Restart."
Normal Restart for Windows Vista/7
Click the "Start" orb in the Windows taskbar.
Click the arrow next to "Shut Down."
Click "Restart."

Change your Windows password
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-your-Windows-password

First - re-seat the hard disk and reboot the computer. If the computer does not boot up then reboot and go into the BIOS configuration to see if the BIOS detects the hard drive. If it doesn't detect the hard drive then it could be faulty.
Then the hard drive needs to be replaced in the computer/laptop, Windows installed and the computer or laptop's device drivers plus your programs etc. to get a functioning computer/laptop again.

Password Security
Establishing a Setup password:
1. Turn on or restart the computer. If you are in Windows, click Start > Shut Down >
Restart.
2. As soon as the computer is turned on, press F10 when the monitor light turns green to enter
Computer Setup. Press Enter to bypass the title screen, if necessary. If you do not press F10
when prompted, a restart will be necessary.
3. Select Security > Setup Password and follow the instructions on the screen.
4. Before exiting, click File > Save Changes and Exit.
Establishing a Setup password:
1. Turn on or restart the computer. If you are in Windows, click Start > Shut Down >
Restart.
2. As soon as the computer is turned on, press F10 when the monitor light turns green to enter
Computer Setup. Press Enter to bypass the title screen, if necessary. If you do not press F10
when prompted, a restart will be necessary.
3. Select Security > Power-On Password and follow the instructions on the screen.
Before exiting, click File > Save Changes and Exit.
Changing a password:
1. Turn on or restart the computer. If you are in Windows, click Start> Shut Down > Restart.
To change the Setup password, go to step 2.
To change the Power-on password, go to step 3.
2. To change the Setup password, as soon as the computer is turned on, press F10 when the
monitor light turns green to enter Computer Setup. Press Enter to bypass the title screen, if
necessary.
3. When the key icon appears, type your current password, a slash (/) or alternate de-limiter
character, your new password, another slash (/) or alternate delimiter character, and your new
password again as shown:
current password/new password/new password.
NOTE: Type the new password carefully since the actual characters do not appear on the
screen.
4. Press ENTER.
The new password will take effect the next time the computer is restarted.
Deleting a password
1. Turn on or restart the computer. If you are in Windows, click Start > Shut Down > Restart.
To delete the Setup password, go to step 2.
To delete the Power-On password, go to step 3.
2. To change the Setup password, as soon as the computer is turned on, press F10 when the
monitor light turns green to enter Computer Setup. Press Enter to bypass the title screen, if
necessary.
3. When the key icon appears, type your current password followed by a slash (/) or alternate
delimiter character as shown. Example: currentpassword/
4. Press Enter.




from

http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00794304/c007943
04.pdf

to reset the administrator pasword enter feature 985 press 9 at the password prompt enter 73738767793 (resetsmpwsd) and press ok or #,press yes to reset password. password should be defaulted to 0000.
to enter administrator programming enter feature 983 at the log prompt enter 1020000 and ok

1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.
2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
   Windows XP to run on your computer:
   
   To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
   
   To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
   
   To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
   
3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup. To Repair Install, press ENTER
   To Repair Install, press ENTER
   \r\n'); FP_changeProp(/*id*/'layer1',0,'style.borderStyle','double','style.borderWidth','3px','style.padding','5px','style.backgroundColor','#F9F4D5','style.backgroundImage','url(\'edgbkgnd4.gif\')'); FP_changeProp(/*id*/'layer1',0,'style.visibility','visible')" onclick="FP_changeProp(/*id*/'layer1',0,'style.visibility','hidden')" width="15" border="0" height="21" /> do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".
4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair. If Repair is not one of the options, END setup. After the reboot read
6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.take care god bless