log-in problem with WinXP-Virtual-Machine under VMware Fusion on MacBook Pro

First, is this XP Pro or XP Home.  Also, have you tried a blank password

If you didn't specify a password when you installed, I believe the password is blank by default. Just don't enter anything in the password box and hit continue.

Once you are in, it would not be a bad idea to specify a password.

Have a look at:  http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windowsxp/f/adminpassword01.htm

javeedabdul, thanks for the cntrl+alt+Del suggestion.  At least I got to try a different username than 'Administrator', but after trying the only username choices I think I would've chosen (along with all the most likely password choices), I still can't log in successfully.

calldrdave, it is XP Pro I had installed for the Fusion VM.  And yes, I've tried a blank password, now with all the different username choices that I've ever made for myself.

One bad possibility, maybe the username I chose included a typo. If this is what happened, now I really am  back to using software for cracking passwords, but in the context of a VM (rather than a dedicated WinXP notebook).  Any suggestions on how to do this?

Sure, you can tell the VM to boot off a cd.  At the start I believe you press F2 to choose options.  

As far as recovery tools, here is a list

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

You don't even need to burn the CD, use the image file of theses as the actual CD settings

aedolbey, did you try my method?

Did you try leaving the password blank?

Did you try the solutions in my post?

This problem illustrates why it's always a good idea to set a password ... just having one eliminates the likelihood of an accidental password being set, resulting in this issue.

Password cracking tools work exactly the same in a virtualized machine as on a real one.    I'd simply download the excellent OphCrack [http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/gr/ophcrack.htm ] and boot to it.    As noted above, you don't need to burn a CD when you download an ISO -- just set the VMWare machine to use that ISO as the CD.

I think Fusion is already set to boot from CD first, but am not sure (I don't use Fusion, as I don't have a Mac)  ==>  if you need to enter the BIOS setup on the virtual machine, you can easily do that without needing to "bang on F2" to try and capture the BIOS during the boot ...

(a)   Fusion MAY have the same option as VMWare Workstation for a direct boot to the BIOS.   If so, this is the simplest way.    In the VMWare interface, look at VM - Power  and see if one of the options is "Power On to BIOS".    Workstation has this option, but I'm not sure whether or not Fusion does.

(b)  If Fusion doesn't have that simple feature, then just do this:   Use a text editor to add the following line to the configuration file for your virtual machine (the .vmx file):
bios.forceSetupOnce = "TRUE"

... this will cause the VM to boot to BIOS setup the next time that virtual machine is power up.    Note it also resets the option -- so you'll have to edit the .vmx file each time you want to go to the BIOS.

Thanks, ryder0707!  trinity-rescue-kit worked like a charm!  And I was only minutes away from just giving up and creating a new copy of the VM.