Page 1 of Windows log in password problem

PCs & Mobiles Forum

Windows log in password problem

Ted bear (Mostly Harmless) posted this on Sunday, 23rd October 2005, 09:28

Hi All, My DW has forgotten her password log in to her PC.
After trying several attempts she is now logged out of her pc.
How can we gain access to her PC so that we can reset the password ?

Kind regards......Ted

RE: Windows log in password problem

Rassilon (Elite) posted this on Sunday, 23rd October 2005, 10:17

Assuming you are not talking about a boot up password set in the BIOS.

What OS (Windows 95\98\2000\Me\XP) is she using?

Win95 or 98 doesnt matter just hit cancel at logon screen.

Does anyone else have an account on the PC with administrator rights to log on & reset her password on her account?

Does she use purely her Admin account as her main account or does she work with a normal user account & log on as Admin only when required. (like what I should).

Assuming no-one else can log in with the right permissions to reset her password, you are going to have to look for a third party solution, I usually use a Linux boot up CD\disc that allows you to reset the passwords on Windows NT\2000\XP.

You will need a PC that can burn a ISO image onto CD, or create boot discs to this though.

A quick Google brings you this help page of solutions.



I quite like the Helpdesk people in a benevolent (as opposed to malevolent) way as they do some valuable work in preventing us being inundated by every halfwit who can work a phone.

This item was edited on Sunday, 23rd October 2005, 11:26

RE: Windows log in password problem

MikeElliot (Elite) posted this on Sunday, 23rd October 2005, 11:12

You can reset the password in WIndows XP (assuming that is what you are using) via a little known security hole.

Firstly, do a repair install of Windows (note this is a repair install and NOT a standard setup) using the original CD and during the install, at the point of where it says "Installing Devices" you press SHIFT + F10. A command prompt will appear and at this stage type NUSRMGR.CPL and Enter. This will gain you access to the User Accounts and you can then click on the Account you wish to update the password.

RE: Windows log in password problem

Ted bear (Mostly Harmless) posted this on Sunday, 23rd October 2005, 11:47

Thanks Guy`s

Ted

RE: Windows log in password problem

cynic (Elite) posted this on Sunday, 23rd October 2005, 14:18

Why not just reboot into safe mode and log in as admin and then access users from there ?

RE: Windows log in password problem

Rassilon (Elite) posted this on Sunday, 23rd October 2005, 22:55

I think its the lack of Admin\principle user account password thats the problem. ;)



I quite like the Helpdesk people in a benevolent (as opposed to malevolent) way as they do some valuable work in preventing us being inundated by every halfwit who can work a phone.

RE: Windows log in password problem

cynic (Elite) posted this on Monday, 24th October 2005, 13:20

think you`d have to delete the admin account to achieve that given that it usually only pops up if you log into safe mode otherwise you have to specifically create an account for non safe mode

RE: Windows log in password problem

MikeElliot (Elite) posted this on Monday, 24th October 2005, 20:20

I am assuming that the user account is the admin account in which case logging in as admin either from safe mode or standard boot up (yes, it is accessible from standard bootup) is futile as it will have the same password as the user account. Deleting the admin account makes no difference.

Unfortunately Microsoft went to great lengths on the security of Windows XP (in certain cases, of course) that is impossible to retrieve lost passwords and the only way to fix the problem is to reset them.

Go back to PCs & Mobiles Forum threads, or All Forum threads