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I have a Dell pc that somehow or another got screwed up.
The password I selected wont let me log on to Windows.
No matter what I try.
Even safe mode.
Other than removing the hard drive--what can I do to get the password to work?
Are there any free password recovery programs I can download to a flash drive and install?
Thanks in advance.
Is the Admistrator account the one that has the missing password? Are there any other login accounts on the comptuer that have Administrative privledges? If so, you can log into one of those accounts, and change the password to your current account. Do this via the "Users" icon in the Control Panel.
You might try the following steps to get into the Administraor account:
Quote:
When we install Windows, it automatically creates an account "Administrator" and sets its password to blank. So if you have forget your user account password then try this:
Start system and when you see Windows Welcome screen / Login screen, press <ctrl>+<alt>+<del> keys twice and it'll show Classic Login box. Now type "Administrator" (without quotes) in Username and leave Password field blank. Now press Enter and you should be able to log in Windows.
Now you can reset your account password from "Control Panel -> User Accounts".
Same thing can be done using Safe Mode. In Safe Mode Windows will show this in-built Administrator account in Login screen.
Thanks for the tip, but it didn't work.
I can't get anywhere with this machine.
It's appears the machine wont reconize my keyboard.
So I tried a brand new keyboard---and also put it in a different port.
Same thing.
It starts up and shuts down super fast.
Upon start-up--I get the black screen.
There is an option to bypass the 'password' by hitting { i THINK it said} control/enter.
Nothing.
I have some videos on this PC of a friend that was killed in Iraq that I realllllly don't wanna loose.
Is it the Windows logon password, or are you talking about a password that when entered, allows Windows to continue booting up?
If it's the latter, it's a BIOS password, and they can usually be cleared by closing a jumper on your motherboard. I don't know about your specific machine, but if that's what it is, Dell should be able to help you figure out what needs to be done to clear it.
Either way, unless there's some corruption on the disk that's causing the problem, your videos should be fine. Just don't take the PC somewhere or ship it to Dell. Dell WILL wipe your drive, and there's a decent chance that any local shop you take it to will, too.
There are several programs out there that can be used to crack passwords.
I think something else is going on here, though.
Safe Mode should not be prompting you for a password.
I don't think I have ever seen that before.
There are several programs out there that can be used to crack passwords.
I think something else is going on here, though. Safe Mode should not be prompting you for a password.
I don't think I have ever seen that before.
Windows WILL require a password to start in Safe Mode if it requires a password for a normal startup.
Do an Internet search for Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD). It starts with a Linux shell and includes a utility to change or remove Windows passwords. I know that it does work.
99% of the time starting in Safe Mode will allow you into Windows because no one bothers to put a password on the Administrator account. All you have to do is click on it and in you go!
I've got a CD somewhere that does the same as the one Mensaguy mentioned. It's not the easiest process to follow, but it will reset passwords for Windows accounts.
Create a "live CD" or a "trial disk" from the download and boot up your computer with this live CD. You can then browse and save all your windows files to a portable or flash drive.
After you've retrieved all your files, you can then do the ultimate boot disk that mensaguy and tek_freek mentioned to try to fix your computer.
Here's an old link I had bookmarked. There might be a more updated one if you search for it.
Create a "live CD" or a "trial disk" from the download and boot up your computer with this live CD. You can then browse and save all your windows files to a portable or flash drive.
After you've retrieved all your files, you can then do the ultimate boot disk that mensaguy and tek_freek mentioned to try to fix your computer.
Here's an old link I had bookmarked. There might be a more updated one if you search for it.
All that capability is already on the Ultimate Boot CD.
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, but it didn't work
.
