A friend of a friend, has bought a new Vista lappy. Apparently it's been setup to ask for a password, but, it won't accept the password. So all it does is switch on ask for password and rejects it.
How do we reset it :-[
Is this at switch on (harddisk password) or a user account password?
Sorry Steve, it's a user account log on password.
Trying to recall,we had a post lately mentioning password detection software that ran from its own boot disk might be worth a search? Presumably you have tried Esc.
I suppose that you already tried upper / lower case lettering, capitol first letter etc....
Tried just hitting enter key?
Can you log on via the administrators account?
Quote from: vitriol on Jun 28, 2008, 17:12:33
I suppose that you already tried upper / lower case lettering, capitol first letter etc....
Tried just hitting enter key?
Tried that thanks.
Found the posthttp://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/ (http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/)
Quote from: Glenn on Jun 28, 2008, 17:14:26
Can you log on via the administrators account?
Is it possible to set up two admin accounts?. This lappy was set up with two login passwords, one for either account. None work, have tried swapping them over etc., it's not known which if any is an Admin account.
Do you dread phonecalls from friends with new lappies? ;)
This as wellhttp://www.newfreedownloads.com/Windows-Utilities/Security/Active-Password-Changer.html (http://www.newfreedownloads.com/Windows-Utilities/Security/Active-Password-Changer.html)
Quote from: Rik on Jun 28, 2008, 17:22:51
Do you dread phonecalls from friends with new lappies? ;)
Don't I just ;D
Quote from: stevethegas on Jun 28, 2008, 17:18:06
Found the posthttp://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/ (http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/)
That disk will crack the password in a few seconds to hours depending on how secure the password is.
I believe that there is a password reset tool with the latest version of Hirens boot cd's
Vista should have an account called Administrator. Quite how you access it, though, I don't know. Perhaps booting in safe mode will show this account on the welcome screen. Then it will be possible to reset the password on the other account.
All you need to do to access the admin account, is when presented with the log on screen that asks you to select which user to log on, press Ctrl + Alt + Del to access the text log on screen. Then log on as administrator and the correct password. It works with XP too.
Cheers all have copied your suggestions and downloaded the two progs. One last question the .exe file can't be run from a memory stick can it?.
The first link at sourceforge points to a live cd.one of these is ophcrack vista iso which presumably is a boot disk which then executes the password discovery program. The second link it is not clear. you may have to run the exe,install and then make the boot disk.
Thanks Steve.
The outcome is.......... they took the lappy back to where they bought it, 60miles round trip and the shop fixed it for them!. They have no idea what the problem was, but are happy that at the moment they can use the machine. Thanks to everyone for suggestions :)
A good dealer - worth holding on to! :)
Apart from 2 gallons of fuel, how much did it cost, or did the dealer fix it for free?
For free. He sold it to them on tuesday I'm told. They got it home but couldn't get the user passwords to work. So they took it back yesterday without telling our mutual friend. :)