Windows Password Issue

[eespinosa]

How does one get around forgetting their windows password? I have a friend with 3 daughters who share her computer. I believe she lets them get on under her name. Well, last night, suddenly, she could not log on. Her password is "invalid." What are her options? Thanks.

[BipolarBill]

She must boot into Safe Mode and log on with the Administrator account. Most times, there is no password set for it.

Once in, she needs to right-click My Computer and select Manage.

Open Local Users and Groups > Users

Right-click her username and select Set Password. She can set one or make it blank again.

[Steve R Jones]

Or ask the kids to do it cause apparently they know how;)

[eespinosa]

Good one, Steve. They might deny it, though. lol

[Sterling_Aug]

I always create a seperate user account with admin priviledges on each machine for just this purpose.

[jiugiusto]

Place your Windows XP CD in your cd-rom and start your computer (it’s assumed here that your XP CD is bootable – as it should be - and that you have your bios set to boot from CD)

2. Keep your eye on the screen messages for booting to your cd Typically, it will be “Press any key to boot from cd”

3. Once you get in, the first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting your system and loading files.

4. When you get to the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now

5. The Licensing Agreement comes next - Press F8 to accept it.

6. The next screen is the Setup screen which gives you the option to do a Repair.

It should read something like “If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it”

Use the up and down arrow keys to select your XP installation (if you only have one, it should already be selected) and press R to begin the Repair process.

7. Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.

8. Shortly after the Copying Files stage, you will be required to reboot. (this will happen automatically – you will see a progress bar stating “Your computer will reboot in 15 seconds”

9. During the reboot, do not make the mistake of “pressing any key” to boot from the CD again! Setup will resume automatically with the standard billboard screens and you will notice Installing Windows is highlighted.

10. Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen and when you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. This is the security hole! A command console will now open up giving you the potential for wide access to your system.

11. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. Voila! You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel.

12. Now simply pick the account you need to change and remove or change your password as you prefer. If you want to log on without having to enter your new password, you can type control userpasswords2 at the prompt and choose to log on without being asked for password. After you’ve made your changes close the windows, exit the command box and continue on with the Repair (have your Product key handy).

13. Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password (or without a password if you chose not to use one or if you chose not to be asked for a password). Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.

[Sterling_Aug]

Or the real simply way is to search for and download the "Windows NT Offline password" utility.

[BipolarBill]

My way is easier. I've used it many times.

[eespinosa]

She must boot into Safe Mode and log on with the Administrator account. Most times, there is no password set for it.

Bill, she says that she presses the F8 key during bootup, but can't get into safe mode. She has a Gateway GP6-400. Might there be another key or key combination that she needs to try?

[BipolarBill]

Probably a USB keyboard.

Have her click Start > Run > MSCONFIG > OK.

In the BOOT.INI tab, have her check "/SAFEBOOT". Remind her to UNdo this later.

The next time the PC starts, it will be in Safe Mode. If the keyboard gives her trouble there, have her use the "Onscreen Keyboard" in Accessories > Accessibilty. All she needs is the mouse for the rest.

[eespinosa]

I hope this doesn't sound silly, but where would she click on start? Is there a start button at the windows log iin screen? She can't get into safe mode, so the msconfig option is not doable.

[BipolarBill]

Oh yeah. Oops!

The alternative is to go into BIOS setup. On Gateway's she would press either F1 or F2. In there, she needs to find "Legacy USB", "USB Keyboard" or "DOS USB" and enable it. She would then use F8 to boot.

I've noticed that USB keyboards often don't work in Windows when this switch is thrown, so keep the onscreen keyboard in mind.

[eespinosa]

****. She tried to use F1 and F2 and now it seems she's being prompted for a BIOS password before the computer can enter setup. It's strange that she would get that BIOS password prompt at this point and not during normal bootup. I always thought that if you create a BIOS password that the prompt would appear everytime she would boot the computer. She is not the original owner of the computer. This model Gateway should have a default BIOS password, right? Hopefully the previous owner did not change the BIOS password.

[BipolarBill]

There are two BIOS passwords. One is for booting and the other is for protecting BIOS setup (Supervisor). These kids need a whoopin'! I'm serious. They were messing with the Windows and the BIOS passwords.

She can unplug the PC and remove the motherboard battery to clear the password.

[eespinosa]

Sounds like it, but the BIOS password may be a previous owner issue. I'm not sure if she will try to remove the battery...for now. If she gets desparate, I may do it for her. lol In the meantime, she may try the windows password recovery utility method and wait for 2 days. lol Thanks so much to all who replied, especially you, Bill.

[eespinosa]

She was wondering if this could be the result of a virus or if it could have been done remotely. I guess she doesn't feel her girls are capable of changing passwords. lol

[BipolarBill]

Well, she will need to clear the BIOS password eventually anyway. It shouldn't be left like that.

[eespinosa]

I agree.