If you forgot the admin password and have no other account with administrator rights, things can get tricky. The methods and free tools explained here can reset the Windows password for all Windows versions—that is, for Windows 7, Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008 R2.
In this article I only talk about the Windows client editions, but the methods also work for the corresponding server versions. The methods described here are not for resetting lost domain administrator passwords. As system administrator, you are usually confronted with this problem if users have admin rights on their machines. Even if you don't have to reset a password now, you should get acquainted with this issue. Rest assured that sooner or later a user will bug you with this problem. I must admit that I managed to forget my password more than once. Note that I published this article a few years ago, but since then I updated it several times and added a few new methods.
Not much of the original article is left except the numerous comments below. As you can see, forgetting the Windows password is a common problem. Use your password reset disk to recover the Windows password Vista and Windows 7 allow you to create a password reset disk, which enables you to reset your password without much hassle.
The problem with this option is that you have to create the reset disk before the password is lost. Thus if you don't have a password reset disk, this option is not for you. You can find a description of how to create a password reset disk. Restore Windows 7 or Windows 8 to a previous state If you configured a new password recently and can still remember the password you used before, then you can restore Windows to a point in time before you changed the password.
The Restore function of Windows 7 and Windows Vista will make sure that you don't lose personal data. However, programs that have been installed since the corresponding restore point have to be installed again.
All you need for this procedure is a Windows 7 or Windows Vista setup DVD. A detailed description of this method can be found.
If you are uncertain what System Restore is doing with your computer,. This approach doesn't work with Windows XP. Boot up Windows XP in Safe Mode and log on with the built-in administrator account When you installed Windows XP, you had to set a password for the Administrator account. If you still know this password, you can boot up in Safe Mode (by pressing F8 when your computer starts) and log on with the Administrator account. Read Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information about Safe Mode. Note that whenever you reset the password for a user using another account, this user will no longer be able to access files that have been encrypted with EFS (Encrypted File System).
Stored credentials in the and will also no longer be available. This method doesn't work in Vista and Windows 7 because the administrator account is disabled by default in Safe Mode with these Windows versions. Below you will learn how to enable the built-in admin account in Windows 7 and Vista. Reset Windows 7 administrator password with the Sticky Keys trick is a reliable way to reset a Windows 7 administrator password, and does not require third-party software. All you have to do is boot up from a Windows 7 or Windows Vista setup DVD, launch the Windows Recovery Environment (RE), and then replace the sethc.exe file with cmd.exe. You can also use this method for Windows XP, but you have to use a Windows 8 or Windows 7 DVD.
This is the corresponding. Reset Windows 8 administrator password The Sticky Keys trick also works with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
Is for Windows 8. Change Windows password on servers with the Utility Manager tick to change a Windows password.
The text is for resetting a forgotten domain admin password. However, the trick also works for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012 R2. If you have problems with Sticky Keys trick, you might want to try Utility Manager trick which works in a similar way. Reset Windows 8.1 password with the free ntpasswd tool The downside of this option is that you have to create a password reset CD first. Then you can boot up with this CD and manipulate the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database.
Please note that resetting the password with third-party tools can also cause data loss as described in option 4. Also note that this tool comes without any warranty. However, I've been using it quite a few times and never had any problem with it. The latest version also supports Windows Vista and Windows 7. The advantage of this method is that it is quick if you already have the password CD in your tool box. Thus it is useful for admins who have to perform this procedure often. In all other cases I recommend option 4.
Follow the new. Offline enable the built-in administrator account in Windows 7 and Vista This method is useful if no other user account on this machine has administrator privileges. You also need a Windows setup DVD (Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8). With this DVD you can boot up Windows RE and edit the Registry to. Also read my article about the if you don't know how to edit the Registry in offline mode.
After you enable the built-in Administrator, you can log on with this account without requiring a password and then reset the Windows password of any user account. Use the free Trinity Rescue Kit (TRK) to recover the admin password The Trinity Rescue Kit (TRK) is a troubleshooting solution that belongs in every admin's tool box. Please read my for more information. This great tool allows you to reset the password of Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. It works similar to ntpasswd. After you have booted up with the TRK CD, you have to enter the command winpass -u username and then follow the instructions. Sometimes setting a new password doesn't work; in this case, just set an empty password.
Use the free Kon-Boot tool to remove Windows passwords I tool a few days ago, and I can't really recommend it because it crashed two Windows 7 installations during my test. I mention this free password reset tool here for the sake of completeness and because it is quite famous. Its main advantage is that it is very quick. You only have to boot up from the Kon-Boot CD and the tool will do the rest for you. It changes the contents of the Windows kernel on the fly while booting allowing you to log on without password. Thus the tool doesn't change the SAM database. If you reboot again without using Kon-Boot you need the old passwords.
Update: The tool not free anymore. Use the free NTPWEdit tool to reset the Windows password Especially if your computer doesn't have a CD or DVD drive, you have to and then you can use the. Don't forget to add NTPWEdit to the USB stick before you boot up.
Use Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset to reset the administrator password MSDaRT is a toolset from Microsoft that allows you to repair a Windows installation. This tool is only available for Microsoft volume customers, TechNet Plus subscribers, and MSDN subscribers.
You can easily recover an admin password with its Locksmith tool. Please check out my for more information. Get a commercial password reset tool Many commercial tools are available that allow you to reset the Windows administrator password.
Technically, they do the same as the free tools. Some of them might be easier to use or come with better instructions than the free tools. But before you spend money, I recommend trying the other options I described in this article. I don't want to recommend a particular tool here. However, I would prefer a tool where the vendor offers support in case you run into problems. Be careful—there are many black sheep exploiting desperate people by selling overpriced tools.
Reinstall Windows This might sound like a joke, but in some cases this is the best method. For instance, if you don't want to lose your EFS-encrypted files or stored credentials by resetting your password, but you desperately need the computer, you can just install Windows a second time.
You will have access to all the files of the previous installation. Just make sure that you don't overwrite the original Windows installation during the Windows setup. This allows you to boot up the original Windows installation at a later time. I am sure you will remember your forgotten Windows password sooner or later. As to my own experience, the old password will pop up in your mind right after you finish the installation and go to configure your new administrator password.
Please let me know in a comment below if you've heard of another option for resetting the Windows password. Once you are in a safe mode command prompt just type 'explorer'. This will bring up the Windows Shell, from there: go to user accounts in control panel click 'Manage user accounts' From there I right clicked the Administrator, enabled the account, then right click again and reset password.DON'T reset the password on users unless you have to because you could lose data but the Administrator account is disabled by default in Vista so you can use that as a means of rescuing a pc in distress.N.B This is (imo) a pretty serious security flaw so expect it to be patched/hotfixed soon. Ha Ha, upon reading over earlier comment I find this a funny situation I have put myself in. I also called windows support on the matter as well as a toshiba support center, as my laptop is manufactured by toshiba. Both companies sent me to the vast seas of the internet.
Oh how customer support has changed. As emmbarassing thing as it is to forget the only admin account password I find it frustrating to go to corporate for help only to be told to 'do it your self.' It's incredable how the internet is now just a big 'Life for Dummies' resource. It is people who run and moderate sites such as these who should be runnign customer service. You all do a wonderful service.
I was enabling some additional password protection schemes, screen saver etc. On my system and was prompted for a password. I did this and when the screen saver came up I was no longer able to login.
Rebooted and was still unable to login. I had no passkey disk created so I was up the creek so to say.
Then I recalled I had System Checkpoint enabled within Vista. Ran the HP system option F11 which brought up my recovery options and simply restored to the previous days checkpoint. I was able to login using the old password and I did not lose anything in the process. Hello, This link was offered in a question I asked regarding a computer I acquired. It has Vista installed, but also an admin. Password issue. The program is legit, and the organization has purchased all new equipment.
My issue certainly is the viable use of the computer, without just signing on as guest, which disallows much of it's function. I could have the drive formatted and have a system re-installed, but that seems a bit extreme.
My question to you is, which of the options might be my best alternative, especially given that getting the initial password is not an option. Thank you in advance. My daughter was locked out after trying to reset her password on her Sony Vaio Laptop with Vista OS. Since there aren't any other users, she is the administrator with no backup disk or reset disk. I restarted her computer, and hit F11 before it completely uploaded. It went to a screen to reinstall her OS. There is a small box on the lower left Advanced Options.
In it were 4 options to click on Computer checkup, Restore to earlier date, Restore Windows OS and something else. I chose to restore (option 2) which gave me dates for her computer backing itself up. I chose December 2, 2008, an earlier date just beyond two weeks (she got locked out December 20, 2008). Her computer restored and her old password worked without losing pictures, data, etc.
Woohoo, it's not that hard and everything worked out well. To prevent this from happening again, I suggested she create her profile and leave the administrator profile for bigger issues. Best of luck and Aloha. Read through all the replies, downloaded NT Password & Reg Editor and Trinity Rescue Disk. Tried to load them on a Vista Home computer with USB and CD and no luck.
USB reads 'Non-Systems Disk' and the CD does nothing. I've tried 50 different ways and even those little simple ways. I would just wipe the system (nothing important) but don't have a Vista disc, just the key.
Friend bought this from a Pawn Shop and they screwed him. He was oblivious to what he was being sold.
Still has the previous user passwords and with 'Guest' you can't do anything. Is there any other ways without spending money, and even that might not work. Any suggestions????? Rather than learning a new computer language, or footing out dollars for software that takes forever to download and install, you might want to consider using the label on your computer's hard disc.
You know, the one that shows you how to make it a master or slave? If you have any windows boot disc at all you can then boot up your computer from CD, access the HDD, even change the password. If you have a spare HDD handy, you could even use it as a swap drive to allow you to repartition your original HDD with a 'recovery partition' and then put your password recovery information on that. That way with windows login - boot to command prompt, you could swap to that logical drive and have your password recovery disc in the same physical location as your hard disc. (My problem is that when I happen to forget a password, I have already long forgotten where I placed the recovery disc. This workaround solved it for me.).
Hi, I was hoping someone could help me. I had to use Password Changer on a computer and now there is an extra 'Administrator' account that showed up and I can't get rid of it. The original account that was on it was the only account and was the admin account. Now there are 2 accounts when there should only be one.
I tried to change the new account to a Guest account from the original account so I could delete it but it wouldn't let me. It did let me change the original account to a Guest account though from the new Admin account.
But I want it the other way around. Is there a way I can change the original to the main main Admin so I can delete the new 'Admin' account? Could someone please tell me or help me find a way to delete/get rid of the extra Admin account? Hi, i have an unusual problem.i bought a new dell laptop few months back.until somedays back i got to knw that the account i am using is nt the administrator account.though it shows that i m the administrator.wen i go to cmd and run as administrator, it prompts for a password,i provide the normal admin password that i use to open my laptop but it fails showing an error that invalid password.what kinda crap is this??help me.to knw if i have some different administrator password by default which i m unaware of. I have used this method and it worked for me 🙂 Download Active@ Password Changer Install this. Run the application and make a Bootable USB drive. It's very easy as this software have wizard based interface for that.
At first go through the instruction manual. Now go to the setup screen of the affected computer and set the 1st boot device to USB. Stick the USB drive to the computer and restart the machine. Once your machine boots through USB follow the instructions on the screen. You will get the details in the user manual of Active@ Password Changer. Just follow it and nJoy 🙂.
Yooo, on my computer i have only an administrator account. And i forgot my password and i thought i was doomed for life, BUT I WASN’T. I kept turning my compuer on and off which started messing with it. So it said to run a program to help it run fine again because it said there was a 'computer problem'. It said it would take my computer back to a time when it was running 'safely' again.
So it loaded my computer, once again and my computer no longer had a password and all my files were there. I somehow managed to get the password erased without losing files or paying money! Good luck people. Here is how to do it with just an XP CD. 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. 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. 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. Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.
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.
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. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel. 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). 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. Thanks for this post.
I've forgotten the password on my local account. I understand that Vista, by default, hides and disables the Administrator account for security reasons. When i installed Vista on my PC i didn't reactivate the Admin account, thus only my local account is shown on the log in screen.
I successfully followed the instructions (post 68/79) for gaining access to the Administrator account on vista but when the machine rebooted there was no Admin account. In order for this solution to work, do you need to have activated your Admin account prior to forgetting your password? If so, i'm buggered!
Chris, my problem is that i do not have access to my Administrator account from my log in screen, thus it doesn't matter whether i reset the Admin password or not - i still won't be able to access this account. I only have my local account ('Tom') on the log in screen. As already mentioned, i understand that Vista disables and hides the Admin account for security reasons. Since i installed Vista, i've never reactivated the Admin account so that it shows up when i log in. Michael, yes i've read your article on Trinity Rescue but i can't see anything in there that can help me.
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Forgive me if the answer is there somewhere? Stuart (post 79) seems to of have encountered the same problem as me. He seems to suggest putting my local username ('Tom') in place of 'Administrator' within the instructions he makes reference to. I tried this and it doesn't work. Any ideas, Michael? Thanks in advance.
What worked easiest (after 4 hours of trying different things, including burning password restore discs and going into safemode!) was hitting f11 at start up and doing a system restore to an earlier date. I just choose the previous day when the password worked. Then it restarted, I entered the password and it worked. I then went into user accounts and changed my password to a blank. Inotherwords, no password.
I believe it is true that the microsoft updates affected the password. There were three updates installed between yesterday and today when my password didn't work. I'm thankful I kept trying until I saw that suggestion! I have a compaq presario f500, it was given to me, i have gotten pass the admin password, now it ask for username and password, have tryed safe mode, it goes back to the username and password, tried admin, doesn't work, someone help, don't have money to spend right now. On medical leave money is tight. Please help, really need to get into this computer, tring to work from home, my old pc is dead and gone. Need to get medical and financial info.
THANKING YOU ALL IN ADVANCE, DEPERATE,GOD BLESS US ALL. Guys Ultimate Boot Cd worked for me. How I did it on Desktop 1. First change the Boot Order in Boot setup to read from CD Drive or USB Drive (if you have one) 2.
Boot from CD 3. Choose HDDBoot Recovery Offline.NT/XP Wait until asks Uniform whatever.then press enter 4. Choose Edit user Password (#1) 5. Type Name of the User(as displayed on list)Press Enter 6.
Choose Clear Password(type 1 and Enter) 7. Type Name of User again 8. Choose Unlock Passowrd.(type 4 and Enter) 9. A message will appear saying '.about to write.etc' Type y and press enter 11. A message will appear saying '.try again if failed.blah blah.new run' just type n and Press Enter 12.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete to Reboot 13. Disconnet or poweroff CD drive fast It will work!! Hello, i cant use half of the methods on the internet because I cannot download the password recovery programmes without the admin password 🙁 What has happened is that my hard drive broke, and we had to get my laptop fixed, and reset. So when they gave it back, it had my jus my account, wich was admin, and everything was fine. Then, 2 weeks after i got my laptop back. My mums account appeared, and it has the admin privilages. But the password that mum mum uses to get in doesnt work, we have tried every password weve used.
The reason we need it is because i draw alot digitally on photoshop, but to run the programme i need to run it as admin and put the passwird in. 🙁 any help would be much appriciated. Everyone STOP.
The windows vista system restore fixed this problem easy. We took my wife's laptop to computer shop and they said they could only fresh reinstall windows. They said no hope, retrieve your HDD and use a caddy to get your docs etc etc. I said noway.
My wife was feeling pretty low. She had important course paperwork on it and never done a backup ever i found this forum, and as they say the simplest solution is usually the best one so i tried the simplest which was to use system restore. Turn off laptop. Held power button for 5secs basically till it died then restarted and kept hitting the f8 option, on some computers this is F11. After a loading files.i got the recovery menu - no password request i chose system restore - i then got a warning that i have to leave recovery mode, i selected yes. Then it did a little something something then went into system restore, clicked next then got an option of several restore point. I chose 2 months ago, wasnt sure because its my wife's laptop clicked on next afte i selected a date - i got a warning saying i mustn't interupt it, i said ok.
Then it did a few things which took about 5mins, then it went back to recovery mode. I clicked cancel the computer then rebooted. I tried a password that we thought it was - before my wife changed it in a fit of rage. Put it this way, i got taken upstairs to bed for the full monty work over.
You could tell she ws really happy. Thank you for your site. I was updating norton 360 on my PC and after that I couldn't access my admin user account.
I've done some googling re:how to reset the admin user account. I have vista home premium; tried ophcrack, can only ID 2user accounts and not the admin account. TRK and prosoft recovery tool can't open nor download since I need to know the password. The prompt for password was really annoying. I don't have a recovery disc either. So I tried the NT offline pogostick(option 6). After 3 trials, it worked.
It does need a lot of patience to follow the commands though. Just a word of advice for those like me who know very little about PCs, who are trying to reset the admin password. 1-burning the ISO file needs to be done correctly. 2-you've got to know how to boot your PC correctly. I.e for my PC it's the 'esc' key, then press the key for CD. 3- Its worth to read the commands from the walkthrough steps first before attempting to do it.
It's better to have another computer or try print out the commands before you attempt to run the pogostick. Lastly, don't panic. It will work as it did for me, and thank you so much to the person who invented this- if you're reading this, THANK YOU!
In the end, you'll learn a bit more about your PC. I really don't have time to write this, but I know how people who can't access the admin account feel, especially when your thesis is in that account. More lessons to learn. 2008 Dell desktop - Home Vista service Pack 2 - Just followed set up prompts and ended up with account 'Administrator' in my name with password. No problems for two years then read that this is not a good idea, must have and operate from 'standard' account.
Set up standard account and stupidly switched rolls ie StandardAdmin/Adminstandard. Now CANNOT do anything - only standard account appears on Welcome screen - cannot log on as Administrator - cannot access Admin account - cannot make any changes to User accounts - cannot use system restore - cannot download updates which are not done automatically - user account is off and cannot change - safe mode doesn't show admin account - cannot run Registry mechanic disc -cannot uninstall programs etc., etc. All I get are messages for No administration rights or contact administrator - never get asked for admin password - which I know. Have tried every suggestion I have found on various forums - cannot download Tweak UI Powertoy - Regedit/no permission - command prompt doesnt work - the result of typing net user administrator /active:yes and press enter in cmd after C: Windows system32 is the message System error 5 has occurred Access is denied I am not experienced at this - have backed up everything on my external hard drive as I decided my only option was to do a clean reinstall from the disc which came with the computer BUT I Cannot even do that as I don’t have the right permissions!! Is there anything that I can do or have I really lost control of my computer? Folks I have a Vaio laptop, with 64-bit Windows 7, and couldn't remember my password. Fortunately my wife had an unused Windows7 OEM disc lying around.
I used it together with 'sticky fingers' technique to successfully change my password. Getting to the command window after booting up with the RE disc was a little tricky. Select the option for retrieving a previous image. It probably won't find one (mine didn't), but regardless hit cancel and a list of options should appear, including one to open a command window. I blindly followed the directions in the link to the sticky technique (#4), and it worked like a charm.
It's essential to know the relevant drive (as suggested in the directions mine was d:), and to enter the commands accurately - including all spaces, forward-, and back-slashes, etc. Once you have entered these commands, be brave and boot-down. Upon normal re-boot make sure the RE disc is out of the drive. Hitting the shift button 5 times required some faith, but sure enough the command window appeared as promised, and the rest was easy.
BIG THANKS to all who contribute to this website for their expert advice and generosity. My laptop was stolen. Then recovered. I thought it was a great thing but the theif messed it up.when I turn it on I get the dell need the administrative password. I called dell and got the run around then was told it would cost $230 for their help which may or may not help. I tried the F8 and F12 and F2 keys. I don't know what to do.
Is there a way that I can get pass this screen. I read through the emails. But I am a computer novice.not an amazing computer geek. So I am asking for help. I have vista.
My laptop is a inspiron 5 dell. It has more sentamental value than anything else. Can someone walk me through what to do? I am locked out of my PC. Windows 7 MSI all in one. I want to get access without losing my IRA income tax files.They are saved on my C: drive. If I use the F11 tech will my files be saved?
Last night I installed three files to a CD-R disk. My plan for today is to insert CD into MSI PC to test and then it will instruct me to purchase a key that will allow me to reset password. I do not know the cost of the key, it will not give that information until I reach a certain point. Please advise.
Hi my name is anna aho. Recently I changed the password on my fiance's computer and I thought I remembered what it was, but it turned out that I didn't. The disk drive is busted out, as in we can't play dvds. This computer has all of our pictures, music and important things on it.
I'm not sure what to do, we've tried everything including variations of what I thought the password was. He called the company who produced the computer but the number wasn't in service. I have a new laptop, but this is about our files and I really don't want to throw the computer out. I would appreciate your help. I highly recommend offline NT as well.
Was surprised to hear earlier commenter that couldn't find the hard drive. I used it years ago to recover a friend's windows NT desktop. Just this year I needed to reset a windows 2008 on IBM xSeries (enterprise server).
I went looking for Offline NT on the slim hopes it would work (SLES didn't even install cleanly, couldn't find the hard drives). Was very happily surprised somehow offline NT had the right drivers for the IBM x series servers. Recommended (my post here). Hello, I am not having a problem with log-on passwords for any of the users on our home computer. Apparently, I set up an administrative password that is required when downloading updates.
I have a hint and have typed in what I think it should be, but NOTHING works. Our computer is old, we are running Windows Vista. I have not been able to remember this administrative password for years, and I am just now trying to figure out if there is a way to recover it without completely reinstalling.
I am also having problems now with computer and inability to do some updates. I cannot update flashplayer without putting in the admin password. Again, we all know our log-on passwords, our computer is not locked, I am just not able to do updates that require me to log-in the admin password first!
Is there a way to recover this admin password, which is apparently different from my log-on password and my account is the one that is set up as administrator. I can still look at other user accounts and I can set time restrictions on their accounts, but I have to have admin. Password to do other tasks. Can you offer any advise? Hello J Warmack and all readers. I had the same problem with a friends computer who forgot the admin password so could not download or update.
There is a much easier solution than what has been said so far. It all depends on which computer you have so you may need to play about with some keys. On the packardbell computers you need to restart your computer and while windows is loading press and hold down alt and f12. This will take you to a menu where you pick pick the option of putting the computer back to factory settings ( no admin password) but you will loss all your saved files (so back them up to disk if you want them) or the option for factory settings but not deleting files (might still have admin password). To get to this menu on other makes of computer will be with other keys but the same way. One make is holding down f8 while windows loads up.
Hope this helps. I am sure somewhere like PC world can tell you which keys if you tell them what computer you have. Hello, Michael, I would really appreciate it if you helped me here. We have a Windows Vista (Home Basic) and recently, I accidentally switched the admin and user accounts around (thinking it would help me download a product, which didn't work), and now I can't switch back. I really need to recover or reset the admin password, but I can't download anything to help me reset it (because it asks for the ADMIN password). And re-installing Windows is out of the question.
Is there any way I could get that password so I can switch the accounts back? Thank you in advance, and please reply as soon as possible, I could really use your assistance. Hello Micheal, I've just come across this article, but I don't know which step to use. I have an HP Touchsmart Notebook and an Aspire One d257-13473. I used them while I was in college and stored them away when I finished. I came across them while digging through junk.
I charged them, so I could look at what pictures, and etc that were stored on them. But I totally forgot the log-in passwords to both of them. I never made a back up cd/USB nor back up anything. I need ur help. I don't want to reset the whole computer either.
PLEASE HELP!!