Forgotten password on old laptop. Help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 08:11:22 pm
content: I know this probably sounds a bit dodgy but......I have an old Compaq c700 that is running windows 7 that has been in my kitchen cupboard for 3 or 4 years-ish! I found it again this evening and thought I would give it a whirl. It's password locked and we can't for the life of us remember the password. The Mrs and I are about demented with it!I tried to reset it but it is saying I need to connect a floppy disk or removable drive to do this! It was built up for my Mrs by one of her geek friends a few years ago and I ended up using it as a gaming laptop but it got a virus so I bought a new machine as it was also getting older and the virus was the perfect excuse for me to get a new machine. The guy who built it said it was a good machine and had been "tweeked" a "little" inside. I have no reason to doubt him. Is there a way around this floppy disk or removable drive thing as I have neither.Thanks

author: neo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 08:33:23 pm
content: If i were you i would try and find that "geek friend"Other than that i have no clue.

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 08:38:27 pm
content: You're going to create another bootable USB (or DVD) with some password editing tool on it.https://www.lifewire.com/free-windows-password-recovery-tools-2626179I feel like the last time I faced this, I used an ubuntu LiveCD to get what I needed off the PC, but I suspect you'll find a workable answer in the above article.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 08:57:22 pm
content: Honestly if I was faced with this, I would grab what I needed off the machine, and just reinstall Windows. I find it's a good policy to just reinstall windows on occasion anyways.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 09:59:32 pm
content: First you need to confirm if it's a Windows 7 password, bios password, hard drive password, some weird OEM ID asset password or a comboIf it's a Windows 7 password you may find what you need on Youtube if an internet search doesn't bring resultsIf it's a bios or hard drive password... ouch!

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 10:45:34 pm
content: Thanks for the help guys. I'll give those suggestions a try tomorrow.The guy who built it is now up in the big geek graveyard in the sky unfortunately. A very nice guy who was very clever with computers.

author: neo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2018, 10:52:57 pm
content: Quote from: Terry01 on February 15, 2018, 10:45:34 pmThe brightest candles always burn the quickest.

author: hermit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 12:15:14 am
content: If it had a virus then wiping it would be best anyhow. If it sat that long unused I doubt there is anything of importance on it to save.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 12:44:17 am
content: Why the hell is a Windows 7 machine wanting a floppy disk?QuoteIf it's a BIOS password...just pull the pin.Or the battery if you have to (if it's soldered you'll have to cut it).

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 12:46:28 am
content: Quote from: hermit on February 16, 2018, 12:15:14 amJust a couple of hundred Bitcoins mined for 5 quid in electricity at the time...

author: theleakydiode
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 03:55:40 am
content: Download and burn hirensbootcd to a flash drive and use the "Offline NT/2000/XP/Vista/7 Password Changer", find step by step instructions on youtube.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 04:10:50 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on February 16, 2018, 12:44:17 amNot this guy !We scored a Toshiba A200 with a fingerprint reader.......locked out, as tight as a drum !It's previous owner had given up on it as it wouldn't recognize his fingerprint.Bit of time on the 'net found these A200's could/would do this and it was only a matter of when !Under the RAM cover and under the RAM modules are a pair of BIOS RESET pads that when bridged (RAM out) upon power ON would reset the BIOS and you were 'in like Flynn' !Straight into BIOS was the next move and disable the bloody fingerprint reader and it's been good for years.OP, do some homework and find the BIOS reset procedure for this MOBO and you should be good to go !

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 07:41:20 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on February 16, 2018, 12:44:17 amWindows 7 has an interesting "password reset disk"It's, from what I gather, just a physical key that allows you to reset your password if you forget it.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 02:47:04 pm
content: Or just nuke it and do a fresh install, either with a DVD or a bootable USB pen.Or grab one of the many Windows PE images, boot to that, create a new Admin account and its done, or boot with a dvd/pen with install media, repair, open a prompt and create a new Admin account.Win is SOOOO easy to bypass, Win10 with Hello and whatnot?PE boot, new Admin account, done, easy.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 02:49:39 pm
content: Nobody in their right mind relies on anything near the NT kernel for real security.Anything secure is done using the Unix family.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 07:50:47 pm
content: Ok i am in!I followed one of the Youtube videos and it worked no problem! I have to sort the virus now and get it cleaned up and working!My Mrs owned up to "downloading" one of the things "a guy at work" told her to do to get free music! I have found a bittorrent so far that was really slowing it down. I'm by no means a whizz! I do know how to clean it up and have it run faster but that's as far as my software knowledge goes! I'll dodge away with it and no doubt be on here again asking how do I do this or that or whatever till you guys get fed up with me asking silly questionsThank you everyone for the help so far! Much appreciated!!

author: theleakydiode
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 08:12:02 pm
content: Which method did you use?

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 08:22:09 pm
content: Windows 7 password I think. I forced a shutdown by pressing and holding the power button while it was shutting down. I then started windows using "start up repair" then changed a couple of settings and it was fairly straight forward. Just followed the YouTube video and it's done.Easy!Well easy now I know how!

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 08:57:05 pm
content: Basically it is:- start with a recovery or install disk and get to a cmd prompt.- copy cmd.exe over sethc.exe in windows\system32 (copy sethc.exe to sethc.bak first if you want to reverse)- start windows normally, and on the login screen activate High Contrast mode either by tapping shift 5 times or clicking the icon.- voila, there is your admin cmd prompt. usenet user <username> <new password>to set a new password.- fix the sethc.exe if you feel like it.- enjoy

author: theleakydiode
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 09:17:25 pm
content: How does shit like this get past quality control? Think MS knew about it at launch?

author: CNe7532294
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 09:48:15 pm
content: Unless you encrypted your HDD or SSD (most people even some businesses don't even do this!) you can just simply swap your drive to another computer via USB or SATA slave and recover your files and programs. I scared my boss at a small business when I could easily recover patient files/test results no problem. As for booting without a password someone mentioned that up above.

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 10:24:26 pm
content: Quote from: theleakydiode on February 16, 2018, 09:17:25 pmIf your drive isn't encrypted and you spot an attacker physical control over the machine, it's game over for any OS...This isn't (just) a Windows thing.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 10:47:02 pm
content: It was pretty easy to follow and worked 1st time no problems.Everything on the machine must be well out of date as it keeps saying "certificates are out of date" or "not trusted" for things like google and sites that are clearly ok.I haven't worked out how to get around this yet but I will. I've just been making an "exception" and it's been working fine. I'm well chuffed it's going again!

author: RayRay
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 11:08:02 pm
content: That is likely due to improper date/time settings!Make sure they're set correctly.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 11:09:24 pm
content: Quote from: RayRay on February 16, 2018, 11:08:02 pmYep,chrome[insert browser here] is stupid like that...

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 11:12:30 pm
content: Quick-ish Fix -not too geeky- suggestion if you don't want to re-install:and get rid of bossy boots browsersGet Revo Uninstaller and uninstall any unwanted or suspect softwareRevo will also stop any start up processes you feel are slowing things up or logging your activity,you choose which processes (or all or none) and this can be undoneIf that doesn't totally resolve your issues, install a decent freebie or time trial anti-malware program to clean up any nastiesYou will have to research which one, many are invasive dudsor eye candy scareware subscription moneypitsYou can always use Revo again to to uninstall the anti-malware program if it doesn't behave later or did nothing but install adware and slow the computer downYou can also try the above in reverse, anti-malware program first, Revo second,though I prefer to get Revo in first, and get things sorted medieval styleAnyways, you're in now.. good luck with it

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2018, 11:18:20 pm
content: Quote from: RayRay on February 16, 2018, 11:08:02 pmCool, thank you I will check them. I didn't set the date etc again since I got it going again.

author: Feida89
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 11, 2020, 02:33:40 am
content: The login password can be reset or removed if the password can not be recovered back,this is the easiest way.Here is a tutorial on how to crack the password.https://www.windows10passwordreset.com/get-into-locked-computer.htmlIn addition, there are some free software, just click to download them.https://www.filehorse.com/download-cain-and-abel/https://trinityhome.org/trinity_rescue_kit_download/

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2020, 10:24:12 am
content: Wooo, thread necromancy! I'll play...UBCDhttps://www.ultimatebootcd.com/