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Forgot my administrator password

14 years ago

I just bought a Dell laptop from an I.U. student. She wiped the laptop clean before giving it to me. A friend of mine was helping me type in the adminintrator log-in name and password. I forgot what the password is and the laptop will not allow me to backtrack to delete the password and start over. It keeps asking for the administrator password which I can't remember. We tried wiping the laptop clean and re-starting with the Windows 7 disk but that won't work either because the program keeps telling us we need to type in the administrator password. Could anyone out there help me either manage to retrieve the password, put in a new password or bypass the "please type your administrator password" to wipe this laptop clean and start over by re-installing the Windows 7?

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Comments (6)

ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
try googling for that info. I personally do not like to give out info which could be used by a non owner to access a pc however if you look it is pretty easy to find. Not saying you are not legit it is just my personal thing not to do on a public forum.
genes
14 years ago
If you do get it sorted out, get a little book for diff passwords used for admin and various sites..and tuck it away
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My suggestion would be to remove the harddrive from the old computer and either buy an enclosure (pretty cheap on EBay and plug the enclosure into a USB port and access the files that way (it will show up as another drive much the same as a thumbdrive does) or, if you have another desktop, install the old HD in the new computer and access it that way...
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your password is good for max 130 days, 4 months plus. you can run the net user mike to see password time left C:\Documents and Settings\mike>net user mike User name mike Full Name Comment Official Bean Counter User's comment Country code 000 (System Default) Account active Yes Account expires Never Password last set 8/8/2006 6:12 PM Password expires Never Password changeable 8/8/2006 6:12 PM Password required Yes User may change password Yes Workstations allowed All Logon script User profile Home directory Last logon 4/12/2007 11:18 AM Logon hours allowed All Local Group Memberships *Administrators Global Group memberships *None The command completed successfully. ...typically at start up is the time it will ask you to change the password when the counter had reached 130 days or if downcounts , Zero .. you can from a cmd window set a new password probably running net user give you a list of user names registered; C:\Documents and Settings\mike>net user User accounts for \\TOSLAPTOP ------------------------------------------------------------------ Administrator ASPNET Guest HelpAssistant mike SUPPORT_388945a0 The command completed successfully. then if you run the user name followed by an asteric it will prompt you for a new password or just type in the password with the same old one., might reset your counter. C:\Documents and Settings\mike>net user mike * Type a password for the user: Retype the password to confirm: The command completed successfully.
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If you didn't set an administrator password, it's possible there isn't one. Try booting into safe mode and if the administrator account shows up, select it. I think if there's no password, it will go right in without needing it. That's the way XP works, anyway.
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DA_Mccoy
14 years ago
Echoing RC, it is historically been the position here not to assist with password or security work-arounds. Your need and request may be truly legitimate and far from malicious. However, the Internet is cloaked in a veil of anonymity which clouds the ability to ascertain fact from fiction.

DA
minnie_tx
14 years ago
Here is a nice pasword keeper. you can download to your computer print whatever

Here is a link that might be useful: My ParenTime's Printable Checklists : Internet Checklists and Charts
Janey - formerly jane2
13 years ago
Minnie;
Thank you very much for that neat checklist.
I already have a scrap of paper which lists my e-mail accounts and passwords, but it is hand-written and getting messier as I add more groups to it.
Downloading a password keeper to the computer would make it accessible to others wouldn't it? Accessible to hackers.
Am I wrong? (Or do you just mean download it in order to get it printed?)
Second question: When the site asks if I want it to remember my password ... it that really safe? I always say no because I figure the more places my passwords exist, the less secure they are.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
When that happens it is saved into your browser and yes it can be accessed by anyone with access to the pc.
I have a very nice notebook with plastic cover that is strictly for login details including passwords. You should have some thing other than a scrap of papers. Over time as you sign up for various sites you have a pile of papers.
I don't put passwords in any program and don't use a password keeper. I have a copy saved on a flash drive, the notebook that is in a locked location. If someone makes it into my house, kills me and my husband, manages to steal my computers and also finds and steals the notebook too they can have it!
I tape the router and wifi information on the bottom of the router.

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