What operating system? In most cases, it should be possible. I'm hesitant to give specific step by step instructions, but it should be relatively easy to find a site that will let you create a Linux boot CD with some utilities to reset the password.

If she set a password for the BIOS so that it's required to start the boot process, that can probably be reset using a jumper on the motherboard, but that process will vary from PC to PC.

They may want to create a password for the administrator account and give their granddaughter a more limited account.

The parents should also take this opportunity to become familiar with computers. They may learn something of value while making sure that the daughter doesn't get to places on the internet that are not appropriate.

there are ways to go about this but as stated the procedure is not one I feel comfortable sharing on an open forum that does not allow a private message. If you google lost admin password you will find some information.Put that child on a very limited account and lock down that admin with a super strong password that is NOT shared with the child!

I hate passwords, but do understand the need for them. If I were her I would call the company that built it and ask tech support.

I for one would never assist anyone in circumventing a password regardless of the alleged circumstances.

Maime,

I can understand your thought as to contacting the manufacturer. However though I have never done it, I am quite sure that a caller would have to jump through numerous hoops to get assistance to void a password; if any assistance at all. There would be a tremendous amount of vicarious liability under taken by the company in doing so. The basic concern would be, is the caller the legal/official owner of the system? I can hear them now, "Just reformat".

DA

just search "pogostick ntpasswd"

It's windows 7, maybe they can take it back where they got it and they'll help out. The parents were not real crazy about her having the thing to start with, her grandparents thought different.

I had not thought of others seeking to get it for their own personal use. I have always had good results with tech support, learned most of my software with their help even though they weren't suppose to help with that. I bought 3 families in our family computers because they still had small children in their house holds. I feel it is very important for the small ones to learn as young as they can. I told the parents to put the PC in a room used by all, with the monitor so that parents passing can see what is on it.

have to say this is one of those occasions that many people in the help community bang their heads and bite their tongues not to say Do you still have the box the computer came in? well take it back you do not deserve to have one (I am being nice that is not really the terminology that is used)

why why why give a child a computer and expect them to set it up themselves and not even watch them to make sure they are doing it right or at the very least have someone there to teach them what to do. Seriously it will be so infected in mere days they might as well just put it back in the box!
If the kid can not even be bothered to remember something as important as the admin password and lose the slip of paper it was written on what on earth makes them think they will be bothered to do anything to protect the pc or themselves?

do you give a child the keys to a car and say oh I am too busy to help you learn how to drive just figure it out!

patches If you will send me an email I will tell you how
to clear your password. Some forums allow this information
to be given and some don't. I don't always help in this
matter.
Email me if you want this information and put in the
subject line password for Patches.
cgrammer0203@aol.com

RC,

If it makes you feel better I had thoughts along the same line as yours. I had to keep them to myself though as mine were a lot more flamboyant then yours.

In this case I would pull the power cord, put a vase of dry flowers on top of it, and tell her to enjoy her new table.

DA

Wow ravencajun, you feeling better today after your needless rant? For a person who is usually so helpful I really feel you failed miserably by selecting this particular thread to throw your tantrum.

If you read Patches post he/she is just the messenger, pointless to shoot him/her

The grandparents wisely thought the child should have a computer despite the parents' lack of computer skills. We have no knowledge of the control exercised over this child by the parents, she may be the safest surfer in town once she gets online and perhaps the parents start to get involved.

The child is a child and this might be a great wake up call for her. A mistake that keeps her off the computer is probably far better than being banned for a time by the parents, hopefully she will learn a valuable lesson.

The only people who do not make mistakes are those who do nothing.

Patches, take Cboy up on his/her offer and send the email so you can get the fix and get the young lady back up and running. You might consider giving the girl this forum address so she can perhaps seek help is she so desires.

Patches don't let anyone upset you. The loosing of the
sign-on password has been a common problem for many people.
It's easy to change if you have forgotten it.
Their are other places to put a password that are not so
easy to change.

From my perspective it is not the lost password at issue. That's just something that happened. What drew my attention is the open defiance and disrespect shown. If the youngster can't even initially comply with a simple direction regarding a password how can she be trusted on the Web. I say as a parent make your point firm and do it now. It is much easier to extend the rope of privilege out than to reel it in.

Thread after thread will appear here asking how to filter or block children's access to certain sites or categories of sites. We get threads regularly asking how parents can determine what sites their children are viewing. The forum then responds with application suggestions, parenting techniques regarding computers, and some heart-felt advice.

Trust is not automatically given it is earned. Please remember as good as the Internet is it has it's dark side and, it is very dark.

DA

I don't think the computer was a mistake, she will eventually learn but she will not learn if she doesn't have one. The bad things are always brought to the attention of the public, but never the good things we find everyday we use it.

sorry you felt it was a tantrum, but it is a subject that MUST be addressed I was in no way shooting the messenger but making a point that if a gift of a computer is given then it should be done so with accompanying instruction and aid in setting it up properly and guidance on how to use it. They are invaluable tools when used properly.
When given to children with no instruction or guidance they will encounter these problems or become infected then they will in turn spread infection then the help forums end up trying to help them or they have to spend lots of money to take them into a shop to have them fixed. I simply do not believe it is the correct thing to do, if time was taken and guidance given instead of simply handing over this kind of powerful tool with no aid it would greatly benefit not only the one receiving it but others as well. Simply giving a beginners book with the computer and having them complete it prior to use would be easy and very helpful if direct aid was not an option.
If we do not share that knowledge as well as our knowledge to help then we are not doing anyone justice. Prevention is the key. Knowledge is the answer.

Yup, point taken RC and as DA notes we have had these threads here in the past and will continue to get them seeking guidance for children. It is tough for many parents who do not feel the need to join the electronic frontier but also allow the children access.

DA has the answer according to some of his posts here but he is in the minority it seems these days. He can and does control his childrens' access to the Wide World. He is my kind of Dad. Many parents today seem to feel the need to be a friend rather than a parent and abdicate their responsibilities and parental control.

In the case of the young lady in the initial post we have no idea of the parents attitude towards technology nor are we aware of how close the grand parents might be to offer encouragement and tutoring.

RC wrote:_ Prevention is the key. Knowledge is the answer.

Wouldn't it be great if we could just instill those 8 words in the minds of all computer users?

Thanks for the response RC, my intent was not to ruffle your feathers but I felt in this case it was perhaps a little strong compared to your usual very helpful guidance and encouragement.

no problem I understood where you were coming from completely. I do hate to take a stance at times that may bring some raised eyebrows and frowns to me but if it helps save even one person from having to go down that dreaded road we all know about... fix my pc...then I can take it LOL. Maybe I need to work on my tact in my old age!

I had to learn those 8 words my self, we all do, some easier or rather less painful than others.

I cannot say under what circumstances or why due to an employment confidentiality agreement, but I weekly see too many instances of young people age 16 to majority which were/are victims of parental neglect.

I am not speaking of physical, environmental or mental abuse. I am speaking of neglect. Neglect where the parents couldn't care or wouldn't care as to the conduct, activity, and development of their offspring. Besides the lack of guidance the neglect contributes to the development of a cavalier attitude by the youth. The attitude over time will manifest itself into a demeanor which is rebellious, counter productive to society, and difficult to modify.

Youths develop their own opinions and test boundaries as they mature. This is normal and to be expected. Adults (read parents and/or guardians here) are expected to be there as a superiority figure and guidance.

When maturing a youth expects and wants limitations as there is still a sense of security in having them. There is also a feeling of accomplishment when complying with directives. Unfortunately too often adults want to be their friends, don't care, or are just too " busy". What's even worse is when the apathy rises to a level where the adult is excusatory for the youths.

The socialist precept of "It takes a village....." is in error. It takes a parent/guardian.

Owbist,

Thank you for the kind words.

FYI: All my children are in their thirties. They were all scholar athletes in high school and members of "Who's Who in High School America". They all graduated from college and have careers. I never had to bail them out of jail or take them to a drug clinic. It wasn't easy, but who said it would be. They are now all married, and the girls got the boyfriend, marriage, child, in the right order. Three lovely and adorable grandchildren. The fruits of focused parenting have been rewarded and I consider myself the luckiest man in the world.

DA

I am 72 years old and never had any children but I rather suspect that I would be quite embarrassed if I had a 12 year old granddaughter who knew less about hacking a password than I did.

Hi Albert, I am 72 and wish I had NEVER had children. LOL

You might want to go to Corrines post for New Computer setup. BC.