I Know I Am Driving Everyone Mad

Money_Mad_3

Sorry, Guys,

this will be the last time I will try and pick everyones brains.

As you may have read daughter forgot password, adament she says has given me the right one......

Just advice needed regarding Windows Vista Home Basic.

I have tried downloading cd's to crack the password but have been advised to take it into the shop (most probably cost a fortune) and I have been told that all work will be lost anyway (not that much on just two assignments but can do again)

I am thinking of re installing windows vista and the drivers, got all the cd's when purchased the Dell Machine (luckily dell give you the software). But need to know that when I have reinstall all the software will the password be erased, or am I still going to have the problem, bit worried that I could reinstall everything oose whats on machine and still get the message asking for the password to open windows (first password on the computer this is the problem) Does vista basic locks the computer after password has been entered a number of times (tried password every way so hundred of times entered)

Or does all passwords and everything erased when reinstalling. I know Vista is completely different to xp

Has anyone had this problem and does anyone know how vista actually works regarding the reinstalling, and passwords

This is my last attempt love to hear from you all before I reinstall.
thank you:j

mdbarber

If you boot from the vista cd and on the install to drive page, advanced there will be an option to format the c: drive, this will remove all traces of previous install including any passwords.
Later on it will then ask you to enter a "New" password, try to remember this one

Browntoa

this paid for option will work

http://www.password-reset.com/index.php

Belnahua

She didn't have the 'num lock' on went setting the password did she? So some of the letters would be numbers?

tradetime

have been advised to take it into the shop (most probably cost a fortune) and I have been told that all work will be lost anyway (not that much on just two assignments but can do again)

If they're method of solving the problem results in you losing all your data, then I would suggest they are simply going to re-install the OS, there is absolutely no reason to pay a lot of money for that, you can do that yourself for free.
If the password is a power on password, that is one that is entered before windows is loaded, was setup in the bios, then a reinstallation of the OS shouldn't solve your problem. Though if I recall correctly power on passwords do have a set number of attempts before they lock the machine, so given you have tried umpteen times is likely not that.
An OS password should be deleted on re-install, part of the process of installation will invite you to setup a new password.

If you post your question here you will likely get advice from a lot of Vista users, the forum, like this one is free to register, don't be put off by the fact that it is a security forum simply post in "Software and Services" section near the bottom of the page, they're very helpful.

[Deleted User]

This will do it, there's no need to take it anywhere. It will take at most 15 minutes of your time to do it.

amcluesent

>first password on the computer this is the problem<

To be honest, from your description I'm still not 100% clear if you're problem with the BIOS password of the laptop or the Windows login password. If it's the BIOS password, then only the manufacturer can reset this and Dell will insist on proof you're the owner.

A decent repair place (i.e. NOT PC World!) should start be taking the harddisk out the laptop, putting into a USB caddy on their PC and reading off all the user files/documents and burning onto a CD for you. (This assumes you haven't enabled disk encryption, in which case you can pretty much forget about getting anything back without the password).

Once you've got the critical data, and assuming it's not the BIOS password, it's easy enough to reinstall Windows from the recovery CD.

Money_Mad_3

It is the system password the BIOS password so reinstalling will not solve my problem

Money_Mad_3

Have I got that right

[Deleted User]

In that case then you need to take out the battery on the motherboard that holds all the settings and leave it over night, that'll reset the bios and remove the password.

Belnahua

be_alright wrote: »

In that case then you need to take out the battery on the motherboard that holds all the settings and leave it over night, that'll reset the bios and remove the password.

Not always now. Some of them have the BIOS password so secure, that if you forget it, it's a new motherboard and new HDD time!

That's why we have a certain spec of PC for our laptops, the BIOS password cannot be circumnavigated, and it locks out the HDD too!

So, if it is a secure model, and you've forgotten the BIOS password, then it's only fit for bits.