Locked out of computer! Now what?

Fran

I was in the middle of doing some printing and switched user. However a MS Windows message has just come up saying the computer has been locked & I need a password! The printing has gone wrong but is still doing something but very black.

Any ideas? I don't know what password it wants, can't remember my original one when got computer.

heatherw_01

Is there definetly a password set? Try not entering one.

Browntoa

I take it you have no Admin password

kestra

try turning it off and on again. if you dont know your original password from when you got the pc thats the best bet and hope it all reappears fine

scottishf

maybe a virus?

intel

scottishf wrote:

maybe a virus?

Nooo.. its an XP setting Log Off one account Password entrance on the other
there is away of logging on one account to crack another account..

I cant remeber the link, im off a hunting

Browntoa

some recovery tools here

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

this one is best (a small fee for proity service, free if yo wait)

http://www.loginrecovery.com

This site provides a tool to recover lost Windows XP passwords. It works for administrator and user accounts, it doesn't change the password just tells you the old one. It works with encrypted files (EFS) and password hashes. It even works if no passwords at all are known for the machine (as long as you have another computer with internet access to view this website with).

Author claims it also works with Windows NT and Windows Server 2003 and Windows Longhorn, but the BEST thing about it is the fact that it won't reset your passwords, but simply reveal them for you to remember and then use.

Give it a try. The author would like to receive feedback. There is a free service as well as a priority service that will retrieve your passwords within minutes. The fee for the priority service is very cheap, and is really just to cover server costs.

Note: You'll need a blank floppy to run the process.

Update: Author now offers the same tool as a CD image for those of you who do not have a floppy in their computer.

Usage, instructions and additional information can be found at

http://www.loginrecovery.com

intel

Try this in any account..

Bypass The Windows XP Log On Screen
To make logon an unattended process:

Click [Start] [Run] and type
control userpasswords2
Click [OK]
The [User Accounts] Property Sheet displays.
On [Users] tab, clear the [Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer] check box.
Click [Apply].
Enter a user name and password that should be used to logon automatically in the dialog box that appears.
Click [OK].
Go to [Control Panel] [User Accounts] [Change the Way Users Log On and Off].
Uncheck [Use the Welcome Screen] and [Use Fast User Switching]

Toxteth_OGrady

To log on as Administrator and reset the password, follow these steps:
1. Restart the computer. After the Power On Self Test (POST), press the F8 key.
2. On the Windows Advanced Options menu, use the ARROW keys to select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
3. When you are prompted to select the operating system to start, select Microsoft Windows XP edition (where edition is the edition of Windows XP that is installed), and then press ENTER.
4. On the To begin, click your user name screen, click Administrator.
5. Type the administrator password, and then press ENTER.

Note In some cases, the Administrator password may be set to a blank password. In this case, do not type a password before you press ENTER.
6. Click Yes to acknowledge that Windows is running in safe mode.
7. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel).
8. Click User Accounts.
9. Click the user account whose password you want to change.
10. Click Change the Password if you want to keep a password, or click Remove password if you do not want to use a password. If you remove the password, go to step 11.
11. Type the new password for the user, and then click Change Password.
12. Quit the User Accounts tool, and then restart the computer

More help here.

:cool:

TOG

Fran

Thanks for the detailed replies.

My son rebooted it and there was no demand for a password this time.

(I've only just got back on the computer though!)

:smileyhea