Can't log onto Windows without admin password :(

[Deleted User]

Donnie wrote: »

Normally, if you just click on Administrator it should log on automatically without asking for a password if none has been set.
So there should be no need to enter anything other than clicking on Administrator.

If by some anomaly a password has been set, you can bypass it by using this method.

No need to reinstall Windows.

Assuming the profiles were local, rather than roaming.

OP, to be honest even if you can restore access to an account, if the computer has been part of a well managed network then it will have been configured with all kind of restrictions, which if your Aunty isn't very computer savvy is going to cause a lot of problems down the line.

Your best bet to maintain your sanity would be to get a fresh installation of Windows on the machine and start from there. If you can talk your Aunt through that part, then you could Remote Desktop into the machine to install software for her.

Jaffa.

anewhope wrote: »

Assuming the profiles were local, rather than roaming.

OP, to be honest even if you can restore access to an account, if the computer has been part of a well managed network then it will have been configured with all kind of restrictions, which if your Aunty isn't very computer savvy is going to cause a lot of problems down the line.

Your best bet to maintain your sanity would be to get a fresh installation of Windows on the machine and start from there. If you can talk your Aunt through that part, then you could Remote Desktop into the machine to install software for her.

Yup, totally agree.

david39

There is often a default password set by the installation software for the administrator password and, if this has not been changed by the user, it is usually

admin

OR

administrator

it would be worth trying these.

Have looked on my computer and the password is admin so it stands a chance of being correct on yours.

If you can get into the system somehow, download Belarc Advisor (free, just Google it) and run it and it will give you all the passwords in brackets alongside the list of registered users of the computer, plus, usefully, the licence numbers of the software installed on the computer.

If the OP has not been issued with a start-up CD then it is unlikely he will have been given a Windows Installation Disc, so would not be able to re-install Windows.

marleyboy

Could we all not be encouraging other people with stolen laptops and PC's the Art of cracking them here (no reference to the OP)

[Deleted User]

marleyboy wrote: »

Could we all not be encouraging other people with stolen laptops and PC's the Art of cracking them here (no reference to the OP)

Because of course anyone who receives a computer for free must have stolen it :rolleyes:.

Have you ever approached either your own company, or another one to take hardware off their hands that more than likely (well, pre WEEE directives anyway) would have ended up in a skip?

While to me it's a little lax on security to let them go without having their hard drives wiped or removed, it does happen frequently.

marleyboy

anewhope wrote: »

Because of course anyone who receives a computer for free must have stolen it :rolleyes:.

Not really no, simply because anyone who has stolen a computer (ergo got it for free), can now rid it of any security .:rolleyes:

Computers are often given away, but normally the original owner will tell the person the password or disable it prior (common sense).

John_Gray

Donnie wrote: »

It's already linked to in post #5.

Wouldn't it have been better if the link had been described immediately-meaningfully (like mine was!)? :beer:

Donnie

John_Gray wrote: »

Wouldn't it have been better if the link had been described immediately-meaningfully (like mine was!)? :beer:

No, which is mine has a Thanks and yours hasn't.

You just didn't take the time to check.

It's the thought that counts anyway. :beer:

John_Gray

Donnie wrote: »

No, which is mine has a Thanks and yours hasn't.

Gosh, wow!

Donnie wrote: »

You just didn't take the time to check.

My point was that I wouldn't have made my post if yours had been more explicit!

However, Miss Ratty doesn't seem to have responded to either of our suggestions, nor to the ophcrack one. Maybe she is still locked out?

gaming_guy

marleyboy wrote: »

Not really no, simply because anyone who has stolen a computer (ergo got it for free), can now rid it of any security .:rolleyes:

no machine is safe if you have physical access to the machine