Locked Password on Administrator Account

needhelpcertifyme

Hi All

long time lurker and need help from the renowned techie guys.

I have locked the password on my Administrator Account. I tried to change it and it kept saying the original password was not being accepted. So I logged out and when I tried to log in, it HAD changed my password to another password, but every password that I have tried old and new will not let me in.

Now, I have a Dell Studio, recently bought and it doesn't have a CD/DVD drive.

Can I link my old laptop to my new laptop with USB cable and run a software password unlock program?

Have seen some things about using USB to reset password, but none of my USB sticks will format to DOS.

Can anyone help a very frustrated user? I don't want to wipe the new laptop as I have photos on there, not saved anywhere else.

Thank you!

If I need to buy a USB stick, haven't got monies or time to wait for CD/DVD drive, what one should I buy, that will allow DOS to be formatted to it.

and no, don't know anyone with same laptop locally that I could borrow CD/DVD drive or has a portable one that can be linked by USB.

mumslave

Try pressing F8 on boot up and select load from last good known configuration. That should get you in, it did with me last year, but I cant remember how I then changed the password itself. I am not sure if its the administrator password I have in mind...or for your HD, in which case that wont work lol.

Taffybiker

You could try variations on a theme. For example, was the CAPS LOCK or NUM LOCK on when you entered the password?

fwor

The password editor here can be installed on a USB pendrive. Although it is described as being for Windows NT, IIRC it should work with Vista and Win 7. I've personally used it ok on XP.

Getting the photos off should not be a problem either - you should be able to run Ubuntu as a LiveCD on your other PC and create a bootable USB copy on your pendrive. Boot the inaccessible laptop from that and copy your data onto the pendrive.

needhelpcertifyme

thanks mumslave and Taffybiker. It is HDD password, and Administrator is the only account on the laptop, so cannot get in through another account.

Caplocks and Numlock were definitely not on, but did try just in case.

Taffybiker

Ooer! I thought you meant a Windows Password - now I'm thinking you have safeboot or something similar installed? Or is it a BIOS password?

scottishf

You could boot into safemode and try this

needhelpcertifyme

I can't get past the logon screen in Safemode. Tried that. It is the HDD password.

scottishf

Was this originally set with a HDD password on it when you got it ??

needhelpcertifyme

no scottishf - I put a password on my account, not realising I was the flipping Administrator. When I finally get into this laptop am going to create a new account for me and leave Administrator alone.

But when I looked at the drives in F2 setup, it had greyed out HDD password.

needhelpcertifyme

am going to try fwor's suggestion, after have made dinner. Thank you everyone for your prompt replies and assistance.