Password + locked PC

GT60

Hi
A relation has passed away and her pc has the family history on it and other important files but the pc has a pass word on it and No one knows it.

How can the Pc be accessed without losing the stored files / memory?

Thanks

matttye

Try one of the password reset suggestions on here:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000172.htm

Don't do anything that suggests a format as that erases everything.

frugal_mike

You can also try booting the machine with a Linux cd (knoppix or ububtu for example), and mounting the hard disk with that. The files should be accessible unless the drive was encrypted.

Sparhawke

I will assume you are talking about XP since you didn't give any idea of the operating system but try this:

While in the login window hold down Ctrl+Alt+Del two times in sequence.

Type in administrator for the user name and leave the password blank. Press login when done

You could also try putting another hard disk in the computer and using that to boot from, and then mooching around the original hard disk.

esuhl

If it's Windows XP, you could use a BartPE boot disk to reset the password:
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7242032_reset-xp-password-bartpe.html

Or try this -- which supposedly works for Windows versions up to 7.
http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

GT60

Thanks everyone not sure what OS it is as yet trying to get hold of the relative

Sparhawke

Well getting the administrator log-on will not work if you have windows 7 anyway, there will be different methods but try it and see

S0litaire

I've used NTpasswd a few times (used with a recovery disk) to recover users password. It can take a while but it's easy to use.