Win7 Admin Password Reset

Terry98

I have a Dell 5040 running Win7 64bit and need to reset a forgotten Admin password.

I have had no joy with couple of the progs I have found via Google.The password was to strong for Ophcrack.

After creating a disc with Offline NT Password & Registry Editor it could not find any NTFS system files in c drive even though the Windows files are shown in C/Windows! I have also had a similar problem trying this
http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-Your-Windows-7-Password-Without-a-Password-Reset-Disk-or-Windows-CD......

I cannot find the Windows folder in Ubuntu even though I can see it when I am logged on as a standard user in Win7.

All my data is backed up so I could do a factory reset but to do this I would need to uninstal Truecrypt and I need the admin password to do that.

NiftyDigits

If your data is already safe, then run a clean install from Boot with a Windows 7 disc. Unless you are planning to sell the laptop on at some point, you don't need the Factory Restore partition anyway, in the case that you should lose it.

Terry98

NiftyDigits wrote: »

If your data is already safe, then run a clean install from Boot with a Windows 7 disc. Unless you are planning to sell the laptop on at some point, you don't need the Factory Restore partition anyway, in the case that you should lose it.

Thanks. I am not sure if I have a Windows 7 disc but if I have that would certainly sort out the problem.

NiftyDigits

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1-U ISO (Refresh) 64bit

Johnmcl7

You don't need to clean install Win7, there's a clever trick using a Windows 7 or 8 install disk to swap the sticky keys executable for a command prompt allowing you to reset the password from the login screen:

http://4sysops.com/archives/forgot-the-administrator-password-the-sticky-keys-trick/

You boot the CD, choose the recovery options and then open the command prompt which you use to swap the executables. If your drive isn't supported natively then you will get the option to load drivers manually.

John

NiftyDigits

Indeed useful. I'll try it if I ever lock myself out. Awaiting feedback from the OP.

Terry98

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

You don't need to clean install Win7, there's a clever trick using a Windows 7 or 8 install disk to swap the sticky keys executable for a command prompt allowing you to reset the password from the login screen:

http://4sysops.com/archives/forgot-the-administrator-password-the-sticky-keys-trick/

You boot the CD, choose the recovery options and then open the command prompt which you use to swap the executables. If your drive isn't supported natively then you will get the option to load drivers manually.

John

Thanks but I will find it easier to reinstall Win7.

One of the progs I tried used something similar to yours but it could not find the Windows files even though I know they are on the C drive.

The reason I got into this mess was because I read somewhere that you should password protect the Administrator Account and use a standard account on a day to day basis. I set it up ok but all my files are now in the Admin account together with Keepass including my new admin password! Luckily everything else is backed up.

NiftyDigits

Terry98 wrote: »

Thanks but I will find it easier to reinstall Win7.

One of the progs I tried used something similar to yours but it could not find the Windows files even though I know they are on the C drive.

The reason I got into this mess was because I read somewhere that you should password protect the Administrator Account and use a standard account on a day to day basis. I set it up ok but all my files are now in the Admin account together with Keepass including my new admin password! Luckily everything else is backed up.

Seems like a five minutes job with the instruction given above.

But if you really want to run a clean install...

Sending you a PM.

Johnmcl7

Terry98 wrote: »

Thanks but I will find it easier to reinstall Win7.

One of the progs I tried used something similar to yours but it could not find the Windows files even though I know they are on the C drive.

The reason I got into this mess was because I read somewhere that you should password protect the Administrator Account and use a standard account on a day to day basis. I set it up ok but all my files are now in the Admin account together with Keepass including my new admin password! Luckily everything else is backed up.

It's far easier to use the steps above, if you can't see the drive from the recovery mode you won't be able to see it either when trying to install Windows.

John

Johnmcl7

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Indeed useful. I'll try it if I ever lock myself out. Awaiting feedback from the OP.

It's definitely a handy one to have particularly as it works with a standard Windows install disk. I came across it recently as I was trying to reset the password on a machine with a SAS drive which none of the usual tools supported so tried the one above and was surprised to find the W7 disc found the drive without issue and even more surprised when the command prompt came up at the login box just fine.

John

Terry98

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

It's far easier to use the steps above, if you can't see the drive from the recovery mode you won't be able to see it either when trying to install Windows.

John

When I first looked at your link I thought it was another variant on what I had already used.

I am a little confused by this

Boot from Windows PE or Windows RE and access the command prompt.

Find the drive letter of the partition where Windows is installed. In Vista and Windows XP, it is usually C:, in Windows 7, it is in most cases because the first partition contains Startup Repair. To find the drive letter, type C: (or , respectively) and search for the Windows folder. Note that Windows PE (RE) usually resides on X:.

IS PE/RE on the Win7 disc and do you access the command prompt from the repair option?