Lost Passwords

Timewarper

Does anyone have any nice, easy methods for getting into a computer where the password has been totally forgotten? My brother did this (as in changing the password and then forgetting what he'd changed it to) with my mum's new laptop before I had time to get to her house and set it up/show her how to use it. Toshiba wanted to charge nearly £40 to sort it out and someone else wanted nearly £50. It's not covered by her extended warranty because it's "human error" rather than a proper technical issue.

I've variously had people suggest switching off and back on then pressing F12, switching off and back on and pressing F8 immediately and following the instructions, but nothing happens with them, except with the second one, which switches it all off totally.

Someone suggested a possible Linux (I think) link but I'm really crap at techno stuff and didn't really want to go back to her and tell her I'm a thicko and it's all scary double-Dutch to me.

If anyone can suggest a really simple solution for someone that's worried about busting her mum's laptop by getting something wrong I'd be eternally grateful.

JJ_Egan

Most tech shops will have a password reset disc .

Rabbir1

As its a new laptop you could reboot while holding down the 0 "zero" key. That should get you to the Toshiba recovery program. Then follow the options for a system restore to factory settings. Or download a password recovery cd.

johnmc

For reviews;
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

I used "PCLoginNow" yesterday to crack all passwords on an XP machine. It was pretty much instantaneous.

closed

read the manual?

factory restore is usually achieved by holding down the zero key at boot on toshiba's, or F8 may give some options.

failing that, there are many how to reset password threads on mse, the last poster has provided one possibility.

johnmc

Don't you just love it when they don't come back with an update?