Help with password

wantnomoneyworries

My friend has recently lost her husband and she does not know the password to get onto his laptop.
Does she need to take it to a computer shop or can it be found another way? Though it needs to be said that she is not at all computer literate and though I can help her I am not much better!
Thanks in advance.

Mirno

If you're feeling adventurous then:
http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Will do what you need - basically you use a USB stick and set your computer to load the operating system from there instead of the hard disk. It can disable/reset passwords in the majority of home user setups.

If you don't feel adventurous, then taking it to a repair shop where they will do it for you is an option. Or if you know a nerdy teenage kid, point them at that website and ask if they can do it - offer them a few quid - it'll be cheaper than the repair shop in most cases.

Mirno

closed

if you do a search on mse for ntpasswd, there are lots of similar threads with instructions and software to bypass the password (assuming it's the windows password)

another alternative is to use a bootcd or usb caddy to get the data off, then factory restore it - see the speedup sticky thread.

asking here if you're stuck is cheaper than a shop

InsideInsurance

You need to know the operating system and if its a basic operating system log in as most home users will have or a deeper encryption boot log in as you'd get on a company computer.

Assuming its the typical home user then you can download software like the one linked that will allow you to bypass it.

wantnomoneyworries

Ok bit more info - don't know if it makes a difference? It is a windows vista home basic and it is the first screen when you switch it on (does this mean it the administrator?) I am a bit wary of doing it really in case I do something that gets rid of the photos that are on it, which are really what she wants!
Thanks again for trying to help us

closed

pop the hard disk into a £3 usb caddy, and you can get the photo's off, or use a bootcd costing 10p

RumRat

She may be better off going to a local Computer repair shop and asking for assistance. (Not PC World). They shouldn't charge much to transfer the HD contents and may even reset your password.

closed

it's going to cost more than £3 in a shop

RumRat

closed wrote: »

it's going to cost more than £3 in a shop

Obviously, but, just telling someone with no technical know how to "pop the hard disk into a £3 usb caddy, and you can get the photo's off, or use a bootcd costing 10p", isn't of much use to them.
In this ladies situation, it would be easier for her to either go to a repair shop or find someone with a bit of tech knowledge to do it for her.
Unless of course you want to give them a step by step guide to taking the laptop apart, removing the Hard drive etc. etc. In that case they may thank you for your assistance.;)

closed

A quick google or youtube search would probably produce a step by step guide, and it's a common question on mse covered elsewhere, it's a couple of screws usually, nothing difficult. How to create and use a bootcd is covered in the speedup sticky.

More advice will be forthcoming if required as offered earlier in the thread. At this stage there is no point elaborating further.

henm2

As others have said NT password and registry editor is ideal for this http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/
Download it and install on to a usb stick using the Yumi utility off http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/
Once installed boot the computer from the usb drive
(may have to change the boot order in the bios of the computer) and nt password can then be easily used to wipe the existing administrator password enabling access to the information on the whole laptop/computer.
For screen by screen guide see http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ss/ontpre-screenshot-guide.htm