Lost Administors Logon Password

[LarCrow]

I have been using my Vista Machine for about 2 months and I had been
using a passord for logon. All of a sudden (2 days ago after a
reboot) Vista no longer recognizes that password. I didn't forget
the password or change the case it just doesn't work. I use the same
password in other areas. After spending 2.5 hours online with the
firstline Dell Tech support they finally tell me they can't fix it.
They route me over to another area, Dell On Call, where they say they
have seen similar problems over the last few days which they believe
was caused by a recent MS software update. They would "try" to fix the
problem with no guarantees for a $129 fee. They believe MS will
probably come out with a quick fix to keep others from the problem but
it's too late for those of us who somehow got hit. I declined...

Since I'm faced with having to totally reinstall Vista and all my
application software I thought I'd rather go to the user community to
see if others have seen this and if they knew of a work around or
maybe MS will come up with a solution.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

There are no Microsoft updates that would have
resulted in a problem you are describing. Maybe
you should make sure your Caps Lock key is not on
or try a different keyboard.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­-----


I have been using my Vista Machine for about 2 months and I had been
using a passord for logon. All of a sudden (2 days ago after a
reboot) Vista no longer recognizes that password. I didn't forget
the password or change the case it just doesn't work. I use the same
password in other areas. After spending 2.5 hours online with the
firstline Dell Tech support they finally tell me they can't fix it.
They route me over to another area, Dell On Call, where they say they
have seen similar problems over the last few days which they believe
was caused by a recent MS software update. They would "try" to fix the
problem with no guarantees for a $129 fee. They believe MS will
probably come out with a quick fix to keep others from the problem but
it's too late for those of us who somehow got hit. I declined...

Since I'm faced with having to totally reinstall Vista and all my
application software I thought I'd rather go to the user community to
see if others have seen this and if they knew of a work around or
maybe MS will come up with a solution.

 

[LarCrow]

There are no Microsoft updates that would have
resulted in a problem you are describing. Maybe
you should make sure your Caps Lock key is not on
or try a different keyboard.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­­-----


I have been using my Vista Machine for about 2 months and I had been
using a passord for logon. All of a sudden (2 days ago after a
reboot) Vista no longer recognizes that password. I didn't forget
the password or change the case it just doesn't work. I use the same
password in other areas. After spending 2.5 hours online with the
firstline Dell Tech support they finally tell me they can't fix it.
They route me over to another area, Dell On Call, where they say they
have seen similar problems over the last few days which they believe
was caused by a recent MS software update. They would "try" to fix the
problem with no guarantees for a $129 fee. They believe MS will
probably come out with a quick fix to keep others from the problem but
it's too late for those of us who somehow got hit. I declined...

Since I'm faced with having to totally reinstall Vista and all my
application software I thought I'd rather go to the user community to
see if others have seen this and if they knew of a work around or
maybe MS will come up with a solution.

Gee thanks MVP, I never would have thought of that. Dont' you think
that might have come to mind, or perhaps during the 2 hours with Dell
that might have come up.
Anyhow that kind of shoot from the hip response isn't helpfull.

 

[Guest]

Gee, I suppose with your attitude, someone else
will surely want to try and help you...

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

 

[Guest]

Top 4 Free Windows Password Recovery Tools
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

Also see: http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

 

[LarCrow]

Gee, I suppose with your attitude, someone else
will surely want to try and help you...

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

I guess I overreatcted. I thought I had explained the situation
well enough and the efforts already made. I have been through so
many problems with this Vista machine that have already necessitated
completly starting over and reinstalling all my software.and now to be
faced with doing it all over again has worn me to a frazzle. I am
not an inexperienced user. I have 4 other PCs runing XP doing a
vaiety of tasks incluidng remote home systems control. Anyhow chalk
it up to frustration..

 

[Jume]

despite the danger of being attacked

have you tried to start in safe mode then log on as administrator? you could
change any user password from there then...

 

[LarCrow]

Top 4 Free Windows Password Recovery Toolshttp://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

Also see:http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

Thanks,
I'll give it a try.

 

[LarCrow]

despite the danger of being attacked

have you tried to start in safe mode then log on as administrator? you could
change any user password from there then...

Thanks, I'm calm now. I did try the Safe Mode but it brings you to
the same log on screen which still locks me out as I only have one
choice, the administrator account..

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Did you try leaving Administrator password blank?
There often is no password for Administrator.

 

[TomC]

Did you try leaving Administrator password blank?
There often is no password for Administrator.

MS says .... Windows Vista is
armed with enhanced
protections designed
specifically for Internet use.....
Is what MS calls better
security or do they instruct
new users to password admin
accounts?

Tom

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

IIRC, the default for retail leaves the Administrator disabled without
a password.
The OEMs can and often do something different.

Passwords on accounts has always been a good idea but it has not
always been the default.