Correct password rejected after automatic Windows update

My wife's laptop rebooted automatically to apply a Windows 7 automatic update and now it says the password is incorrect.

She has had the same password for several years and uses it every day. It is her middle name so she has not forgotten it and it does not use capitals. Caps Lock is defintely off (although we have tried it with it on also!).

We do not have a password boot disk.

I have read about password recovey tools but logically they would not help as we know the password anyway.

Why would the password suddenly be rejected after the update?
How do we get the computer to work again?

Neither of us are very computer literate, so I hope someone can help (in simple English )

Allan

Try starting in Safe Mode and see if you can enter the password and have it work there. If so, go into Start Menu->Control Panel->User Accounts->Change your password-> and choose a temporary password for now (make sure it is something you will remember). Restart Windows and see if you can login with the new password.

Thanks for the reply

I tried logging in with the PC in Safe Mode but got exactly the same result - says it is incorrect.

Anything else I can do?

Allan

1. Use the same process you did to get to the advanced boot options showing safe mode as an option.
2. Select the Repair Your Computer option instead.
3. See OPTION TWO of System Restore
4. Select a date to restore from that is prior to when your password issue started

The keyboard may inadvertently be changed to a 'different layout' (remapped from English layout to French, for example) by pressing the Ctrl and Shift keys at the same time.
Try toggling it back by pressing the two keys at the same time ONCE - then enter your password in the usual way.

Paul

Thank you both very much!


I decided to try your suggestion Paul, before doing the recovery. It wasn't the problem but it did give me a clue. I watched very carefully as I typed the password and found that one of the keys was not registering. Must have had a bit of dust or something under it because after trying it a number of times I got it to work. :)


My wife said to thank you both very much also!


Allan

Glad Paul was able to help you! :)

See what a little dust can do ...
Glad it's resolved!