Windows 7 - User Account Password - Change from WinRE

Hi Jennifer, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

This tutorial can help only when the "Default" or "Hidden Administrator" account has not been given a password, or if the "Hidden Administrator" account password is known. When I install Windows 7 on my own computers, there are always two user accounts: one is the "Hidden Admin" account and the other is the account I have to give a name during the installation.

** it is an important step to make any computer more secure to log-in to the "Hidden Admin" account and password protect it. This keeps others from accessing this account without permission. **

When Windows 7 comes pre-installed by a manufacturer, you will need to find out from them whether the "Hidden Admin" account already has a password.

So it would be helpful if we had a little information about your computer? Are you the sole owner and user of this computer? Are there any other user accounts? Are any of them "Administrator" accounts?

If you are the sole owner / user of the computer and have never accessed the "Hidden Admin" account and given it a password, you should only need to go to "Safe Mode" (you would not need the "Command Prompt") and click on the Administrator icon (no password needed) to log-in. If the Manufacturer has given the account a password, you should find this info in the manual for your model.

If someone else has given the Administrator account a password, you need to ask them for help to reset your user account password.

Let us know if we may help you further?

Cheers!
Robert

[COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]Hi Robert,

My answers are below in purple.[/COLOR]

So it would be helpful if we had a little information about your computer? Are you the sole owner and user of this computer? Yes, it's a personal computer. Are there any other user accounts? [COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]No.[/COLOR] Are any of them "Administrator" accounts? [COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]Yes, my own called "Jennifer". [/COLOR]

If you are the sole owner / user of the computer and have never accessed the "Hidden Admin" account and given it a password, you should only need to go to "Safe Mode" (you would not need the "Command Prompt") and click on the Administrator icon (no password needed) to log-in. [COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]When I go into safe mode, it goes right back to the login screen and I can't login. [/COLOR] If the Manufacturer has given the account a password, you should find this info in the manual for your model. [COLOR="rgb(153, 50, 204)"]I don't even see an option though after Safe Mode, to click on Admin icon. What is normally supposed to happen after you go into safe mode? Does the computer then login?
[/COLOR]

Thanks,
Jennifer

When you go to "Safe Mode", an icon for the "Administrator" account should appear with the "User Account" icons. If the ONLY user account on your computer is the "Hidden Admin" account and you cannot provide the password to access that account then I can see only two options for you.

1) Check out this web site: Forgot the Administrator's Password? - Windows Password Recovery - Windows Password Reset

You may be able to download the software, burn it to a bootable CD, and use it to reset your Admin password.

2) Reinstall Windows 7 and follow the safe recommendations to create at least three user accounts: 1) password protect but do not use the "Hidden Admin" account, 2) create a "Limited User" account for everyday and web surfing use, 3) create an "Administrator" user account to use to maintain your computer and to recover from situations like this.

Cheers!
Robert

Yes, I'm thinking I will have to just reinstall Windows Bummer.

Have done that many times ... as part of my "computer education"!

Please let us know if we may be of any help there?

Cheers!
Robert

just run safe mode only you should be able to login as administrator without a password provided none was created during the install of the system. then enter the control panel and user accounts find how to change or remove password in that account

Thanks! Tried this today and it worked Can't say thanks enough.

Glad you found a solution that worked for you. And welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

Cheers!