User Account Password - Change from WinRE

jenniferg said:

I was trying to password protect my computer with my username and I use the same password that I always use, a series of numbers, letters and symbols. Apparently, I typed it in wrong, twice, the same way because now I can not logon to my computer.

I've tried the steps above, but I still cannot get in.
I can not get to the command prompt screen.
I boot the computer and click F8.
This brings me to the Advanced Boot Options Screen.
If I click "Repair Your Computer", it takes me to a a box where it asks me to Select a Language, I click Next>then it asks me to access recovery options, log on as a local user. To access the command prompt as well, log on using an administrator account. The only User Name is the dropdown box is Jennifer and if I try to click OK without a password, it says "The user name or the password is incorrect."

If I click on "Safe Mode with Command Prompt", it takes me to the login screen, which I can't login to because I don't know the password.

If anyone out there can help me, I would be so grateful to you.

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

jenniferg said:

When I go into safe mode, it goes right back to the login screen and I can't login. 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?

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.

jenniferg said:

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.

Colts19 said:

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!

Dinesh,

This is awesome. But you are assuming that the person trying to rename the files have admin rights. In my case it is standard user with no admin rights and I have forgotten an admin user password which I am trying to recover. Getting to the command prompt in recovery mode is via the standard user and so I get Acecess Denied message while trying to rename the files. Help please !!

prafulp said:

Dinesh,

This is awesome. But you are assuming that the person trying to rename the files have admin rights. In my case it is standard user with no admin rights and I have forgotten an admin user password which I am trying to recover. Getting to the command prompt in recovery mode is via the standard user and so I get Acecess Denied message while trying to rename the files. Help please !!

Hi prafulp, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

This tutorial shows a way to "activate" (by that we mean to cause the "Default Admin" account login to show when starting Windows) the "Default Admin" account when you do not have access to any account with admin privileges, and that either you have not created a password for the "Default Admin" account yet or know the correct password and can log-in.

If you have password protected the "Default Admin" account and do not know the password now, the only possible solution is to download the software that erases or replaces the password as mentioned in other links. Be sure you are aware of the risks to your computer if you attempt this solution.

Cheers!
Robert