HELP! - Unable to login to Windows 7 or get to COMMAND PROMPT at start

rp18ind · 29 Aug 2014

I have Windows 7 Professional edition (64-bit) installed on my machine.

My computer was linked to a network earlier, where it was mandatory to enter user credentials (ctrl+alt+del) to login every time. When I got off the network, I tried deleting my user profile so I wouldn't have to login every time. Instead, what happened was that I was stuck with the administrator profile.

About a half hour ago, I tried to remove it yet again. What I should have done was just try to disable ctrl+alt+del but I ended up disabling the administrator profile.

The worst then happened, I was locked out of my own computer (obviously I had to try to see if the 'disabling' actually worked). Ever since, I've been scouring discussion boards all over to figure out how to get back it.

Turns out, I can enable the administrator profile through the command prompt.

Here's where the problem lies:-

I CAN'T GET TO THE COMMAND PROMPT WHEN I START MY COMPUTER!

Every time I try to start the computer in SAFE MODE WITH COMMAND PROMPT, it keeps going back to the Windows user login.

How do I stay with COMMAND PROMPT so that I can re-enable the administrator login? Is there a hot key or something I can press that will help staying on the command prompt?

Please help, I'm desperate.

P.S. I don't have the Windows 7 installation CD either.

bigmck · 29 Aug 2014

Don't delete ANY User Profiles. It there is no Profile, you can't run Win 7. Did you make a System Repair disk when your PC was working? That could solve your problem. Do you have a 25 Character Product Key that should be on a sticker on your PC case? You can use this to activate your Win 7 after the install. Let us know the answers to above and we can proceed.

cyanna · 29 Aug 2014

you are going to need something to boot from: a recovery console, a windows installation DVD (has to be windows 7 or 8 if you are on a UEFI system, on BIOS anything will do), a linux bootable DVD...From there it's just a matter of navigating to your windows installation. For example if you boot from any Windows bootable DVD (on THIS page there's a list of official MS iso images, legit to download):
boot from the DVD, choose language and choose to repair your computer. Select the command prompt from the choices.
In command prompt type diskpart and press enter, then type list volume and press enter. Make a note of the letter for where windows is installed, for example C
Type exit and press enter
Type C: and press enter (or whatever letter your windows was installed on!)
Type dir and press enter (this is just to check that you are indeed in the windows installation if you can't see the Program Files, Users and Windows in the list you have typed the wrong letter for the Windows installation)
Type cd windows\system32 and press enter
Type move magnify.exe magnify.exe.bakup and press enter
Type copy cmd.exe magnify.exe and press enter
When you get the message that the file was successfully copied type Exit and press enter.
Eject the DVD, reboot
At the logon screen click on the Ease of Access icon at the bottom of the screen. In the command prompt type
net user administrator /active:yes and press enter

rp18ind · 29 Aug 2014

Thanks Cyanna. I have a Windows Vista installation disk. Will try with that and let you know.

cyanna · 30 Aug 2014

Um, it was a bit late last night when I posted....You don't actually need to go all the way to the repair option. Shift+F10 at the screen with choose language will be good enough.