Solved Forgotten password, Hirens not working?

[smurfyy]

Hi all!
My first post here in a looong time, usually I'm fine but this one has really caught me out.
Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong section, feel free to move it

I'm trying to fix a laptop for my neighbour, she's forgotten her password.
It's Seven Ultimate 64 bit.

I've used Hirens to reset the password, which worked. I booted back to Windows and logged on fine. When I tried to change or remove the password I just set, it worked. I was able to login/logout without a username and password.
That was fine till I rebooted the laptop.

Booted into Hirens again, run the password reset again, it said it worked.
Booted back to Windows and now her account isn't showing on the windows login screen. It now shows the Built in administrator and a Other user box that you can put credentials into.

At the moment it's copying everything from the c:\users\<username> folder onto an external drive, but it's 55GB's worth of data so will be waiting a while.

I was hoping I can delete the account that's already on there, create a new one then just copy everything back. Would that work?

If you need anymore info just shout and I'll give. I think I've really screwed it up, although I've used Hirens before at work and it's worked fine so don't see what the problem or difference if here.

Cheers guys!

 

[Kaktussoft]

what you want isn't possible!!! what do you mean by "Other user box "?
Is her user account still listed in control panel->users?

Her user account isn't listed on windows logon welcome screen?

 

[smurfyy]

Thanks for the speedy reply!

Screenshot here, it's from another forum, but it shows what I mean.

Yes, her account is still listed in the Users part of Control Panel.
When I right-click computer > Manage > Users and Groups > Users, she's still there, when I try to double click it, it throws me an error saying "An internal error occurred" if that's of any use too.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Goto C:\users. What is her username folder there? Assum it's C:\Users\HerName
In http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

net user  [B][COLOR=#ff0000]HerName[/COLOR][/B]  /active:yes

succeeds?
Now logoff. And see if her name is in logon screen

 

[smurfyy]

Will give that a go in a sec, I'm currently copying her folder from c:\users onto an external hard drive, it's about 55GB an about a third done copying. Guessing it's not a good idea to stop it while it's in mid flow lol.

//EDIT
Just had a look in System restore, there's a restoration point from yesterday. Is it worth trying that? Will it even effect the profiles or break it even more?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Will give that a go in a sec, I'm currently copying her folder from c:\users onto an external hard drive, it's about 55GB an about a third done copying. Guessing it's not a good idea to stop it while it's in mid flow lol.

//EDIT
Just had a look in System restore, there's a restoration point from yesterday. Is it worth trying that? Will it even effect the profiles or break it even more?

That's what I just wanna say! Try the restore point prior to problems. It will restore SAM (security hive) as well. It doesn't restore passwords however. Try it.

Is her name listed now?

 

[smurfyy]

I just tried that command in an elevated command prompt, it gave me an error of;
"System error 1359 has occurred.
An internal error occurred."

I'm defo typing it correct, I checked a couple of times.

Will try the restore after that folder has coppied.

 

[Kaktussoft]

So first change her password!
NET USER HerName *


NET USER HerName

gives you a lot of info. post it

 

[smurfyy]

Whenever I try any of them commands I get that same error message, the 1359 one.
When I try using it on the built in administrator, for example, it works fine.

Ahaa forget that, I just removed the password via the user panel thing and them commands run fine.
When I do the "net user HerName /active:yes" command, it says it completed successfully.

//EDIT
When I go to computer management and try double clicking her there that also works fine now.
Strange.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Whenever I try any of them commands I get that same error message, the 1359 one.
When I try using it on the built in administrator, for example, it works fine.

Ahaa forget that, I just removed the password via the user panel thing and them commands run fine.
When I do the "net user HerName /active:yes" command, it says it completed successfully.

//EDIT
When I go to computer management and try double clicking her there that also works fine now.
Strange.

And is she able to login again and is listed in logon screen?

 

[smurfyy]

Oh wow, I owe you one!! She is and can indeed.
Everything looks ok and like it did before.

I don't want to reboot yet as it's still copying her files to that external drive. It says it's got about half an hour left to go.
Also, if I do reboot, I'm worried that the password I set with Hirens will come back.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Her account is active now. And password has been cleared by win7 GUI. So you can "switch user" to her account now? Almost sure everything is fine and will survive a reboot.

 

[Kaktussoft]

How to disable "Other Users" option from Windows 7 logon - Microsoft Answers
Multiple User Logon Screen

 

[smurfyy]

Ok, rebooted and her account is back and working.
As for the password, it's still there, even though I removed it. :sarc:

I'm gunna call it a night on this, it's getting on to 1AM here lol.
Thanks for all the help so far, I really owe you one. I work at a school and often get caught in situations like this and we usually just re-image the machine, that's not an option in this case.

Thanks again, will post back tomorrow and hopefully fix this problem

 

[smurfyy]

Alrighty.
Sorry I couldn't post back last night, was just too tired to do anything.

I've managed to change the password again using er, sala's password renew tool that's on Hirens. Which worked, I was able to change it.

rebooted and logged back in as her and tried to remove her password, which said it worked.
Logged off and back on again without using a password. Rebooted and the password I just set is back again.

Going to log off and back on as the local administrator and try removing it that way.
Fingers crossed.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Only use Hirens if in real trouble!
Do you say it clear the password succesfully? So logoff and she can logon WITHOUT password? Try a few times, even logoff and logon to another user. Then logoff and logon under her account. Still works without password?

So password comes back due to shutdown or boot ... that's what you wanna say?

 

[smurfyy]

Good evening!

Yes, the password will change successfully, and I can login and out without a password, but when I reboot/shutdown the password will come back.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Even if you change the password? Same issue with other accounts?

 

[smurfyy]

Yeah even if I change it, even when I remove it too.

Works fine for the built in administrator, I can add, change and remove the password, and it'll stay the same after a reboot, it's just the account I used Hirens on.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Canyou change any user settings? And are they saved on reboot?