Cannot access Win 7 OS asking for P/W that I never created!

[Tinsby]

On my dual boot system while trying to get into SAFE MODE in 7-64 I made the mistake of hitting F-8 repeatedly. Now I get a screen with my name on it in the center and it's asking for a P/W. When I built the machine I never entered one because I am the only user. I have tried all the P/W that I can think of and no joy.

I made an image of the OS that currently has me locked out.....

So then I installed an earlier image of 7 and made a password recovery disc. Then I re-installed the fluky version of 7 and tried to run the P/W disc. Now I get a message saying " An Error occurred while trying to reset the password!" REALLY?

Since the machine is dual boot I am wondering if I can change the p/w on 7 from within XP?
I thought I might be able to access the 7 registry and change it from there.

I know there are P/W recovery programs but I am not sure that I can get Win 7 to boot from a CD since the configuration is dual boot. And if there was no original password what can I recover anyway?

In a worst case I can install an image from June and then mount the current one and xfer files over to it that way.

I don't understand why hitting F-8 made the system constantly pester me for a password!!

Now that seems to be the default: IE: Ask for P/w


Any other ideas?

Thanks to all in advance!

 

[logicearth]

Did you try just hitting enter with no password?

 

[Dude]

That should let you in!

 

[Tinsby]

Did you try just hitting enter with no password?

Yes I did repeatedly, and it doesn't let me in. That was the first thing I thought of..... :/

 

[Tinsby]

Solved it but not the way offered

I tried using a Linux based program to search for the password Win 7 wanted me to use. All the program came up with was my name as one of the words and the "guest" entry was empty. Rebooting and trying to use my name failed.

First I made an image of the trashed system with Acronis. Then I installed an image from the end of June. Any files that were not on the desktop I simply got from the image of the trashed system.

Needless to say all is well again, but without an image to restore I'd have been screwed.

No one has an answer as to "Why Win 7 wants a password when I repeatedly hit F-8 while booting?"

Regards,

Tinsby

PS: on my Asus MB I have to hit F-5 not F-8 to get to SAFE MODE. Like a fool I followed the advice to use the F-8 key..... <sigh>