No way of logging into computer

[Gene24]

Hello, I have no clue what my password is to log in. The only account I can get into is the guest account. I have tried using NT Password & Registry Editor and it says password has been changed but when I try logging in it still says wrong pw. Also I notice this completely took off the option to log into my account I created it was not listed on the log in screen until I did a restore from a repair disc I created. But that obviously did not help the password problem.

I am running Win 7 Home Premium on a Gateway ID49C07u. If there is a way to completely restore the computer back to factory instead of finding the password this is no problem. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Ztruker]

According to the manual for your computer here:

Recovering from the hard drive during startup
To reinstall Windows and all pre-installed software and drivers:
1. Turn on your computer, then press Alt+F10 during startup. Gateway Recovery Management opens.
2. Click on Restore system from factory default.
Caution: Continuing the process will erase all files on your hard drive.
3. Click on Next. Your hard drive’s original, factory-loaded conten ts are recovered. This process will take several
minutes.

 

[Gene24]

Thanks, it was working..got to about 55% and then says


Restore failed - Error code= 0x45d (WIMApplyImage cannot apply image : The request could not be preformed because of an I/O device error

 

[Gene24]

lol it gets worse. I was able to run chkdsk and it said no bad sectors ect.. BUT

Ever since I tried doing the factory restore and I got that error code above I have not been able to log on now. I keep getting a black Windows Boot Manager screen with error code

Status: 0x000000f

Info: Windows failed to load because the NLS data is missing, or is corrupt. This only started happening after the failed restore attempt, chkdsk found nothing wrong.

 

[Gene24]

Restore failed - Error code= 0x45d (WIMApplyImage cannot apply image : The request could not be preformed because of an I/O device error

That is the problem I need to fix so I can just restore this thing already.

 

[Gene24]

Also, not sure if this has anything to do with the restore messing up but I notice in BIOS under security it says HDD Password IS : Frozen. I do know the password just see nowhere it lets me enter it. It made me enter the HDD Password before I even tried the new factory restore so I am not sure it has much to do anything with it since I already entered it for them before the start of restore

 

[Gene24]

Sorry another piece of info, again not sure if it matters but when I do put in the Windows 7 startup repair disc it is able to still find the OP system.

 

[F5ing]

Are there any HD tests in the BIOS that you can run?

Did you make recovery disks?

If you can't get back to the factory install would you be willing to do a fresh retail install?

 

[Gene24]

I ran a memory test and it found nothing. That is the only thing I seen to try. Any idea where else it may be or what it may be called?

No recovery disks. I would be willing to do any install that's possible right about now.

thanks

 

[F5ing]

I ran a memory test and it found nothing. That is the only thing I seen to try. Any idea where else it may be or what it may be called?

Any test would be available from the BIOS page that specifies the details for the installed hard disk(s).

No recovery disks. I would be willing to do any install that's possible right about now.

thanks

See this tutorial from the forum for installing fresh using your known COA product key:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174907-clean-install-factory-coa-activation-key.html

 

[Gene24]

Ok thanks, yeah I seen nothing else for any type of HDD test in BIOS.


Well thanks for link but of course with my luck I have run into more problems, the sticker on the bottom of my laptop is completely worn out. I can see a little of the blue and green color still but all lettering is completely gone. Any way of finding this key back out through command prompt or something?

 

[Gene24]

Also if there is no way of finding out my key again would I be able to use a Windows 7 Ultimate disc to either repair this or just clean install? Again this is only if there is absolutely no way of finding out coa key on bottom.

 

[Ztruker]

What I don't see at the link you provide F5ing, is the link to Digital River where any version of Windows 7 can be legally downloaded. My apologies if it's there and I missed it.

Anyway, here it is: Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

 

[Gene24]

thanks, but what about the coa sticker on the bottom, everything including almost the entire color of the sticker is worn out. Cannot read the key. Will that disc I create from it ask for it, and is there anyway of recovering it?

 

[Ztruker]

No, not if you can't login to the computer. If you could, you could run Magic Jellybean Keyfinder and it would tell you what the key is. I don't know if you can do this from the Guest account or not.

 

[Gene24]

No, I cannot even get onto the guest account now that the f10 restore messed up. Won't get past the windows welcome screen gives me the error code from page 1. Looks like I will be buying a disc.

Could I buy a Win 7 Ultimate disc even though this had home premium? I am assuming I will not be able to do a repair with the ultimate disc just a fresh install? Thanks

 

[Ztruker]

Yes, you can use any version of Win 7 you want. Since you can't boot the system, you can't do a Repair Install anyway so get whatever version you want. Ultimate costs more than Pro, Pro costs more than Home Premium.

I don't see anything in Ultimate that makes it worth buying, so I went with Pro on both my computers. I see a Win 7 Pro Upgrade from Home Premium for $67.99 here: Windows 7 Professional - evaluesoftware

I've never bought anything there, just found it via a Google search.

NewEgg has one for $84: Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Anytime Upgrade: Windows 7 Home Premium to ProfessionalI've bought lots of stuff from them, very good site.

 

[F5ing]

What I don't see at the link you provide F5ing, is the link to Digital River where any version of Windows 7 can be legally downloaded. My apologies if it's there and I missed it.

Anyway, here it is: Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

Ztruker, no apology necessary. Glad you caught that as I thought it was in there!

 

[F5ing]

Ztruker, don't you have to have a working, validated install in order to use one of those upgrades?

 

[Gene24]

Ok thanks for the help guys. Will give them two links a look and decide on which one. Thanks again