Win 7 startup password - how to eliminate?

[rdregnier]

Please help eliminate the Windows7 startup password. I tried disenabling all but one Dell Support file in Startup tab in msconfig. Still comes up on screen after soft and hard boot. What else can I try?

 

[Roderunner]

This is what I do. View attachment Auto Log-On.pdf

 

[rdregnier]

I followed your directions in .PDF. I still get Startup Password window before Windows launches. Any other ideas? I tried taking a screen shot but didn't work. I can try to take a picture with phone camera. Would that help to see the window that comes up?

 

[gregrocker]

Go to Control Panel>User Accounts, click on your Account and Remove the Password.

Follow these steps to correctly Clean Up Factory Bloatware - Windows 7 Forums
which show how to safely achieve a Clean Boot in msconfig.

 

[Roderunner]

I followed your directions in .PDF. I still get Startup Password window before Windows launches. Any other ideas? I tried taking a screen shot but didn't work. I can try to take a picture with phone camera. Would that help to see the window that comes up?

To use the Auto Log On as in my pdf, you must have a password for your account. If their are other users on the computer, it does not matter, just highlight the account you want to log on automatically with then untick the box, click ok then enter password x 2.

 

[alphanumeric]

Just to clarify, Is it looking for a Windows Logon (account) password or a Computer BIOS password?

 

[Duzzy]

I followed your directions in .PDF. I still get Startup Password window before Windows launches. Any other ideas? I tried taking a screen shot but didn't work. I can try to take a picture with phone camera. Would that help to see the window that comes up?

Yes I think a clear photo could help us understand what is generating the password prompt.

Just in case we need it can you please tell us your model number and if it's a desktop or laptop?

 

[rdregnier]

I don't know if its called a windows logon or computer bios password. Picture is attached. I was hacked into by two Indian guys saying that they were from Microsoft and rec'd msgs that my machine had an excess number of error and warning msgs. I let them in by using ammyy.com. I noticed they were running through files in DOS and then they locked me out with this startup password window, held me virtually hostage for about a half an hour, trying to get me to talk dirty to them. After pleading with them, they finally gave the password and I've been trying to get this password issue solved for a week now. I've backed up my hard drive and changed my password in my windows logon area. But can't solve this issue. Is it possibly in the system files or DOS code that they established or wrote in? I really don't need a lecture about hackers, believe me I feel very stupid and ashamed! I know better.

I have a Dell desktop 545S.

 

[kegobeer]

Stop. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

You were hacked. You have no idea what they did. Do not waste time trying to change passwords, etc. Do a clean install of Windows ASAP.

In the future, give a complete history of what's going on with the computer. Had you done this in your first post, you would have received this type of recommendation immediately.

 

[Barman58]

From the image shown, this could be the actual Dell security that was set to on on some systems, but can at times set itself to on without the user doing anything.

If this is the case then you will need to contact Dell, with various information, Proof of Purchase, ID Tag, Serial etc. When Dell have this information they will be able to generate the unique password for that particular laptop, and yes they are all unique. As far as I am aware, this is not a charge for this service, but they will not provide the password without the qualifying information. This is to prevent stolen units from being sold on ETC.

This is also something that is only available from Dell Direct, so it is not a good idea to trust this to your local shop/Technician

 

[z3r010]

Before going any further I suggest somebody instructs a full malware scan.

 

[gregrocker]

Download to another computer and burn to CD or write to Flash stick Windows Defender Offline to try booting to run a full scan. Alternatives are here: FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List.

If a bootable disk or flash stick will boot then we can also help you copy out your files and Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. But in that case it should also run Factory Recovery from it's hotkey at boot: Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

Otherwise your best approach is Barman's above: contact Dell to obtain the password or ship it back to reflash the BIOS chip on the mobo. Explain fully what happened, if necessary to a supervisor.

You should not be ashamed of this and even report it to law enforcement as it is a type of creepy assault that gets prosecuted.

 

[Duzzy]

Stop. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

You were hacked. You have no idea what they did. Do not waste time trying to change passwords, etc. Do a clean install of Windows ASAP.

In the future, give a complete history of what's going on with the computer. Had you done this in your first post, you would have received this type of recommendation immediately.

Totally agree.

 

[kegobeer]

That picture looks like the startup lockscreen, which can be configured by using the syskey application. Hit the Windows key, type syskey, click update, then choose system generated password (store startup key locally).

 

[gregrocker]

Kegger's Syskey prompt offers to enable irreversible encryption. This might be a way hackers are able to get it irreversibly passworded.

But since BIOS is not locked would OP be able to boot a disk to copy out data and then Reinstall, or run Factory Recovery from its partition? Or will data be encrypted even if attempt is made to copy it out with Rescue CD, as with BitLocker?

 

[kegobeer]

Kegger's Syskey prompt offers to enable irreversible encryption. This might be a way hackers are able to get it irreversibly passworded.

But since BIOS is not locked would OP be able to boot a disk to copy out data and then Reinstall, or run Factory Recovery from its partition? Or will data be encrypted even if attempt is made to copy it out with Rescue CD, as with BitLocker?

Yes, the data can be copied - I'd just slave the drive into another system and copy what I wanted to keep. Then, pop in the Windows 7 disc and do a custom clean install, formatting both the 100mb and the OS partition, then installing on the OS partition. Or, if his Dell has a restore partition that can be access during boot, a restore would also work, since it will completely erase and overwrite the OS partition with the original image.

BTW - syskey is just a tool that is used to secure the system accounts management (SAM) database.

 

[SmithUnwesson]

Disable Startup Password Prompt

Window Key + R to open the run prompt

Type syskey and hit enter



Select the option "Encryption Enabled" and click "Update"



Select the options below and click OK



You will be required to provide the current password. If you do not have it, you will need to seek alternative methods.

Hope this is helpful

Tim

 

[cytherian]

I wonder if this person ever got their system fixed (if this wasn't some prank). But, what's rather bizarre about the original post is how the person didn't prefix the whole thing with this glaring problem of having been hacked! You've figure this would be foremost on their mind.