Right tried for two hours now and cant sort this one. Its my daughters netbook so no CD drive just USB port. Shes somehow forgot her password which is the admin password. I can get on as guest, whats best for resetting admin password. Tried making a EBCD bootable USB stick but it doesnt like it, keep getting kernel panic so dont think that option is a possibility. Any programs I can run in windows to do it??

 

in mo computer bothin but i got a mate to talk me throw this same problem . from wot i can remember you can get into the program of the computer as it starts up by using one of the f keys on the top of your key bort which one im sorry i cannt remember

 

I've got an Advent netbook and when you first switch it on you can either boot it normally or select 'tech guys' which is for stuff like that.

 

you need a password removal tool on a bootable usb stick

 

Put a Linux startup disc on a bootable usb stick. Set the computer to boot from the USB stick, then follow the instructions to reset the admin password.

Can't remember the exact wording of the Linux boot disc, but it is self explainatory once you get in there. Did this a couple of times for customers at the computer shop I worked at.

Failing that, log in as the administrator, and change her account password from there.

 

thats what I tried to make but when booting the linux kept saying "kernel panic", doing my head in now

 

Hmm format it then tell how much important data can a child have?

 

keep hitting F2 when you start it up

 

why?

 

as i said in my post above it will get you into the setup of the computer and you can turn off the password with out having the password iv done it on my old pc

 

What type of netbook is it / operating system?

 

No important data as such just a pain in the arse. I would format it but how do I renistall everything when it doesnt have a dvd drive and I dont have one that I can plug in as usb. Her password/account is already the administrator account so I can login under that.
I used flashboot to make the usb stick bootable but no matter which option I tried the netbook kept coming up with the same error

 

dell inspiron running xp

 

Some of these machines have a hidden partition with the factory image installed. I think if you power it on then hit CTRL & F11 together when the DELL screen appears it loads the restore app.

You can check this by logging on as the guest user, looking in disk management, and see if there is another partition.

Worst case scenario, I used an app called ophcrack to find the admin password, although it was a while ago. I just googled it and it's still around. You may want to check it out if all else fails. (create a bootable usb stick and boot from the app)

 

you are wrong, this is not his problem going into the bios will not help

 

you just need a bootable stick with windows xp on, there are many good guides on how to make one if you google it

 

get yourself OPHCrack, it is god. Ideally you need a usb CD drive but can be extracted onto a data stick if you google it

 

im 85% way through downloading it now, 400mb!!! got universal usb installer so fingers crossed this should sort it, cheers

 

hope so, there is another linux live booter that my friend used the other month but cant remember it as I have never had an issue with OPHcrack

 

i done htis with me gfs one as i wnted to use it but she was away
there is a f key u hit and it will run you in and then change the password and you can getin sorted

 

What your m8 is doing is pressing F8 to boot into safe mode, to the OP I presume you are not using "Administrator" as the admin account, if so booting into safe mode will allow you to login as Administrator (Which in most cases has no password, and no one seems to set one :@) and reset password on other admin account.

If not as said you need to create a password reset boot stick usually Linux based, I have loads, I even have one that can reveal the password is it is a weak enough password. There is a Microsoft product (Basically Windows Live CD, free 30 day trial) that allows you to reset the password, let me know if you want the name.

Martin

 

downloaded ophcrack and 700mb+ of tables, still no joy, linux wouldnt mount the hard drive for some reason? Anyway, as above, loaded safe mode and only removed the password cant believe I didnt try it first, went straight in at deep end and missed the obvious, cheers Martin, owe you one

 

interesting, did you try mounting the hard drive via ntfs-3g?

atleast its sorted

for the record OPHcrack will only brute force upto 14 characters anything over that is a no show...

 

No problem, glad I could sort it for you, OPHcrack will NOT crack strong passwords, it's only good if the password is a weak password, it sure would not be able to crack mine. TBH theres no point password protecting accounts. Windows security is useless and it's only protecting the computer not the data, guess it's useful if you have users you don't want making system wide changes.

Martin