How do I get my password back?

[bob bobato]

I desperately need help -I've forgotten my password (long story), so now I can't really use my computer. However, this being Windows Vista, there's another 'Guest' account that has access to Command Prompt, all those windows programming files, etc (but not to my photos, personal files, and the internet- I'm writing this somewhere else). So is there any way I could get my password back? Any little code for the command prompt, any 'gkjkhjjglrf.doc' file that would say what my password is, anything?

 

[Cutlass]

Sorry, but I think you backup everything you can and reformat.

 

[J-man]

You can't acces your files try a knoppic cd or a ubuntu live cd. Is there no administrator account like in XP?

 

[bob bobato]

There is an administrator account- it's the one that I've forgotten.

 

[J-man]

There is an administrator account- it's the one that I've forgotten.

In Xp there always an administrator account with the username 'administrator', you could access it by pressing F8 start-up. Not sure if Vista has something.

Ah.. a little googling: restart windows and when the “Windows” screen appears, press the F8 key. Go to the option “Microsoft Windows”
Instead of pressing the “Enter” key, press the F8 key again to display the Safe Mode boot screen. Choose safe mode and press enter.
You will get to a log in screen where you can select administrator. from this website: http://en.kioskea.net/faq/sujet-300-access-the-hidden-administrator-account-in-windows-vista

 

[Souron]

With XP there are numerous tools that will let you reset an account password if you forgot it. I don't know if something like this has been developed for Vista yet.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I found something that may help --
http://4sysops.com/archives/three-ways-to-reset-a-windows-vista-admin-password/

EDIT: Another link
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...ecover-and-reset-password-in-vistaxp20032knt/

 

[bob bobato]

OK, I've found a way to get back on my account. What I did is I used the Guest account to make a second administrator account, and then I used the new admin account to remove the old password. It was disturbingly easy- you'd think that you'd at least be asked what the old password was, if you wanted to delete it. But I'm not complaining. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Cutlass]

Wow. No wonder Windows computers can never be secured.

 

[J-man]

You're not saying you can make a admin account with a guest account, are you?

 

[Padma]

... I used the Guest account to make a second administrator account ...

Sounds like he did.

Wow. No wonder Windows computers can never be secured.

agreed!

 

[Shadylookin]

wow that's pretty scary that you can create an admin account with a guest account and then delete the old admin account

I think windows is in cahoots with anti-virus companies that's the only way I can reason that they'd have such immense security holes.

 

[J-man]

I'm try to make a admin account with a guest account on my Vista PC tomorrow (I still have a hard time believing it, perhaps wishful thinking.) If it works.... I might do something irrational.

 

[lndm]

(I still have a hard time believing it,

Windows98 brought in a password/login system that wasn't even secured. All that happened was that you'd get your own desktop brought up. I was amazed at the number of people that thought it was some full security/privacy system and had faith in their OS.

 

[Bllasae]

I'm not responsible for any of this since there's downloadable stuff and I just Googled this:

Also, Lifehacker's pretty good: