Password

  • Thread starter Thread starter David
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David

I have inadvertantly activated the administrator password, which I do not
remember, in Vista home premium and now I can't access my computer at all. I
do not have a password reset disk that the PC is asking me for. Is there a
way that I can deactivate the passsword funtion? My email is
(e-mail address removed)
 
David said:
I have inadvertantly activated the administrator password, which I do not
remember, in Vista home premium and now I can't access my computer at all.
I
do not have a password reset disk that the PC is asking me for. Is there
a
way that I can deactivate the passsword funtion?
Click to expand...

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Burn the precompiled CD .iso (as an image, not as data), boot with the media
you create, change the Administrator's password to a blank. Log into
Windows and make your desired changes. Write passwords down.

Malke
 
Actually I wouldn't advocate writing the passwords down - I'd advocate
using passwords (or better, passphrases) that you can remember. If you
need to write something down write yourself a reminder of what the
passphrase is.

For example if your pass phrase is "Chargers are #1!" a good reminder
might be "How 'bout them Bolts?!" Nobody who comes across a post-it or
slip of paper that says that is going to easily guess what your pass
phrase is from that, but it should be enough to remind you of what it
is.

Best wishes and aloha,

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com
Author - The Lawyer's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/5m3f5q
 
Ben said:
Actually I wouldn't advocate writing the passwords down - I'd advocate
using passwords (or better, passphrases) that you can remember. If you
need to write something down write yourself a reminder of what the
passphrase is.
Click to expand...

In a corporate environment, I would agree. In a home environment, better to
write down the password and put it in a safe place.

See a very interesting discussion of security in last month's TechNet
magazine. Also Bruce Schneier has some very enlightening ideas about
passwords.

Malke
 
Malke said:
In a corporate environment, I would agree. In a home environment, better to
write down the password and put it in a safe place.

See a very interesting discussion of security in last month's TechNet
magazine. Also Bruce Schneier has some very enlightening ideas about
passwords.

Malke
Click to expand...

Actually, in a corporate environment, it's vital to have one
administrator userid & password written down and locked up somewhere.
Picture this: you forget the admin password or your admin quits and
doesn't tell you the password... :-(

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
 
Hank said:
Actually, in a corporate environment, it's vital to have one
administrator userid & password written down and locked up somewhere.
Picture this: you forget the admin password or your admin quits and
doesn't tell you the password... :-(
Click to expand...
Oh yes, I completely agree. I was thinking more about the end users but you
are 100% right. After all, how many times have I gone into a new client's
office just to find out that they've got zero information about how to get
into their server? Answer: many, many times. ;-)

Malke
 
Malke said:
Oh yes, I completely agree. I was thinking more about the end users but you
are 100% right. After all, how many times have I gone into a new client's
office just to find out that they've got zero information about how to get
into their server? Answer: many, many times. ;-)

Malke
Click to expand...


But does it really matter if someone has physical access and that CD?
 
Well there is no utility I know of that can simply unlock a safe, or
change the compination without showing signs of tampering, however a
disgruntled employee could change all the passwords on a PC with that
utility and then walk away. Obviously "Someone" needs a copy of that
utility somewhere in the office since no matter how good the safe it is
no use locking away the wrong password.

I don't know if BIOS passwords are better, can they be reset by the
jumper on the board?
 
Hank said:
Actually, in a corporate environment, it's vital to have one
administrator userid & password written down and locked up somewhere.
Picture this: you forget the admin password or your admin quits and
doesn't tell you the password... :-(
Click to expand...

Happens all the time, but it's not necessarily that big of a deal. Any
competent replacement administrator, along with most of any competent IT
staff, will know how to obtain one of the many Linux-based password
cracking utilities that abound on the Internet.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Bruce said:
Happens all the time, but it's not necessarily that big of a deal.
Any competent replacement administrator, along with most of any
competent IT staff, will know how to obtain one of the many Linux-based
password cracking utilities that abound on the Internet.
Click to expand...


I just resurrected 3 older XP machines with no trouble, takes about 10
minutes. They were useless otherwise. The set user was not able to do
what was needed and the Admin had gone away... :)
 
Sure. We don't manage users' passwords. If they forget it, we reset it
and they have to choose a new one.

Simple solution. Write the combination to the safe on a piece of paper
and lock it in another safe.... ;-)

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
 
HI HAVE SET A PASSWORD UP ON VISTA AND DIDN'T BACK IT UP.. I NOTICE IN THE
BLOG YOU TOLD A PERSON TO Burn the precompiled CD .iso (as an image, not as
data), boot with the media
you create, change the Administrator's password to a blank. Log into
Windows and make your desired changes. Write passwords down
Click to expand...

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
 
I think you will find Malke was referring to this software
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ when she mentioned about 'burn the
precompiled CD .iso (as an image not as data).

Have you forgotten your password and am unable to access Vista? If not, and
you can access Vista, and this is a general enquiry because you are worried
that you haven't backed up your password, you can always make a password
reset disk in case of problems. Juts go to Control Panel, Click the User
Accounts Icon and when the user accounts window opens, look in the 'tasks'
column on the left of the window and click on 'create a password reset disk'
and follow the instructions.

If, on the other hand, you are trying to use the software recommended by
Malke then open your CD burning software, select the 'burn as image' option
(obviously this will depend upon your burning software Roxio, Nero etc.
Locate the file you downloaded from the above link and then burn it to a CD.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

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