Password failure in Vista at startup - re-set?

Question

I have just purchased a Dell inspiron 6400 for home use and was following the startup instruction screens. Having set a (very simple) password (which had to be entered twice), it then is not recognised at the start-up screen ('user name or password incorrect'). Have tried all typos and caps lock etc I can think of. Have not yet got as far as the Desktop screen, so have not set up a reset disc. There is only one user set up at this point, so no option to switch to another user. Any ideas for getting into it? Browsing dell site looks like only option is to re-load everything.... :-(

patrickacox · Answer

Try pressing F8 during bootup. Choose Safe mode this should give you a option for the administator account Login to the administrator account   If you can get into the admin account then you can go to users under control panel and remove the password.   There are several programs out there that will allow you to boot to a cd and reset the admin password.

fibrav · Answer

Thanks - I'll try that, although I fear it may not work as the one account set up  is the admin account, in my name. Do you have the names of any of the programs that allow you to re-set the Admin password?

patrickacox · Answer

I use a program called passware that will crack any admin password.

GioAguilar · Answer

patrickacox wrote:

Try pressing F8 during bootup.

Choose Safe mode

this should give you a option for the administator account

Login to the administrator account

If you can get into the admin account then you can go to users under control panel and remove the password.

There are several programs out there that will allow you to boot to a cd and reset the admin password.

This procedure was for XP, on Vista the Admin account will not be visible on Safe Mode screen...

Wha I suggest is to do a PCRestore, but not from the F8 menu, because it will ask you for the password again...

Try this steps

GioAguilar · Answer

I forgot to add, this will delete all the info and put the computer to factory settings... If I didn't catch wrong, you never reache the desktop... So this shouldn't be a problem, you'll get all the same screens again, do not put a password this time, leave blank the password field, if you want one, create it from the users account option at the control panel and create a password reset disk...

Windows General

Password failure in Vista at startup - re-set?

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