My daughter hacked into my Facebook account - well I left it open.
Now today she has forgotten her password to get into her laptop. Bless.
Can anyone help? She's on Vista.
Quick links: NewsBiscuit Home • Chat Room • Writers' Room • Top Ten
Nice bit of Karma...
(13 posts) (9 voices)
-
Has she tried hitting it with a hammer?
Posted 3 years ago # -
rikkor
offlineMemberWithout looking it up, my guess is that you will have to have your original activation code from the Vista software. Then reinstall the software. The activation code comes with all the written pamphlets people normally throw away when the computer is set-up. I keep mine with the original box.
Posted 3 years ago # -
rickwestwell
offlineMemberOn XP there's a hidden account called "Administrator" with no password, but on Win 7/Vista you'll have to google it - there are things you can download to reset the password, or like rikkor says, reinstall it all from scratch.
Give it a google, there's loads of info out there.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Same thing happened to my son the other night, he is on Vista as well. Download and burn to CD a linux-based proggie called Trinity Rescue Kit On there is a 'password resetting option' which allows you to clear any windows password. It worked, because Bill Gates idea of security doesn't.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Scroat
offlineMemberThanks f0zz. This is where I have to admit to my technological shortcomings...
Downloaded it from the website on another PC, but because it's Linux it's not accessible/draggable via Windows. So it's in there somewhere but can't be found/accessed.
Borrowed an 8Gb memory stick with a view to plugging this into daughter's laptop, but can't. I guess I should have specified a target destination before the download...
The PC I used still works, which is something. I normally use a Mac. Should have mentioned this before. Sorry...
Posted 3 years ago # -
Hmm, I downloaded it as an ISO then burned it onto a CD using my desktop pc and some free proggie (IMG Burn, I think). Then stick it in the laptop and get it to boot from CD instead of Hard drive (either pressing F8 on startup or going into the BIOS and changing the boot order) and it should be good to go.
If you manage to get to the 'windows password resetting' menu on the Trinity Rescue Kit disk and are still struggling let me know. Took a few goes, but the best option in the end is just to clear the old password, rather than trying to set a new one (which she can always do through windows later) Good luck, it is a bit of a fartaround, but better than having to reinstall everything.
Posted 3 years ago # -
rikkor
offlineMemberThe moral of this story is to always set up an adminstrator login as well, and make the password something memorable, or best yet, write it down some place memorable. Most people don't have anything steal-able on their home computers anyway.
My home PC allows login with a finger scan, but I still use my password occasionally to prove that I remember it. It's ROSEBUD, and has nothing to do with Citizen Kane.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Scroat
offlineMemberI've got a friend who's a techie, and we'll be walking part of the Oxfordshire Way from Waterperry to Adwell on Sunday. I'll see what he has to say. I'm sure he'll be able to help me handle a Linux thingmybob.
Thanks for all your help everyone BTW. Much appreciated. I'll post when we get a successful outcome.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Quaz
offlineMemberSounds like you have some sage advice, but at the risk of bolting the stable door after the horse and all that, like Rikkor said you should really have a separate administrator account with full access that you use for installing software and resetting passwords (under Win 7 it's in control panel, users, manager another user's account I think), then all your individual users should be just regular users. It helps in situatons like this, and is also much more secure as you need the admin password to install software (helps stop Trojans getting installed when the kids decide to download random software from the net).
Posted 3 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.