Trouble logging into Vista

[Reckoning]

My friend bought a laptop from someone today and during the transaction they changed the password to something my friend picked. Shortly after my friend changed the username to his name. Now when he boots up the laptop it says the password is incorrect, the password he picked worked fine with the old username but now he can't even log in at all. Is the only solution to reinstall windows?

 

[kimsland]

Solution Here: https://www.techspot.com/vb/post633339-2.html

Let me know how it all goes :grinthumb

 

[Reckoning]

Solution Here: https://www.techspot.com/vb/post633339-2.html

Let me know how it all goes :grinthumb

I burned that iso to a cd and he's coming over tonight to see if we can fix this. Thanks kimsland

 

[kimsland]

Thanks for the update :grinthumb (in this thread )

When you run the CD, you may need to wait up to half an hour for it to find the Windows logon passwords

 

[Reckoning]

The instructions are:

1. Get the machine to boot from CD (or floppy)
2. Floppy version need to swap floppy to load drivers.
3. Load drivers (usually automatic, but possible to run manual select)
4. Disk select, tell which disk contains the Windows system. Optionally you will have to load drivers.
5. PATH select, where on the disk is the system?
6. File select, which parts of registry to load, based on what you want to do.
7. Password reset or other registry edit.
8. Write back to disk (you will be asked)

So at 4 and 5 you have to select which drive has windows? (usually c: )
Then 6 and 7, what do you have to do with the registy? I'm not real familiar with messing with registy i wouldn't know where to go

 

[kimsland]

It's not a good idea to touch the registry at all actually !

Better to download the "Live CD"

Lots lots easier

Just boot from CD, and allow it to find the passwords
The smaller floppy alternative, really requires more advanced input

 

[Reckoning]

he remembered the password...
i still made a copy of the cd though

 

[kimsland]

Thanks for the update :grinthumb