Forgotten the admin...
 

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[Closed] Forgotten the admin password on my daughters computer.

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Windows 8.1

Anything I can do?


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 9:34 am
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Take it into work saying it was found in the house of known terrorists and you need it unlocking?


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 9:57 am
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🙂 might keep that as a back up option


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 10:10 am
 m0rk
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http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/what-do-forget-windows-password#1TC=windows-8

Though I bet you reinstall windows.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 10:12 am
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How computer savvy are you?

There are a number of programs out there than can help you break into the machine, but it's usually pretty involved. One method i have used in the past is to create a bootable DVD or Pendrive with the program [url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoppix ]Knoppix.[/url]

In effect, it boots into an Operating System which lives on the RAM. Therefore Windows (and its security) remains untouched, and you'll have free access to the hard drives. There are also programs within it to help recover lost passwords.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 10:14 am
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How computer savvy are you

I'm at the Google-it-then-maybe-have-a-bash level


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 10:29 am
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There are various bootable OS's that can be downloaded that will attempt to brute force the password for an account on Windows, Google it. I'd fire one of those at the laptop and leave it running until it gets the password.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 10:37 am
 m0rk
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I'm at the Google-it-then-maybe-have-a-bash level

Sounds like most IT professionals I've met then


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 10:38 am
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Have you tried a blank password?


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 10:48 am
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How do you mean? Hit enter without typing anything?

Tried going on to my Microsoft account, but apart from the parental controls or monitoring thing there's nothing there for resetting the password.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 11:05 am
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Linux is always good for this [url= http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tr-dojo/reset-windows-passwords-with-the-help-of-linux/ ]How To[/url]


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 11:11 am
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Is the administration account enabled by default on 8?
If you've set one and forgotten it it might be easier to backup any documents from the user account, then do a clean install.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 11:34 am
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I think that might be the easiest option for me to be honest.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 11:37 am
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I'm at the Google-it-then-maybe-have-a-bash level

That was pretty much my level of experience when i tried it. There are plenty of guides around, such as [url= https://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-reset-a-forgotten-root-password-with-knoppix ]this one[/url]. I can't remember which guide exactly i used, but it certainly worked.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 11:58 am
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Pa55w0rd. It's always Pa55w0rd.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 12:50 pm
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There are plenty of guides around, such as this one.

That's for resetting a [i]Linux[/i] password.

If it's not blank, you can reset it with Nordahl's. https://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 12:51 pm
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Isn't your 8.1 linked to your email account so you get a password 'hint' reminder?


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 2:35 pm
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That's for resetting a Linux password.

So it is! Sorry, didn't read it properly.


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 3:11 pm
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Ok thanks, I'll have a look at those suggestions


 
Posted : 24/04/2016 4:06 pm

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