Microsoft password lost

[Rideski]

A client offered to sell me a refurbished desktop PC at a decent price with some nice software. I didn't need it urgently but took the opportunity. Left it sit for a while and when I went to boot it up turns out he forgot to reset password, and forgot what original was. Now he's kinda flaked out and unavailable. Hard to get too demanding with him given the business relationship.

I see several hits on google about starting in safemode and bypassing, resetting, but they are all a bit out of my realm. I would like to accomplish this without eliminating the software that is loaded (CS5 among others) as that was the main reason to buy it vs the actual hardware.

Anyone know of a surefire method to reset password?


Thanks.

[::: :::]

kick your friend in the nutsack?

[Skidog]

dont know what OS version you're running but this usually works...

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

[stuckathuntermtn]

^^^Yeah, something like that or Tinity tools.
If it's a used computer, you should just reformat anyway. You have an OS disk?
If not, you can just find an iso and use the code on the back (if it has one).

[Rideski]

Thanks.

Windows 8
No disk.

I see one of the dangers on the FAQ of that link is losing data, and there is no data (of mine) only the programs.

[huckbucket]

^^^Yeah, something like that or Tinity tools.
If it's a used computer, you should just reformat anyway. You have an OS disk?
If not, you can just find an iso and use the code on the back (if it has one).

Engrish as a second language?

[Skidog]

Thanks.

Windows 8
No disk.

I see one of the dangers on the FAQ of that link is losing data, and there is no data (of mine) only the programs.

never used that tool with windows 8 but im nearly positive that part of the OS Core has remained unchanged. I have also never lost data. Only potential data loss I could imagine is anything that might be associated with the account you are resetting. I would reset Administrator, rarely if ever is thee anything saved there.

Good luck

[stuckathuntermtn]

Engrish as a second language?

I think the coffee hadn't set in yet.
Can you reformat with any 8 disk as long as the version matches? The serial number is usually tied to the BIOS now, so I'm not sure what you do.
And clearing the account password generally doesn't result in any data loss. I've done it a few times before.
ETA: it looks like you can clear a Windows 8 password like any other Windows NT based password, and then Windows 8 has its own built in reformat tool. Neato.

[RShea]

The only issue that a password reset (or blanking the password out and making it so there is no password) is if you have any data that is encrypted and stored. There are tools to do it, boot disks, or you can just boot with another Windows start-up disk and work some magic with renaming a few files and copying a file onto the disk. However Windows 8 has capability of using a local password, or be tied to a Microsoft Live password online. If the user login has an email address then it is an online account that can be recovered if the person with the email address can follow the procedures.

[RShea]

^^^Yeah, something like that or Tinity tools.
If it's a used computer, you should just reformat anyway. You have an OS disk?
If not, you can just find an iso and use the code on the back (if it has one).

Tinity tools- must be for the Tin Man. it is Trinity....

[stuckathuntermtn]

Me speak engrish good.

[cwuirmm]

No one try Ophcrack or UUkeys? these two are much better than ntpasswrd to reset windows password, which is really hard to use for beginners.

[MESH]

I've used ntpassword a few times on Windows 8 and it works fine.

[Kamller]

No one try Ophcrack or UUkeys? these two are much better than ntpasswrd to reset 7 windows login password, which is really hard to use for beginners.

I will try , if i have password reset disk ,the problem is solved very well