Hi can anyone help ? my daughter has forgot her log in password and the reminder question she set doesn't help either, I'm thinking the same as you. Any way is there a way of logging into her computer and resetting her log in details without losing anything ?

Dave, September 2011

To cg, passwords are NEVER EVER stored in a volatile way. Unplugging, and even removing the support battry for a few day will never erase any hardware password.
As OS and profile passwords are stored on disk along with system files, cutting off the power can't have any effect. Otherwize, it would also whipe out the OS, all applications and all saved files.

As T said, it would be unethical to post a "how to reset password" method on any public place. Even on a private forum, it would be very dubious.

Electro, September 2011

So where are you T, £30 sounds good depending where you are

Dave, September 2011

Sorry Dave. I am sure that you are who you say you are but it is just too easy for people to pretend to be some one else on the Internet. (Fifty year old paedophiles pretending to be pre-pubescent girls for example.)

I do this stuff professionally and in that case no proof face to face - no deal. I suggest that you get a quote first. Assuming that it is straight forward, I would charge £30.

T, September 2011

if i give you my personal email address would someone help me then ? or my phone number, I dont want to raid pc world or anything, just want to help my daughter out without spending a fortune on a dodgy computer shop who says it will cost more than the pc is worth, when it wouldn't.

Dave, September 2011

Thanks T..
I didn't mean as in to technical to explain, but not to explain on the net as you correctly said.

cg, September 2011

Sorry but that previous answer just won't work. If you think about it, if passwords were that easy to negate then there would be no point in using them. I am afraid that it isn't: "to (too?) technical to explain", it's nonsense. No PC hardware password can be reset like that and if it is the Windows password (more likely) then words fail me.

Assuming that the PC is running Windows, take it to a local Computer shop with ID and proof of ownership and they will reset the password for you.

I could explain how to do it but I have no intention of doing so (and I hope that no one else with either), not because it is too technical but because, in my opinion, to do so on an open forum so would be recipe for even more stolen PCs.

T, September 2011

Disconnect from mains,
And take the battery out,leave for 1/2 hr or so and it may forget any saved passwords?
there are several ways but to technical for me to explain.
I'm sure you will get a better answer from ELECTRO later?
It also means you will have to reset the clock ETC.

cg, September 2011