Posted on 07/17/2016 1:45:48 PM PDT by raybbr
Okay, All kidding aside. I bought a Dell laptop for my son last week. It's W10. He needs it for high school.
I set it up and then put it aside for a week till I could get at it.
I forgot the admin password. I didn't use my MS account because I wanted it not to have my log in stuff when he opens it at school.
Now I cannot remember the password. I left a hint but I still can't remember it.
I have a W10 .iso disk. Does anyone know if I can use that to reset the laptop? There is nothing on it that I need. No data at all.
Thanks!
That's from How To Geek, a reliable web site.
If you did not get the Windows DVD, then You should have a recovery partition.
There is a way to boot the recovery partition from powerup, but you will have to consult your Dell manual.
You should be able to do it from the BIOS/UEFI.
IF you have the Win 10 setup disk you can boot that and try to do a reinstall. Or you can try doing a recovery from the recovery partition.
I’m sorry for your predicament.
Even sorrier that jokes are not wanted at this time. I’m thinking them but I won’t say them. Hope you get in within a couple hours.
If you just need to recover text files and normal data files, pretty much all current Linux distros will boot up and allow you to access them from your optical drive without touching your machine or its set-up.
If you need to access certain office-specific files such a a .doc instead of a .txt file, the more advanced distros allow you to run an MS-Office equivalent, usually Open Office or Libre Office that should allow you to access and view them.
More advanced recovery options such as password resets and reinstallation methods I will leave to the ‘doze experts to address since I do not normally work with that OS unless it is to run very specific softwares, and I already have multiple backups of them so I do not normally worry about lost passwords and such.
You might try pinging dayglored and see if he has any suggestions.
Cheers!
If the hint is Traitorous Bastard, the Password is “obama” in small caps.
Look up HiRen’s Boot CD. There’s a couple of password resetters on it.
After installation when Win10 "updated" the first time it hosed everything to the point it wouldn't even boot.
couple of months later, I got it to boot, but left it for later.
Since Win 10 DID work for a couple of weeks, I did have some data (from when it as running fine in Win7) on it which I need to save.
But Win 10 seems to have a different file system which does not play nice with my backup USB drives when using Win 7Pro.
As I said, good luck.
Did I mention I hate Microsoft and Windows 10?
Spare me the Linux option, guys.
Open the BIOS and set it so that the computer boots first from a CD.
then insert a CD of another OS —say, linux.
Then reboot. The computer will boot to the linux disk (but do NOT install linux, just run it from the CD).
then, from that CD, you should be able to get into windows and create a new administrator password.
Suggestion, I keep a notebook with nothing but passwords. As soon as I make a password I religiously write it down. Also I told the kids where I hide it in case something happens and the need access into my stuff.
Good advice.
In general, we don’t need to hide our passwords from our family. If someone is hiding their password from their wife (let’s say) then that’s a sign of a bigger problem. In general, there’s no need for it.
We want to keep our passwords secret from Hackers from Bulgaria, and such. Having a notebook in the house with your passwords written down seems like a good and perfectly safe practice to me.
Use the third method. Sticky Key Program rename. Print and follow the instructions exactly. I have bypass to Windows login screens all the time, my users are forgetful.
http://www.notebookreview.com/howto/how-to-change-or-reset-a-windows-10-password/
1-2-3-4.
You will have to answer some pretty tough questions!
I don’t like my spouse having any admin rights since there is a great deal about technology she simply doesn’t know and likes all those “free” baubles and games that cause trouble.
There is a guest account on my PC and the laptop too.
Let the games begin.
Here is the way I remember stuff. I first give my brain
the job of finding the “file” in which the password is
stored (in the brain). I then recite, out loud, the entire
ALPHABET fairly slowly. - Then I go about my business. A
little while later, out of the blue, the WORD or thing I’m
trying to remember WILL suddenly POP into my consciousness
even while I’ve forgotten I’ve charged my brain’s computer
with finding the file. -
In the future use the last eight characters of the Windows OS key for the admin password.
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