setting up new user account

rawlins02

New Member
I need to set up a new account on a desktop machine running Windows Vista Ultimate. I have no current access to this machine. That is, I don't know of any administrator account/password. During boot up when I press F8 it takes me to Safe Mode screen. I select Safe Mode and press Enter. The display then shows Windows loading files (says "loading files, please wait"). Then the login screen for a recent existing user comes up. I have no password for this user (previous employee that is no longer here). It is unclear if this is 'safe mode', and how I should proceed. I'm a novice with Windows OS. I'd like to set this machine up so that the login screen comes up with three accounts to chose from: (1) the existing user, (2) administrator, (3) a new user account. I want to set up 2 with a password and then 3 later when the new user (employee) arrives.

TIA
 

My Computer

If you have no access to the computer as of now, you could try to run Ophcrack to recover the password. Just download and burn the live cd and boot from it. It has worked many times for me when users forget there passwords. The free version will not detect special charactors though.

Ophcrack
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Laptop A505 S6965
    CPU
    Intel Core2 Duo P7350 2.0Ghz
    Memory
    4Gb DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 (512MB)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16in.
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500gig
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/896Kb
njknowledge77:

The How-to says to open an Elevated Command Prompt. This is done from the Start Menu. I can not get into a Windows account to get to Start Menu.

Thedarkside:

I suspect there is an easier way to access admin privileges without having to burn a CD of some 3rd party software. But perhaps I am wrong.


 

My Computer

The whole point of password protection is to make things not be easy.

The computer has no way of distinguishing between you and someone not entitled to access.

If a friend called me for advice with this kind of situation, I'd say, "Use Ophcrack."
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Compaq/SR5130NX
    CPU
    AMD AthlonTM 64x2 3800+
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
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