Since we have forgotten the login password we cannot make any changes or get to a cmd prompt that has admin rights. Is there a way to change the user password? We cannot create a new user since we cannot get logged in as the administrator to do so. We have standard users and can get into those accounts but this does no good since that login is not able to create new users with rights.
I know this is a security feature from Microsoft and I totally understand. But we don't have a lot of options here. Reinstalling the OS is not an option because that would erase everything that is on the computer. Not all files are shared so we wouldn't be able to back it up completely and files would be lost.
Ok method three would be great if we could log into the account. But the password to login does not work...or at least it is not remembered.
So here is what there is:
1) Can't make the administrator active at cmd because we are not able to get there as an admin due to unable to recall the password.
2) Can't login as the administrator (see #1) can't login as the user administrator to create a password disk (or thimb drive)due to no password recall.
3) No longer have the OEM cd's reinstall the OS and besides which since not all of the files are shared we could not back everything up even if we did have a Vista cd.
There has to be a way to get this done. Surely Mr. Gates creates fail safes for the normal end user. I am very computer literate and even this one has me dumbfounded. Course it would have helped had the admin user created the other users with more than the standard setup or made the admin active. However, this was not done since this is my 13 year old neices laptop.
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