Vista - Windows Vista Admin Password forgotten

Can anyone help. My has has for some reason re-set his Administrator
password and forgotten what he set it to (don't you just love em) I have the
Vista disc but don't know how to reload vista as when I try it still asks for
the Admin password. All he can do as work on the internet as everything else
asks for this password. I am afraid to experiment in case I mess everything
up although he doesn't have anything saved or in files as he only had the
system at Christmas. We got it from Mesh but I have tried without success to
get help from their helpline, in fact I can't even get my calls answered.
Any help would be gratefully received.

Hi,

So you're saying that you tried to wipe the HDD with the Vista DVD, and it asks for a password? Try booting with the DVD---place the DVD in the tray, reboot the system, and wait for the words "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD". Then follow the instructions.

Microsoft wrote a KB article that can help.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940765/en-us

In short, boot from the DVD, choose Repair Option in the lower left corner
and follow the screens to the Repair Options.
Choose System Restore and Restore to a date before the administrator
password was changed.

CharlesE


"chezchat" <chezchat@xxxxxx> wrote in message
newsF69A3FA-F0A6-446A-9F9B-762A2B2610F4@xxxxxx

Hi Chezchat,

In addition to CharlesE's post, this tutorial will show you a few methods to reset the password so you can gain access again. If the System Restore does not help (Method 5), then you may have to do Method 3.

Reset User Account Password

Shawn

Thanks for the help but the system restore date only goes back to the
beginning of March and this problem has been going on for longer than that.
I ticked a box for more restore dates but still only got March. I think I am
going to have to completely reinstall windows but don't know how.

"CharlesE" wrote:

Thanks Brink but I don't like the look of using method 3. On the FAQ there
seem to be so many things that could go wrong and it will be just my luck I
will have one of them. As my son has done nothing on the PC since he had it
than use the internet I think the safest to just reinstall Vista. I just
need directions on how.

"Brink" wrote:

Chezchat,

Many people have used it without problems, but it is your choice and computer.


It depends on what you have to reinstall Vista with.

If you have a "full retail" or "OEM Express" Vista installation DVD, you can use the method below in this tutorial. A "OEM Recovery DVD" is almost the same, but a little different on setup. A "OEM Recovery partition" will need to be booted into to run like a OEM Recovery DVD. Usually you press something like F10 or F11 every second until you see the Recovery screen. You will need to look through your computers documents to find out the exact key to press. They vary between brands a bit.

Clean Install with a Full Version of Vista


If you have a upgrade retail Vista installation DVD, then this will show you how to do a clean install with it.

Clean Install From Upgrade Vista

Hope this helps,
Shawn