Vista - Forgot Admin Password: Windows Vista Home Basic

try this:
*http://blogs.ibibo.com/reset-windows-password*


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sany
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Try your best to recall the password. If you can't, you have to empty
the old password.
As far as I know, there are two solutions for you. one is to reinstall
your OS, another is to reset the password with a third part utility.
（here, take "windows password unlocker" for example）

I do not recommend the first solution. Once you reinstall the OS which
must result a data loss. In the terms another method, you need a second
computer that can link to Internet and blank CD. As following,
1. Login to a second computer that can link to Internet. download
Windows Password Unlocker 4.0 and decompress it on that PC. Note that:
there is a .ISO file,you need to burn the .ISO file to a CD.
2 Get out the newly created CD and insert it to the locked computer.
Thirdly, re-booted the locked computer and then followed the process of
instructions. Just a few steps, the old password was removed.


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happykaka
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I've forgotten my password and tried the method 3 thing I keep reading about and once it goes through to the point that it get to the reset the password option...once I put 1 in it says the SAM hive isn't loaded...but it says it is???
I don't know what i'm doing wrong or what gives??? I really need in to my account to retrieve my papers for school.
And on another note i tried the Windows Password Unlocker 4.0 and it loads and gives me the option to click on my username name which is the only admin account and it just says congratulations this version is fully compatible with windows yada yada but it doesn't give the the congratulations your password is reset.

If you referring to the Offline NT registry editor program then read this

Reset User Account Password

and

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor

Yes I Am. I get to this point

======== chntpw Main Interactive Menu ========

Loaded hives:

1 - Edit user data and passwords
2 - Syskey status & change
3 - RecoveryConsole settings
- - -
9 - Registry editor, now with full write support!
q - Quit (you will be asked if there is something to save)


What to do? [1] ->


I Put 1 in and it comes up with the error message that SAM is not loaded or booted BUT in the loaded hives it says SAM???

Did you hard shutdown? As in did you hold the power button till it shutdown?

Yes.
I'm assuming I need to correctly shut down the computer and not just get aggitate and do the hard shutdown?

Correct. Run the computer and shut it down and power it up about 3 times. Shutting it down correctly should resolve this matter. Post back

Well I tried that and still got the same error.

Hmm... Are you sure your following the instructions correctly?