Vista - My PC is locked

This morning when I boot up my PC I got for the 1st time the request to enter "system password". I have never set up such a thing, only administartor password. I asked my son if he did not dabble with the PC yesterday and he assured me he did not. Now we are all punished in the family...
How can I unlock it without slapping him?

Thanks

Nescau wrote:
Is the request for the password when you immediately start the computer? If
yes, then this is a BIOS-level password and they don't magically get set by
themselves. You do the math.

If you have a desktop computer, unplug it from the wall and remove the
motherboard battery. The battery is a small circular coin-shaped battery.
Be careful not to damage any motherboard components. Now wait. Sometimes
you only need to wait a few minutes; other machines will take hours or even
overnight. So go get an iced tea of something.

Now put the battery back and start the computer. Removing the battery resets
the BIOS settings to default, which means no password.

If you have a laptop you'll need to call the laptop mftr.'s tech support for
instructions. Some laptop BIOSes can be reset by the end user and others
need to be sent to the factory for hard reprogramming.

If I have misinterpreted your post and the request for password is a
*Windows* password (not what it sounds like), then please post back
clarifying that.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Thank you very much indeed Malke. Yes it is the 1st request I get on the screen immediately when you press the start button.
I'll work on the motherboard battery when I am back home.

Cheers

Nescau wrote:
Let me know how it went and if you need more help.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Hi Malke,

Only found the time to do this now. Basically nothing has changed.
I did unplug the PC from the wall, unplug the other leads, put the PC on a table. opened the mother board, took the motherboard battery off, .
I did 1st: not putting the batttery back, plugged the PC without it and it was still asking for the same password.
2) Unplugged again PC, opened mother board, put the battery back, plugged again but it still requests password.
it is the only small circular coin-shaped spare part.
In your previous mail you say depending on the machine, one might have to be patient. so what result should I get? just that when I log on tomorrow it will just not ask for the password and will go straight into windows mode?
Reading carefully your instructions you say after unplugging and removing the mother board battery to wait a few minutes. What I don't understand is that what difference it makes to unplug it for a few minutes or for hours or a night when the PC is unplug in the first place. Is it a matter of trying again and again, sort of every 2 hours?