Reading mode: Light Dark

How to unlock apassword protected computer

Go to last post
E

edwardwallace

Well-known member
Messages
178
Reaction score
4
Location
London, UK
I was given a Dell 1200 Inspirion laptop comptuer the login is password protected how do I get access without wiping the computer?
 
There is a Linux utility named chntpw that can reset a password for you if you don't know it:

There are also "brute force" password breaking tools available if you want to try and find a password without resetting it. But, it's easier just to reset it using chntpw.

I haven't used this particular Live CD. But, a quick google search found it (it appears to be designed with only password reset using chntpw in mind). If for some reason it doesn't work, there are many more Live CDs with this utility on it. Note that it will not work on an encrypted partition. But, most users don't encrypt their windows partitions.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Note that the user interface for the chntpw utility is a bit odd. So, pay close attention to the keys you are supposed to be using to make your choices.
--
JimC
------
http://www.pbase.com/jcockfield
 
--

I had a computer and forgot the password I put into it. It happened to be a IBM at the time. Called tech support, and they said there was a way but refused to tell me, insisted I had to send it in to them for service.

After surfing the internet for a bit, stumbled upon the answer.

All you had to do was disconnect that little button battery for about 1 minute and wa la no more password to deal with.

Good luck finding it, every manuf. puts in a different place.

Worked back then. Don't know why it wouldn't still work?

Good luck..............................Sterling
 
It is a BIOS or an OS password?

I used a Linux-based Windows password resetter program. It is basically a mini special-purpose Linux with a character-based user interface on a CD, from where it can be booted. It will find the password stored within the Windows system and reset it to empty. I used it two times successfully out of three times. One success case was my father's PC where he forgot his password, the other case was a colleague's mother's PC with a forgotten password.

The third case was a newer laptop which the given utility could not cope with. It was the private laptop of a friend. He then took it to the office and asked the IT people there for advice, who had success a password cracker.

--
Balázs Iván József
(Hungary)
 
yeah.. or just reformat the drive.. or slave it to another pc and copy the files then reformat .. or something than just password "recovery"
--
Mike
WSSA Member #113

 
Not wanting to rain on anyones parade but I agree with B Bretz.

The OP say he was given the laptop, er I know I am cynical but this is a big world so we as the internet community have no idea whether this is 100% legal ~ if I am misjudging the OP and his kind benfactor I apologise now.

For the record - my company PC is a Dell laptop and the first thing I did was create a BIOS level password. Now Dell do offer a backdoor but you have to show/prove you are the legitimate owner - I would not want my business info or indeed any personal info to become public property should it ever get lost.

Oh, here is the UK there has been far too many government & company laptops "lost" with the data not protected. I have no doubt the number lost around the world in an equally unprotected manner is vast!!!!

:)
--
Living life a slice at a time

 
Box Brownie said:
Not wanting to rain on anyones parade but I agree with B Bretz.

The OP say he was given the laptop, er I know I am cynical but this
is a big world so we as the internet community have no idea whether
this is 100% legal ~ if I am misjudging the OP and his kind benfactor
I apologise now.
Click to expand...
Somebody posting this "suspicious" question, having a "locked, hot laptop", would he/she be posting this question on a photography forum, singed with apparently his own name, even with a link in his profile, to his smugmug account? Not very likely, is it? Or would this be a disguise, some false credential?
Box Brownie said:
For the record - my company PC is a Dell laptop and the first thing I
did was create a BIOS level password. Now Dell do offer a backdoor
but you have to show/prove you are the legitimate owner - I would not
want my business info or indeed any personal info to become public
property should it ever get lost.
Click to expand...
For the record- these BIOS passwords are easily broken with simple tools, perhaps not available on a photography forum, but very available on the net.

Same goes for programs to reset the windows password, they're even available from Microsoft.
Box Brownie said:
Oh, here is the UK there has been far too many government & company
laptops "lost" with the data not protected. I have no doubt the
number lost around the world in an equally unprotected manner is
vast!!!!
Click to expand...
BIOS and windows passwords don't protect sensitive data if the laptop is stolen. Not without a form of strong data encryption applied to the files.

JohnnyWB
--
pleeze ignore ze typo's ;)
 
Try this.Hold F8 while booting.Select Safe Mode.Use Administrator if asked for Pw.

-If successful go to Control Panel. User Accounts. Change or create new logon parameters.Best of Luck.
l
 
I have a bootable DVD that pulls passwords, there is software, search google and you will find ways, just don't use it to get into someone elses computer.
--
Markos B
http://markosphoto.com
 
I apologize to the OP if I seemed presumptuous, but sometimes the most seemingly innocent questions can be sinister in intention.

Anyway, sounds like some good info was shared in here, good luck!
JohnnyWB said:
Box Brownie said:
Not wanting to rain on anyones parade but I agree with B Bretz.

The OP say he was given the laptop, er I know I am cynical but this
is a big world so we as the internet community have no idea whether
this is 100% legal ~ if I am misjudging the OP and his kind benfactor
I apologise now.
Click to expand...
Somebody posting this "suspicious" question, having a "locked, hot
laptop", would he/she be posting this question on a photography
forum, singed with apparently his own name, even with a link in his
profile, to his smugmug account? Not very likely, is it? Or would
this be a disguise, some false credential?
JohnnyWB said:
For the record - my company PC is a Dell laptop and the first thing I
did was create a BIOS level password. Now Dell do offer a backdoor
but you have to show/prove you are the legitimate owner - I would not
want my business info or indeed any personal info to become public
property should it ever get lost.
Click to expand...
For the record- these BIOS passwords are easily broken with simple
tools, perhaps not available on a photography forum, but very
available on the net.
Same goes for programs to reset the windows password, they're even
available from Microsoft.
JohnnyWB said:
Oh, here is the UK there has been far too many government & company
laptops "lost" with the data not protected. I have no doubt the
number lost around the world in an equally unprotected manner is
vast!!!!
Click to expand...
BIOS and windows passwords don't protect sensitive data if the laptop
is stolen. Not without a form of strong data encryption applied to
the files.

JohnnyWB
--
pleeze ignore ze typo's ;)
Click to expand...
--
http://www.bradbretz.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradbretz/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ken Seals
Win 11 24H2 changed password protected sharing
Replies
9
Views
10
JahnG
JahnG
DMKAlex
  • Question Question
Is Windows 11 Defender Firewall good enough?
Replies
10
Views
380
skyglider
S
N
  • Question Question
Stylus for Dell touchscreen but not 2-in-1?
Replies
5
Views
55
NAwlins Contrarian
N
B
Refurbished Computers, please add to this list...
Replies
10
Views
30
Blackhat Jake
B
J
Windows 10 End Of Life
Replies
6
Views
7
Eric Carlson
Eric Carlson

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top