eskimopie wrote:
>
> After a series of power outages, my Gateway Vista 64 is now asking for a
> password which was never set for user. Additionally there is no visible
> ability I can find to select a different user (admin?). Lastly I just
> tried a Vista 64 compatible password reset app which said it completed
> successfully, but after reboot it is again asking for password - what to
> do? I do not have password rescue disk because again no password was
> ever given to machine, it just started up and loaded as it should have
> until now. Help!?
1. In Vista, if you neglected to create an extra emergency user account that
has administrative privileges (and now you see why doing this is A Good
Thing), you will need to use NTpasswd to enable the built-in Administrator
account (disabled by default) and set a null (blank) password. Enabling
this account will put an icon for it on the logon screen so you can then
log on.
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
Download the CD image (.iso) and burn as an image, not as data. You will
need third-party burning software. Then boot with the CD you created and
follow the directions. After you've finished with NTpasswd, remove the CD
and reboot the computer. Log into the Administrator account you enabled.
(Note - If the unnamed "Vista 64 compatible password reset app *was*
NTpasswd, you were doing it wrong. Reboot with it and read the instructions
more carefully next time.)
2. Once you have logged into the built-in Administrator account, go to
Control Panel>User Accounts and create:
a. An administrative user account - call it "CompAdmin" or "Tech" or the
like. This account will only be used for emergencies and elevation.
b. A Standard user account for your daily work.
3. Log out of the built-in Administrator user account and log into
CompAdmin. While in CompAdmin, disable the built-in Administrator account
for security purposes:
Start Orb>Search box>type: cmd
When cmd appears in Results above, right-click it and choose "Run as
administrator" [OK]. Now you will get the command prompt. At the command
prompt type:
net user administrator /active:no [enter]
Exit the command prompt.
Now go to Control Panel>Users and fix your user account's password (and make
it a Standard user if it isn't already). Log off CompAdmin and into your
own daily user account.
Considering purchasing an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A decent one
is about $60 and is totally worth it.
Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
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