BS: My password will not work ??

Subject: RE: BS: My password will not work ??
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 08:01 PM

It might be as simple as upper/lower case... try that

Subject: RE: BS: My password will not work ??
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 06:59 PM

When you get the demand for your password... if there are two buttons... one for confirming the entry and the other saying CANCEL.... press your cancel button and see what happens.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: My password will not work ??
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 12:00 PM

Sorry Jeri, it is the computer itself that I cannot access, not just MudcatPages.
When I turn on the PC I get the page that asks for my "Password". When I type it in (I know it is the correct one) I am asked "Did you forget your Password ?" and am offered a "hint" by clicking on the ? mark. When I do this , the "hint" that I get means nothing and is not even a recognisable word.
Perhaps I should just forget about it ?
John , it sounds beyond my limited knowledge to be able to do any repairs such as you outline . But Thanks for your advise anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: My password will not work ??
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 11:30 AM

You're talking about login onto the machine?

If you used a "user password" and also had an "Administrator" password, the simplest thing to do is to log on as Administrator and create a new user account. Just ignore the old one. The Administrator should be able to access all the files the old username had, and copy/move them to the new account.

If you didn't create a password for "Administrator" you may be able to just log in as "Administrator" with just a blank password.

Passwords in WinXP are stored in BIOS, and are encrypted so that there is no reasonable way to read one out. In the extreme case recovery from a lost password involves shutting down the computer and (usually) removing the battery, and (usually) shorting a couple of pins on the BIOS chip to dump the BIOS memory, then (usually) reloading enough of Windows to create a new Administrator account, followed of course by creating a new username. You will need very specific instructions from your computer manufacturer to get the right pins and procedure, as a "minor slip" can destroy the BIOS chip and/or its program/setup.

It's possible that your computer sat for long enough for the internal battery to run down, which allowed the BIOS memory to dump itself, so the computer no longer remembers the password you used.

If you have your WinXP installation CD, booting from it may let you in to reinstall, as the Administrator password probably also is lost. An "overlay" reinstall of Windows, without reformatting the drive, isn't likely to lose data, but there are no guarantees on that. A "normal" install of Windows usually does reformat by default, so you'll have to intercept the default to tell it not to format.

Vague maybe, but I'm on a quick trip home from the WVA fest, and can't do lookups now.

John

Subject: RE: BS: My password will not work ??
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 10:04 AM

You go to the Login page, type the stuff in and what happens?

Do you get the 'We did not match...' message?
Something else?

Subject: BS: My password will not work ??
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 09:53 AM

I kept my old Desktop PC after the Xmas Pressie Laptop was delivered. For the first time since then (Xmas) I tried ,just now ,to access it through the password that I had always used (having set it up myself and - against all advice- kept it hidden underneath the processor) No Go however, I cannot get in . Is there any "Quick Fix" to be used or do I need to go to town to get a computer scientist ??
The old machine, if I may so describe it, ran Windows XP (I always found it easier to type on too ...sh, sh!)