Laptop Lockout

[Moglet]

Hi all,

I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with "D"!

As in "D" for "Dork."

During the worst of my head-frelled days in the latter half of last year, I must have changed the password on my laptop, and now I can't log in.

Does anyone know of a (legal?) utility that can be used to solve a "forgotten Windows password" problem, or whether an authorised maintenance engineer can bypass and reset passwords?. Laptop's a Dell Inspiron, and operating system is Windows 2000.

If I had brains, I'd be dangerous...

[Dermot]

http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/0 ... rd-no.html

[Dermot]

and another one http://www.tech-faq.com/lost-windows-password.shtml

[Dermot]

Microsoft site http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258289/en-us

[prospero]

A genuine call to the MS helpline (paraphrased):

Caller: "Help. My PC has completely shut down!"

MS Operator: "Ok Sir. What exactly is happening with it?"

Caller: "It's not doing anything. Just a blank screen".

MS Operator: "What make is it and waht are the sysytem specs?"

Caller: "Errrrr....not sure"

MS Operator: "Have you got a manual?"

Caller: "Yes. I have it here".

MS Operator: "I should tell you the CPU power, operating system, amount of RAM, etc..."

Caller: "Yeah.... Sorry. it's a bit difficult to read. My torch batteries are running out".

MS Operator: "Excuse me....???".

Caller: "Yes. We are having a power cut at the moment."

MS Operator: "Right. I think I know what the problem is".

Caller: "Oh good. Is it serious?"

MS Operator: "Quite serious. Have you still got the box it came in?"

Caller: "Yes I think so".

MS Operator: "Good. I want you to unplug everything and pack it all back in the box".

Caller: "Ok. What do I do then?"

MS Operator: "Take it back to the shop you got it from and get a refund. You are too ####ing stupid to have one."



I realise this has nothing to do with retrieving lost passwords, but it's a giggle and at least there were no parrots.
btw. I write all my passwords on odd bits of paper with cryptic clues to what they refer to. That way no one knows what the heck they mean including me.

[Moglet]

I heard that.

[Moglet]

Oops! Apologies, Dermot. Forgot to thank you for the above links !

[Dermot]

Did you have any luck with the laptop!!!

If you want to start over I have found among some of my computer stuff a new unused box copy of Windows Professional 2000 OS (Operating System) ….it’s your for the asking……….I’m not sure if 2000 is still supported by Microsoft..

Just remember you will have to sort the drivers etc for the laptop if you don’t have the disks …………

Best regards

D

[Moglet]

Hi Dermot,

Still haven't had a chance to sort it out (having a bit of an 'In-house Spring Fair' this week - reps-a-gogo...). One of the links you gave me mentioned a work-around for lost passwords using the OS disk (the laptop has Win2000 Pro installed), so if the disk is going begging, pretty please I'd be delighted to have it, as I haven't got a clue where my own software is (several house moves then transfer of business to high-street - lots of boxes - you know the sceal ... ).

Address is on my website. You're a star.

[w00dward]

I think I have a tool which will help. I'll see if it supports Win2k.

Working for a paranoid company means they send me on all sorts of hacking courses. I've got a couple of CD's with all sorts of hacking and scanning software on.

Once you've got the tools, hacking is very, very easy.

[Dermot]

In the post today

[Moglet]

Cheers to you both!

[w00dward]

A very useful (not hacking) tool I have is The Ultimate Boot CD.

The tool your looking for on it is the offline NT password & registry editor. Details of this tool can be found here.

I have used this tool to gain access to machines which have been locked out. The CD is full of other useful tools which are very good when confronted with a temperamental computer.

*Disclaimer: Use at your own risk... blah blah blah*

[Moglet]

Blimey, Woodie! Read the walk-thru for the password change, and it scared the bejaybers out of me! My tech support days are embarrassingly far behind me. Once upon a time, I'd not have batted an eyelid at stuff like that. Can't say I miss those days, except when I have system problems...

Serves me right for not remembering the password. Wish I could get a utility to fix my "BioRAM"...

[w00dward]

Don't worry, if you burn the latest editor image to a cd and boot from it and follow the instructions you shouldn't go wrong.

It has worked for me in the past. If your not comfortable with this option I can investigate an alternative.

[Moglet]

Big thankyou to Dermot for the Win 2K disk and the link to password recovery with the disk. Unfortunately, the file NUSMGR.CPL wasn't there (huh?), but I'm pleased to report that I did actually manage to solve my laptop lockout ... ermmm ... as soon as I got to the DOS prompt...



mumble mumble .... Num Lock .... mumble mumble....



Whatever about the embarrassment factor, it's actually a relief to know that I hadn't gone nuts and forgotten my password after all (it really, really isn't like me). For some reason, the laptop is activating the number pad at boot time. OK, so I was playing all the wrong notes, but at least they were in the right order! Propellorheads, can I change this in setup? (Worked around it by plugging an external keyboard.)

Thanks to all for the hellp and suggestions. Very much appreciated, as I have much more peace of mind knowing that my backup PC is now accessible again.

I have not lost my mind. It's somewhere backed up on disk.