Password failure


  1. Posts : 208
    W10
       #1

    Password failure


    I have a Dell PC which has accounts for all members of the family - W10
    Myself as admin others as users
    I don’t use it … as I have my own PC.

    Daughter advised me Anti-virus about to expire – went to install new license and it does not accept (or I have forgot) my password.

    Is there a way of getting a pwd reset ? ………… when I click pwd reest option on login it asks for a USB drive to be installed ? … no idea why, or what that will lead to.


    My daughter still has access OK if that will give me a way to fix this?

    It is no big issue if I have to lose my config – all my files are elsewhere, but don’t want to lose daughters files or the W10 license.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,345
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #2

    You have a local admin account
    When a password is created for a local account, a Password Reset Disk should be created. Unfortunately if the password is forgotten or eventually isn't accepted for whatever reason, that's the only way to address your password issue that I know of.
    Create Password Reset Disk on USB Flash Drive in Windows 10
    Create Password Reset Disk on USB Flash Drive in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

    It doesn't sound like this is the case, but do any of the other users have an admin account or a Microsoft account?
    --- Just asking because if only one other account is an admin account it would be possible to fix your issue.
    There is another possible option but this is very rarely done.
    --- Was a Built-in Elevated Administrator Account ever created?

    Since your daughter still has access, save all her data in her account on an external hard drive, USB flash drive or other reliable location.

    The W10 license will not be affected.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 30,123
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #3

    You can also use Option 5 of this tutorial to activate the built in administrator to change your password.

    When I set up PC and people only want local accounts I always create an Alt Admin as a second set of keys to the car.

    Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10

    Once you are back in you might want to look at using a Microsoft Account. You can reset online.


    Ken
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 208
    W10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I'll go read - thanks
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,345
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #5

    Caledon Ken said:
    When I set up PC and people only want local accounts I always create an Alt Admin as a second set of keys to the car.
    Ken
    I've got to remember that statement for when I help someone.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 208
    W10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Caledon Ken said:
    You can also use Option 5 of this tutorial to activate the built in administrator to change your password.

    When I set up PC and people only want local accounts I always create an Alt Admin as a second set of keys to the car.

    Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10

    Once you are back in you might want to look at using a Microsoft Account. You can reset online.


    Ken

    OPT 5 requires me to boot from recovery drive .... I don't have one .... as my daughter still has access can one be created form her account.
    Alternatively I can quickly back up her pics & docs (not that much).... is there an easy way to delete all accounts and then create a new admin account .... I have no install discs , this was an in-place update from W7
    Will it impact any working programs installed ?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,345
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #7

    You can create a USB Recovery drive on another computer that has the same bittedness: in today's world I suspect it should be x64.
    Forum 4200 Create a Bootable USB Recovery Drive in Windows 10
    Create Recovery Drive in Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials
    --- In that case uncheck Back up system files to the recovery drive

    I'm not sure you can create a new admin account yet since you can't log-in to Windows with your in-place admin account or Microsoft account.
    --- But if you can enable and use an elevated administrator account that will help you move forward.
    Last edited by MeAndMyComputer; 17 Feb 2018 at 09:27.
      My Computer


 

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