Passwords

James,

I'm just drafting out the procedure. There is one fact that I'd prefer to know but am writing things out so that it will work in either case.

What I would prefer to know is whether or not the subject computer has a 64 bit Windows ["x64"] or a 32 bit Windows ["x86"]. This affects which Type of Installation USB needs to be made.

If you do know the answer then please post it. If you do not know then that's fine. I'll assume 32 bit because that will work in both cases.

I'm really slow typing out procedures so it'll take me half an hour. If you do reply then I'll take account of that before completing my post.

All the best,
Denis

James,

Great. That saves me some typing.

Denis

James,

I've assumed 64 bit. That simplifies stage 1 by removing the need for umpteen ifs, buts & maybes in it.

Don't let yourself get overawed by the number of parts in the procedure.
- Each individual step within each heading is relatively simple even though the whole journey might be thought of as complex.
- I realise you have built your own computer but I have still tried to avoid misunderstandings by writing the procedure as though you would not know what was happening during it all.


1 Make an installation USB on your own computer

Make the InstallUSB using Option 1 of Create Bootable Installation USB - TenForumsTutorials
- It will download the "Media creation tool" which you then run to make the InstallUSB.
- Note that it is step 5 of the tutorial that forces it to make the InstallUSB rather than attempt to do anything to your own computer.
- When you get to step 8, choosing the USB flash drive option will get the rest of the job done for you.
- When you have finished, test the InstallUSB in your own computer to check that it works correctly. Just complete the boot up to the first screen [asking about keyboard layouts and languages] then turn the computer off again without letting it do anything.


2 Boot from the installation USB on the subject computer

Turn off the subject computer, connect the InstallUSB, turn the computer back on and look to see if a Bios or Boot order key is identified onscreen at the time the computer maker's logo is onscreen.
- If the keys are not explicitly identified at that stage then have a look at, for example, How to Enter the BIOS on Any PC: Access Keys by Manufacturer | Tom's Hardware or go to the computer maker's support site / forum and search there.
- Choosing the Boot sequence key is the more direct method and is a one-off change that will not affect future booting. If you go into the Bios to change the boot sequence from there then just make a note to change it back again when everything is done.
- If the computer refuses to boot from the USB despite the right setting having been made then it indicates that "Secure boot" has been enabled. In this case, you'll have to go into the Bios to turn that off. Personally, I'd go to the computer maker's support site / forum to find guidance on doing this because some Bioses are just awkward about having to alter other things at the same time. There is some general guidance in Enable or Disable Secure Boot - TenForumsTutorials

When you get to the screen with the Install now choice, press Shift-F10 to get straight to the Command prompt or get there by following follow through the menu system as described in Option 1 of Open Command Prompt at Boot - TenForumsTutorials


3 Enable the "Built-in Admin" account

This is the bit you might not like. If you have never had to do it before then it looks daunting but many people have done it over the years [I've done it a dozen times or more].

You will need to use Option 5 of Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account - TenForumsTutorials
- None of the other options are valid for what you are doing
- What you are doing in this stage is manipulating [from the outside] part of the Registry of the installed Windows on that computer.


4 Log in to the "Built-in Admin" account

Now restart the computer and you will see an additional user at the password entry screen. That user's UserName is Administrator and it is the "Built-in Admin" account. Select it and then log in without entering a password.
- The "Built-in Admin" account has no password by default.
- If the "Built-in Admin" account rejects your log in attempt with a message about the password being wrong then it must have been given a password by the previous owner.

- This would be unusual but some people do it.
- In this case, boot from the Installation USB again then use this method of retrieving the contents:-
Use InstallUSB Notepad as a rudimentary File explorer to backup files [post #33] - TenForums
- This method will work but is not as smooth as being able to get into the computer properly.
- You will not need to do any of the other things I've banged on about below [steps 5 onwards] because you will have done it all the awkward way instead.
- If you ask any questions about this please do make sure I realise you are having to use this method so I can respond appropriately.

5 Create another Admin user account [local, password-protected] for day-to-day use

Create a new local account & make it an Admin one.

Add Local Account or Microsoft Account - TenForumsTutorials
Change to Admin account type - TenForumsTutorials

Give it a decent password and write it down somewhere secure yet accessible.


6 Disable the "Built-in Admin" account

The "Built-in Admin" account needs to be disabled again because it would otherwise represent a passwordless back door into the computer. If you actually want a back door then go back to stage 5 and make a second Admin account instead [that's what I do].

Disable the "Built-in Admin" account using the same tutorial as before. You are now free to use any Option but I find Option 1 to be the simplest method.
Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account - TenForumsTutorials


7 Retrieve the existing contents of the computer

Now that you have control of the computer and are signed in to an Admin account you can give yourself complete access to the folders of the previous owner.
- Just open File explorer and browse to C:\Users to look for that previous UserName and then enter it. Windows will challenge you to authorise the access but only this first time.
- You can then copy off whatever you want to an external disk.
- Do note that the access you have just given yourself is permanent. Under normal circumstances you would not want a 'normal' user to have access to other people's folders but you're an Admin so you can do what you want.
- The computer is now in a fit state for normal day-to-day use. If you are going to pass the computer on to somebody else then I'd suggest keeping the Admin account to yourself and creating an additional Standard user account for them but that's a decision for you.
- If somebody was to buy a second-hand computer most people would suggest reinstalling Windows straightaway because there's no telling what's on it. In your case, however, you might be tempted to avoid the need to reinstall & set up a ton of applications by leaving everything at it is. That's also a matter for you.


Best of luck,
Do post back with any queries,
Denis

I once saw somebody report that Load hive was greyed out and it later turned out that they had not selected HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE first.

You can also select HKEY_USERS so try that instead.

And check that you have not accidentally clicked in the right-hand pane of RegEdit because that takes the focus off HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / HKEY_USERS which will also grey out the Load hive entry.

Before clicking on the File menu, check that you can see in the address bar
either

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

or

Computer\HKEY_USERS

Denis