I am locked out of my Administrator account (very complicated issue)


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       #1

    I am locked out of my Administrator account (very complicated issue)


    I am currently on a different computer than the one where I am locked out of the Administrator account.

    Less than 3 weeks ago, I bought a new laptop that came with Windows 10 installed. When I finally set up the new laptop and tried out Windows 10 for the first time, I was annoyed at the whole thing with Windows blocking some programs from being installed and a lot of other annoying prompts. This is when I found out about a higher level of Administrator access known as a Super Administrator to avoid most of these prompts, and install programs without being blocked by Windows. So what I did created a new user account with the Command Prompt and gave it Super Administrator access without setting a password. Once I logged into my new user account, I deleted all of the other user accounts on my computer, since I had no need for the other user accounts (such as the Guest account).

    The real trouble happened when my computer crashed and experienced a BSOD. After the computer rebooted from the BSOD, I found out that I could not log into the Administrator account because it prompts for a password, but I never set up a password for the account. Inputting no password does not work. I am not sure how a password was set up on the Administrator account without my knowledge and whether this might have been related to my BSOD crash.

    I have made an attempt to get back into my only user account, but nothing has worked so far. All of the built-in Windows diagnostic tools have failed to work, since they all require that I log into the Administrator account, which I am unable to do. My original plan was to use the option to reset my PC that lets me keep my files, but that won't work without having access to the Administrator account. I have no idea what password is on my Administrator account considering that I never set up a password and somehow the account now has a password on it.

    Does anyone have any advice on how to get back into my Administrator account?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Hyperspace, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    If you like, you could boot from a Windows 10 installation USB to advanced startup options, then reset Windows 10 at boot.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html

    Reset Windows 10
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for your response. I have a USB drive that I can use, so I will download this tool and set up a bootable USB drive for re-installing Windows 10. I will report back here later on to confirm if this solves my problem.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I have made an attempt to re-install Windows 10 from a USB drive, and I have no idea what options to select during each step of the process. Although the instructions for setting up the USB drive were pretty clear and had plenty of screenshots, this is not the case when it comes time to actually using the USB drive to re-install Windows 10. Since I cannot take any screenshots of the prompts that come up during each step of the process, I will type out the text that is shown.

    This is the very first prompt that comes up after my computer detects the bootable USB drive:

    It looks like you started an upgrade and booted from installation media. If you want to continue with the upgrade, remove the media from your PC and click Yes. If you want to perform a clean installation instead, click No.

    I have no idea which option to choose here, since I don't want to pick the wrong option and lose my personal files completely.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #5

    A reset would basically be the same as doing a clean install. You will lose anything that you don't have backed up to another location. If you don't have a backup, then you could use the method in the tutorial below to back up your files before doing a reset.

    Peppermint Live CD/DVD/USB - Create for Emergency Backup - Windows 7 Help Forums

    You would use OPTION FIVE below to boot to advanced startup when you boot from your USB.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html

    You would then follow the steps below to reset.

    Reset Windows 10
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I had no problem setting up Peppermint Live on a USB drive and obtaining all of my personal files before proceeding with a complete re-install of Windows 10. Re-installing Windows 10 fixed my issue and I am no longer locked out of the main Administrator account. I can say right now that my issue has been solved.

    The only thing left for me to do is re-install some programs that I lost from re-installing Windows, but this will be fairly easy to do.

    This time around, I have set up a second Administrator account with an actual password on it in the event I get locked out of my main Administrator account (no password).
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #7

    I'm glad to hear that you were able to get all your files backed up, and that everything is ok now.
      My Computers


 

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