My computer won't recognize my password. Help!

[Strephon]

Hi guys,

I'd be grateful for your help and advice.

My notebook computer won't recognize my password although I've gone in twice a day for two years without problem. I assume something's become corrupt.

What to do?

I have Windows XP and IE 7.

Any advice would be appreciated.

BTW, I am reluctant to just take the notebook along to the local computer shop because of the .... er, naughty stuff thereon.

Am I fucked?

 

[evilest]

At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious;

have you checked the caps lock and number lock are in the right positions?

have you changed the password of an account on it that's got merged?

is it a personal login or is it the administrator access? If you can use the administrator access that's a good way to find out what happened.

Have you installed and software recently? It may have had a piggy-backer.

Failing these, if you don't want to take it to a store to get looked at, maybe see if anyone you know has experience in this?

 

[PatFrance71]

Maybe it's a problem with lower case/uppercase.

Some softwares make the difference between uppercases/lower cases ("A" and "a" are considered like two different letters). If you create a password "Titi" and type "titi", some softwares won't recognize the password (because of Titi/titi).

 

[Strephon]

Thanks for your replies, guys.

No, not an upper case/lower case thing - that was the first thing I tried.

To answer the other points raised by evilest:

Have you changed the password of an account on it that's got merged?

Haven't changed any passwords. The only password is mine and it's been the same from the beginning.

Is it a personal login or is it the administrator access? If you can use the administrator access that's a good way to find out what happened.

As I am the only pasword protected log in, I am, therefore, the administrator. The only other log in is for a guest (without password.)

Have you installed and software recently? It may have had a piggy-backer.

Yes, I have. Not sure what you mean by "piggy-backer" but I assume you are saying that installing that software may have carried with it some sort of bug which has caused this problem? In any case, the software installation was a week or so ago and all the log-ins since then (at least a dozen) have worked fine until just a short time ago.

 

[BullBearMS]

Sometimes on netbooks with their cheaper keyboards one of the modifier keys gets stuck in the down position. Pressing them a few times usually unsticks them. Check the shift, ctrl, and alt keys on each end of the keyboard to make sure they aren't stuck.

 

[Strephon]

Hi BullBearMS,

Thanks for the advice. I know it's not the keyboard on the notebook causing the problem, because when I'm not using the little notebook on the move, I have a desk in my office/study at home with a 22 inch widescreen LCD which I plug into, and also a separate wireless keyboard and remote. Despite having a "fiddly" little notebook when I'm out and about, I have the equivalent of a "proper" computer when I'm at home.

So, having the benefit of two keyboards (the small one on the notebook and the larger wireless "extension"), I can confirm that neither keyboard will let me in.

Ignore the smile on my avatar because I'm really rather at the moment.

 

[trinket]

Is it a personal login or is it the administrator access? If you can use the administrator access that's a good way to find out what happened.

As I am the only pasword protected log in, I am, therefore, the administrator. The only other log in is for a guest (without password.)

Hey Strephon. I think the inquiry was meaning if you actually log on as the user named "Administrator". It's possible to logon as yourself, but with administrative privileges - your statement about since "you're the only password protected log on, you are, therefore, the administrator" could mean either way. Could you clarify?

A few things:

1) This page describes both a piece of software you can buy, and secondly, an involved technique, that may help you. Read and apply at your own risk.

2) There's a technique that can be used to logon as actual Administrator (often using the default password from day 1 of the Windows install, or if never logged on that way at all, sometimes it's (unbelievably) with no password at all against the "Administrator" account! See this), then reset the password for an admin-rights user. This describes it in a legitimate way. This way is more perform at your own risk.

3) See also if these general tips help or apply. Maybe something there will spark a brainstorm.


Sorry to hear you're having this issue. Must be frustrating for sure.

 

[seven2go]

Boot into safemode as the administrator which should not be passworded......a huge security joke in XP........once in you can change anything you want.
I did this by "touch and feel" when a village clerk turned everything on the computer BLACK by trying a new theme.......

 

[trinket]

I did this by "touch and feel" when a village clerk turned everything on the computer BLACK by trying a new theme.......

"Village clerk" or "village idiot"?

 

[seven2go]

LOL.....CLERK......
I had to take my netbook with me and LITERALLY count keystrokes in an attempt to create a new account to undo what she had done.
It was totally innocent on the clerk's part but it was scary until I got it undone.......

 

[Strephon]

Hi Guys,

I have made some progress since I last wrote.

In my opening post I said that “I am reluctant to just take the notebook along to the local computer shop because of the .... er, naughty stuff thereon.” It dawned on me that a “gay friendly” computer bod would be the go, so I phoned a local gay information line to see if they had the number of a gay computer technician or company in my area. The fellow I spoke to said he had a gay trade directory - trade as in plumbers, house cleaners, dog walkers - and yes, computer repairs. I was given a number and spoke to a very friendly guy who explained that he had fixed this problem quite a few times. Apparently it involves running a password removal CD in my computer.

I’m taking the computer to him tomorrow morning - so fingers crossed.

The password removal CD appears to be the same or similar to what I read when I followed the links given in trinket’s most helpful post. It all made interesting reading and I am now more enlightened that I was.

All things considered, I think it might be best to have an expert do the work rather than me, an amateur. I’m sure I would botch it. I have limited knowledge - for example, I don’t really follow seven2go when he says “Boot into safemode as the administrator which should not be passworded......a huge security joke in XP........once in you can change anything you want.”

Nor do I have all the facilities. The software given in trinket’s link needs to be downloaded and burned to a CD and I don’t have a CD burner or programme. So, it took just a few calls and it might cost a few more bucks but I feel better doing it this way. And who knows, the computer guy might be a hunk or a fox! The guy who installed my pay TV last month was (but that’s another story!)

Thanks again to all who took the trouble to reply, I do appreciate it.

I’ll let you know the outcome. Will it be a dancing banana - or a sad face?

 

[Jimboy121]

I'm not sure how my sister does it but she some time turns the keyboard into american style instead of english layout, do you use symbols in your password? when you go from english to american a couple of the simbols move places on your keyboard, just an idea, not sure if that could cause it.

 

[Strephon]

Thanks for the post, Jimboy.

As I mentioned earlier, I am able to plug my notebook into a large LCD screen and a wireless keyboard and mouse so if I'm doing a lot of work at home, I can turn the tiny notebook into the equivalent of a full size computer. As I have two keyboards (the notebook and the extension) and I cannot get in with either of them, I'm assuming the keyboard is not the problem.

Okay, I'm about to take the notebook to 'the man' and will report back when I have some news.

Where's the fingers crossed smilie?

 

[seven2go]

Yeah.......well.......screw the computer shit for a moment.......
Who's the dude in your avatar?....... .......

 

[bigwhiskers65]

I made a password sniffer disk and it worked great .
you might want to google that and make one. mine was created using linux but worked for XP.

 

[Jimboy121]

I didn't mean the actual keyboard, i ment the unversal settings of the keyboard, look at picture i sent to you via JuB mail to see what i mean, see how mine is defualt to English style layout and see how there is a US version, even though your keys are in the same place, when you press them doesn't mean your inputting what you think you are. Its hard to explain and probably a long shot but i have come across this before.

let me know what you think

 

[Strephon]

Good news guys,

I'm now up and running.

Thank God for that. Or, rather, thank my computer man!

I had to leave the notebook with him overnight, hence the delay in coming back to everyone.

He used a special CD to remove the password, and although he did explain in some detail, my eyes glazed over with the techie talk. None of that matters because I am now back in business, and that's the main thing.

Whilst writing ….

Bigwhiskers, the computer was already in the hands of the boffin by the time I read what you had to say. Thanks, though, for posting.

Jimboy121, I appreciate your follow-up post and PM with further details. I now see what you mean, but that was not the problem. Thanks so much for trying to sort this out , and that goes for all who posted.

I will probably never be able to return the favour on the Tech forum, but one day if you are ever after a pic of some twink/jock/hunk/daddy, I might be able to help you over on the naughty boards!

 

[spencer]

my computer asks for a password when windows starts. I hit cancel and it continues

 

[Corny]

^ that only worked in win9x