Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

How to recover Administrator password in Vista?

by May 1, 2012 2:30AM PDT

Does anybody knows how to recover a forgotten Administrator Password in Vista? It's a long story, my son(blame me) setup a password and the he forgot about it. Now he doesn't use the desktop because has his own laptop and I need to erase some unnecessary programs and to connect a new laptop to my home network.
I've been using the desktop as a regular user and I can't acces the administrator account.
The new laptop is a MacPro and the others are 2 HP and ! Dell. I cannot print from the Mac because they asking me for the administrator password to setup the printer.
Can you help me with this? Thanks.
PS. My last resource is to use the recovery disks( I don't want to) I'm not a computer expert, I just try my best reading your posts.

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Answer
Never needed to. Why? I can reset it in less than 5
by Forum moderator May 1, 2012 2:34AM PDT

I use NTPASSWORD and in less than 5 minutes it is reset and I'm in.

NTPASSWORD is free, found with google and is a simple menu driven system.
Bob

- Collapse -
How to recover Administrator Pasword in vista?
by Doublejmaster36 May 1, 2012 2:59AM PDT

Can it be used on a Home network?

- Collapse -
Again, never had to run it off the network.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 1, 2012 3:11AM PDT

Your question makes me think you didn't read about the title I noted.

NTPASSWORD resets the password on the machine I booted it from. It's that simple.

--> Now that you brought up "Home network" I wonder if the issue is not about the password at all.

----> Most folk never knew they had to create user accounts on the HOST PC. EXAMPLE FOLLOWS.

Let's say MILLS is the server PC with the printer. The USER on the client is called JACK. JACK does not have an account on the MILLS machine and will get a prompt for the admin password if they try to connect to the MILLS printer or server.

What kills most folk is that even with the admin password it still does not work.

Fixing this one is simple once you know to go to the MILLS PC and add JACK as a new user account.

Now JACK can connect to the MILLS PC because the MILLS PC server knows JACK.
Bob

- Collapse -
administrator password
by Doublejmaster36 May 2, 2012 6:25AM PDT

I have three user accounts: Administrator account(lost password), my account and my wife's account.
The problem is that I need the administrator paasword to install a new laptop to my home network.
Also I need to delete some programs that I don't use and the administrator authorization is required.
Also, as you know when a new program needs to be installed, authorization is required. I already tried OPHCRACK and it didn't work. Can you please, provide me with the link for NTPASSWORD?
Thank you for all your help on this issue.

- Collapse -
I typed NTPASSWORD on google.com
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 2, 2012 6:31AM PDT

And it was there. Sorry but this may not be for you. That is, this software is free, just a short 5 minute or less to boot and fix the issue but the menu (pick a number) may confound many of today's users.

Don't worry about it. Goto http://www.lostpassword.com and they have a system that is less work and has tech support ready to help you reset it for a very small fee.
Bob

- Collapse -
administrator password
by Doublejmaster36 May 2, 2012 8:18AM PDT

The Reboot menu number to pick the drive with the cd to reboot?
Thanks a lot for trying to help.

- Collapse -
As I noted.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 2, 2012 4:08PM PDT

NTPASSWD is too hard for many. I suggest you use the other system since the articles about NTPASSWD are too hard.

Don't worry about it. Lostpassword.com is cheaper than a repair counter.
Bob

Back to Windows Vista forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info