Poll: Have you ever forgotten your Windows Admin password?

And I knew that one. I wrote it down anyway.

It happened to me once and that was enough. I re-installed Windows XP on the same partition (Windows.001). I was able to use the new ADMIN privileges to retrieve the information.
Since then I keep all my passwords in a compressed, encrypted folder stored in the CLOUD in multiple places and on external storage. I have installed a lot of Windows, NT, XP, 7, 8, Server. I always set up a backup ADMIN user right away with a very long password phrase I can't forget. I also use the password hint creatively.
I don't want to sound like a nag but installing any OS is a serious business and you need to take your time and do it right the first time. A good idea is to PLAN a little bit and make some notes before you start. If you don't know enough to make notes maybe you need some help.

First off, there are plenty of free and effective password programs out there that will allow you to change all passwords including the administrator passwords.

For a Tech to have told anyone that it was hopeless to try and recovery their computer leads me to think two things, He either wanted more money to use one of these programs to straighten out the password problem or that he doesn't know what he/she is doing.

I build custom white box computers for local people and I often have people who bring their computers to me and I just use one of these programs to remove the password and then I notify them that I removed the password so that they can place a new or put the old password on the computer.

IF anyone every went to the problem of placing a CMOS password to keep people from accessing their computers, the easy was past this is to un plug the desktop, remove the side panel, find the CMOS battery, remove the battery for a minute or so and then replace the battery, place the side back on and they power up.

The password will be gone and they can either leave the password off or place it back on.

I would never format a computer just because of a password issue. You can find good programs that are safe, effective, and easy to use.

Laptop computers are not made where you can get pass the password problem as easy without a program.

Like anything else, research the programs that are found on sites you trust. There are some programs that can be destructive so be careful.

How about storing your password, with your voice, in an .mp3 file. You don't have to actually 'speak' the word - just describe it...

...my best holiday location ...my dog's name plus the cat and the budgerigar ...etc ...etc

Store it on a CD and keep it with your CD/DVD collection

NOTE: You will need a player of some sort, other than your PC, in order to retrieve it. DON'T store it on your PC... doh...!!!

We have a laptop that was in a car accident that we now use exclusively for video streaming to our TV. Recently, I thought it would be pretty cool to boot directly to the desktop bypassing the logon screen that lasts a whole 10 seconds or more. (I know) I followed some online instructions and altered some registry settings and unchecked the boot to logon. When I set up the automatic logon I even purposely left the password blank. Upon reboot, I was perplexed to find it had downgraded my original admin account to user/guest account and created another admin account with its own password. Fortunately, we can still logon to the now downgraded account so we can still use it to watch Hulu and Netflix on our TV, but since it has been changed to guest user we have no control and when we try to logon to the new admin user apparently windows assigned a password itself and did not think it necessary to let us know. Since the car accident destroyed the display and damaged the keyboard and cddrive and the laptop will not restore from the hidden partition, will not boot to safemode or bios to change boot order. I have no choice but to pull the hard drive and reinstall windows 7 on it then put it back in. Not a big deal but it goes to show that losing control of the user admin password can happen and for the weirdest of reasons.

I had forgotten my password. A temporary password was sent to my email. I was able to go to the Microsoft website to reset my password using my other computer which has a Window 7 operating system (no password needed on that computer). This time I wrote down the password for next time.