lilac

Can someone help me. I somehow changed the password on my HP computer. I can't enter it now!!! Not good!

Spider223

I can't help you, though I know there are ways to recover your password available.

Provide more information to others though, What version of Windows are you using?

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Hi Lilac. you should see a "forgotten your password?" highlighted in Blue below your sign in, press that and it will ask you for your e-mail address, enter that and it should send you an e-mail requesting a (new) password..hope I have made that clear enough..good luck.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Unless you have email access via your phone that will not work. If you can't login you can't get to your Email. Hopefully phone text if you don't have phone Email. If no smart phone i don't know.

Shutterbug1697 Loc: Northeast

How old is the computer?

What operating system is running on the computer?

Is it still under warranty? If it is, call tech support.

There are ways for a techie to get into a computer through a backdoor work around.

Also, someone can get in via Linux, using a Bootable disk.

But I would suggest that you start a Password Logbook going forward. They sell them at bookstores and stationary stores, or just get a small notebook that you dedicate for the purpose.

Back to your problem, what was the previous password that you last remember using? No don't tell us.

Did you possibly substitute one or more letters or numbers with special characters instead? By special characters I mean, think of the characters above the numbers.

Or did you add a number to the previous password?

If all else fails, you may need to take it in to a service center. But I don't recommend using Geek Squad, unless it's a last resort. I did a study on them for a college paper. Their business model is to sell hardware, not to dig into software ussues. This would be considered a software issue.

Do you have any files on this computer that you need access to? If you do, and you can't find anyone who can get in through a backdoor route, then Linux might be the only way to get to those files before someone tells you that they need to reformat your computer. Reformatting a computer is the choice of last resort, and not to be taken lightly.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Yes, Yikes, my old HP is stuck asking me for my admin password... clearly I have written both passwords for that old lap top on the lower right of the platform!! ?? did it change its self?
My sympathies... Net says pulse f9 when turning the machine on and it will take you to the BIOS.. did it, NO?

Cotondog Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada

My advice is to take it to your local computer shop. A couple years ago, I had a laptop that I needed an upgrade on. I had not used the lap top for months. Took it in, I could not remember the password I had used on that lap top. The tech said, "no problem." A few clicks later, he was into my computer, did my upgrade, I changed the password (well, he changed it for me), and all was good again. Good luck. Hope that will work for you.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Doesn't sound like computer failure. Rather operator malfunction.

Do you have a system recovery disk? https://www.itworld.com/article/2717184/consumerization/reset-a-windows-password-with-the-system-recovery-disk.html

bmike101 Loc: Gainesville, Florida

https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tr-dojo/reset-windows-passwords-with-the-help-of-linux/
When burning the iso remember the passwords you assign to it as you will need them later
password tips: use something you will always remember. for instance: I use a childhood phone nuber and my initials.I add dashes if I need it to be complex. sometimes I add the prefix. sometimes I add the area code and prefix. Here is a good idea for a very complex password.... use an address. For instance:
110NW39AVE#23BGainesvilleFL32609.
Nobody would EVER be able to figure that one out! Add your name to make it more complex.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I downloaded this on my sons computer and it solved my lost password problem
http://www.recover-windows-password.net/?gclid=CjwKCAiAqvXTBRBuEiwAE54dcA9XJc2x2nXdfxl2gOiXqhMeZfwbLOHxzEXbDX-ZuzT7brdylO-JQxoC3F8QAvD_BwE

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Can you not enter a password at all, or does it come up as an incorrect PW?

Largobob

As a quick aside, this whole issue should be of concern to any PC user. How secure is your computer (data, passwords, etc) if any number of methods (see above) will allow you (or someone else) to regain your sign-on? Think about it for a minute.

In the Mac world, there is a user-option to run "FileVault." FileVault securely encrypts all data on your system....so NO ONE can get access. Not the Apple Geeks, not the police, not even the US Government forensic scientists.

I am not sure how easily one can get a Mac started with lost/forgotten password. But I am sure that any data on my computer cannot be read if FileVault has been activated. If you have doubts or questions, just Google FileVault.

OlinBost Loc: Marietta, Ga.

Years ago I bought a program called "Spotmau" that will allow you to boot the machine and change passwords.

gekeller Loc: New Jersey

This may help.

<https://www.lifewire.com/free-windows-password-recovery-tools-2626179>

lilac

I'm sorry! I have been really busy and I never had a chance to look at this. It is Windows 10. Thanks for looking.