Older lap top, forgot password: I have a HP, I believe, lap top PC that I have not used in quite a while and I forgot the password. There are image files on the hard drive I'd like to...

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have a HP, I believe, lap top PC that I have not used in quite a while and I forgot the password. There are image files on the hard drive I'd like to retrieve and although the screen is a little screwed up, I can use the PC with an external monitor.
Does anyone know the back door into the PC? If you can help me please message me with instructions.
Thank you, much appreciated...

wwright Loc: Tucson

If there is sufficient disk space, you can install a second OS and boot from it. Be sure not to format the disk though. Once you are able to log in from that installation, you can see the all the files on the disk.

dandekarv Loc: Lake Forest, Ca, US

If you can, remove hard drive from laptop. Use USB case and use this hard drive as an external usb drive with other pc or laptop. You can transfer data to other pc or laptop.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

dandekarv wrote:

If you can, remove hard drive from laptop. Use USB case and use this hard drive as an external usb drive with other pc or laptop. You can transfer data to other pc or laptop.

This is what I just did. You can get a case from Amazon for about $8 and it comes with a USB3 cable.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jeep_daddy wrote:

This is what I just did. You can get a case from Amazon for about $8 and it comes with a USB3 cable.

My vote also!
(Adding another OS used to require partitioning, which would be included in formatting.
Removing the hard drive would be MUCH simpler, especially if the computer will no longer be used.

wwright Loc: Tucson

Longshadow wrote:

My vote also!
(Adding another OS used to require partitioning, which would be included in formatting.
Removing the hard drive would be MUCH simpler, especially if the computer will no longer be used.

With Windows, you can add another copy of the OS and have a dual boot machine without partitioning, or formatting. When I was working, we did this often with the server version of Windows to recover corrupted systems. You can also try pressing the F8 key to access the advanced boot options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Computer' option.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

wwright wrote:

With Windows, you can add another copy of the OS and have a dual boot machine without partitioning, or formatting. When I was working, we did this often with the server version of Windows to recover corrupted systems. You can also try pressing the F8 key to access the advanced boot options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Computer' option.

How things change from ye olden days...

Would any of the boot options allow a reset of the password or start-up without one?
Would see counter productive for keeping the computer secure.

tjw47 Loc: Michigan

You did not say what operating system you ahve...
There are several CD'S available on the internet that you can change windows passwords

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

get hold of a linux disk - you can run linux WITHOUT installing it. You could then either move your files to a usb or reset your password

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

G Brown wrote:

get hold of a linux disk - you can run linux WITHOUT installing it. You could then either move your files to a usb or reset your password

+1 for this option

Although the one removing the HDD to an external enclosure is viable.

All this options will work if HDD not encrypted.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Longshadow wrote:

My vote also!
(Adding another OS used to require partitioning, which would be included in formatting.
Removing the hard drive would be MUCH simpler, especially if the computer will no longer be used.

This is what I got and used:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jeep_daddy wrote:

This is what I got and used:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OJ3UJ2S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That'll work.

I have a (USB) dock that holds two drives (both regular internal and skinny).
I wound up with two 500Gb and a 1Tb Seagate Barracuda drives. Comes in handy for wiping drives for friends and additional backup for me.

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

Longshadow wrote:

That'll work.

I have a (USB) dock that holds two drives (both regular internal and skinny).
I wound up with two 500Gb and a 1Tb Seagate Barracuda drives. Comes in handy for wiping drives for friends and additional backup for me.

I have one of those myself it comes in quite handy for file recovery.

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

rmorrison1116 wrote:

I have a HP, I believe, lap top PC that I have not used in quite a while and I forgot the password. There are image files on the hard drive I'd like to retrieve and although the screen is a little screwed up, I can use the PC with an external monitor.
Does anyone know the back door into the PC? If you can help me please message me with instructions.
Thank you, much appreciated...

It's not free but it's effective
https://www.winpasskey.com/

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

G Brown wrote:

get hold of a linux disk - you can run linux WITHOUT installing it. You could then either move your files to a usb or reset your password

That would be my first thing to try, probably work too so it should be the last also.