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Windows 8 PW circumvention
Posted on 2014-03-12
Hi,
I have a customer's computer that I was trying to uninstall Avast for Free. The computer is a Sony Vaio laptop with Windows 8.1 (recently updated). During the uninstallation of Avast, it asked to restart in safe mode. The computer restated and is now at the log in screen waiting for the Customer's Account Password. We have entered/reentered the password multiple times. We have even reset the PW in Windows Live to ensure it is known, but we cannot move past the log in screen.
Any suggestions?
I have a customer's computer that I was trying to uninstall Avast for Free. The computer is a Sony Vaio laptop with Windows 8.1 (recently updated). During the uninstallation of Avast, it asked to restart in safe mode. The computer restated and is now at the log in screen waiting for the Customer's Account Password. We have entered/reentered the password multiple times. We have even reset the PW in Windows Live to ensure it is known, but we cannot move past the log in screen.
Any suggestions?
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19 Comments
do you have a local account to the PC you can use, as the 'live' accounts probably don't work in safemode.
Active today
Use the password reset disk from Mr. Nordahl. You have to blank the local administrator's password and then also unlock the account.
Active 4 days ago
totallytonto:
How can I tell if a local account has been setup?
McKnife:
Whats the link to Mr. Nordahl?
How can I tell if a local account has been setup?
McKnife:
Whats the link to Mr. Nordahl?
Active 4 days ago
McKnife:
I have used this tool before. Do you know if it will work if the computer has been setup with a Windows Live account (Win8)?
I have used this tool before. Do you know if it will work if the computer has been setup with a Windows Live account (Win8)?
Active today
i also use that tool answer Y (or Enter) to most questions - it normally proposes the correct answers
- i run it from the bootable UBCD - which holds all diags too :
Hardware diagnostic CD UBCD
go to the download page, scroll down to the mirror section, and click on a mirror to start the download
Download the UBCD and make the cd <<==on a WORKING PC, and boot the problem PC from it
Here 2 links, one to the general site, and a direct link to the download
since the downloaded file is an ISO file, eg ubcd527.iso - so you need to use an ISO burning tool
if you don't have that software, install cdburnerXP : http://cdburnerxp.se/
If you want also the Ram tested - run memtest86+ at least 1 full pass, - you should have NO errors!
For disk Diagnostics run the disk diag for your disk brand (eg seagate diag for seagate drive) from the HDD section - long or advanced diag ! (runs at least for30 minutes)
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ ultimate boot cd
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html download page
- i run it from the bootable UBCD - which holds all diags too :
Hardware diagnostic CD UBCD
go to the download page, scroll down to the mirror section, and click on a mirror to start the download
Download the UBCD and make the cd <<==on a WORKING PC, and boot the problem PC from it
Here 2 links, one to the general site, and a direct link to the download
since the downloaded file is an ISO file, eg ubcd527.iso - so you need to use an ISO burning tool
if you don't have that software, install cdburnerXP : http://cdburnerxp.se/
If you want also the Ram tested - run memtest86+ at least 1 full pass, - you should have NO errors!
For disk Diagnostics run the disk diag for your disk brand (eg seagate diag for seagate drive) from the HDD section - long or advanced diag ! (runs at least for30 minutes)
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ ultimate boot cd
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html download page
Active 4 days ago
McKnife & Nobus:I run the password reset tool but it doesn't recognize the partition (i have used this tool before and it provides option 1, 2, 3, etc at this step.
Any suggestions?
Active today
It shows two partitions, 32 Gb and 750 GB. Are you saying that none of these two sizes corresponds to your windows partition?
Active 4 days ago
The 750GB is the partition with Windows 8 installation, but there is no 1 in front of it like when I used the tool in the past. I have entered all the options listed and even '1' but it comes back to 'Please select partition by number...
Active today
I would connect the drive to another hard drive controller or to another computer, now. Maybe the nordahl disk has problems accessing the partition because of some odd hardware problem.
if your windows 8 is using UEFI bios or bitlocker, boot cd tools like the one pictured wont work.
if you do not have a local account already setup you may struggle.
you can try the recovery options that came with your PC, but if you have installed windows yourself or removed the recovery tools you'll struggle without a windows 8 dvd to boot from.
the windows 8 tools will help fix your bot, but they may also require a local account.
if you do not have a local account already setup you may struggle.
you can try the recovery options that came with your PC, but if you have installed windows yourself or removed the recovery tools you'll struggle without a windows 8 dvd to boot from.
the windows 8 tools will help fix your bot, but they may also require a local account.
Active today
it seeems your partition is corrupt then - since it does not recognise it as a windows one.
run a startup repair : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html
and if this does not help, try a system restore also
run a startup repair : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html
and if this does not help, try a system restore also
Active 4 days ago
OK. Nothing worked.
I tried every recovery Advanced Options/System Restore etc and got a variety of errors or reboots. None of which allowed me to proceed.
My ultimate solution was to:
-Remove the hard drive
-Remove all partitions
-Reinsert the hard drive
-Re install Windows 8
Again, this started by my installing Avast for Free on Windows 8. Windows 8.1 was installed. Avast would not remove/repair/uninstall.
Thank you for everyone's suggestions
I tried every recovery Advanced Options/System Restore etc and got a variety of errors or reboots. None of which allowed me to proceed.
My ultimate solution was to:
-Remove the hard drive
-Remove all partitions
-Reinsert the hard drive
-Re install Windows 8
Again, this started by my installing Avast for Free on Windows 8. Windows 8.1 was installed. Avast would not remove/repair/uninstall.
Thank you for everyone's suggestions
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