asked on

Self Locked out of Windows!

I accidentally locked myself out of my computer. I set Lockout Policy for Admin (0) after 5 bad attempts, which wouldn't be a problem normally, cause I'd login as Admin and clear the user account, however, I setup a configuration that allows a User to elevate permissions without an Admin password but when the session is not active it disables the Admin account. :(

It has been working great for 2 years and then while I was on a call I didn't focus that much effort into my logins and boom the hammer dropped...lockout.

How can I login again...I don't want to reformat.

-Windows 10 Pro (fully updated)
-workgroup

Thanks!

serialband

What did you set the lockout duration to? You should be able to wait it out and you'll be able to log in again, if you didn't change the default.

David Johnson, CD

Guessing Workgroup and not domain joined.
Boot from a Windows Install Disk, select recovery options, command prompt navigate to your windows\system32 folder

copy utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
copy cmd.exe utilman.exe  (overwrite)

Open in new window

reboot the machine
hit the shit key a few times until a command prompt appears
now you can either reset the administrator account password

net user administrator newpassword

Open in new window

if disabled enable the administrator account

net user administrator /active:yes

Open in new window

or create a new account

net user  newusername userpassword /add
net localgroup administrators newusername /add

Open in new window

exit and login to the administrator account or the new account you added and fix things up.

arnold

Windowskey+u to invoke the easy access utility follow up to Dave's suggestion
Hit the easy access left bottom of screen

Peter Wilson

ASKER

@serialband - it was set to "0" (permanent lockout)

Peter Wilson

ASKER

@David Johnson, CD - yes, it is a workgroup (you may have missed it in the bottom of my question)

Should I go into Windows Boot Manager? I rebooted, hit F8, then I have UEFI Boot options.

David Johnson, CD

You have to do it by booting outside of the operating system

Peter Wilson

ASKER

So I'm in the BIOS > UEFI Boot...not sure where to go from here.

Peter Wilson

ASKER

Here are my options:

Windows Boot Manger
UEFI: PC300 NVMe SK hynix 1TB, Partition 1
BIOS Setup
BIOS Flash Update
Diagnostics
Change Boot Mode Settings

Sorry, I am unfamiliar with the OS at this level. I need some help in how to do this.

David Johnson, CD

you need to boot from a USB drive or a bootable cd

nobus

is there a bootable windows install usb stick inserted? it should show in the bios, and when set as first option in boot priority, that's all you need
it helps also if you post the pc model

Peter Wilson

ASKER

ah ok. USB boot is disabled for security reasons.

OK, I will enabled and reboot.

How do I create a windows installer disk...the system came pre-installed from dell...there was no media?

arnold

You can look at how to clear the status once you followed David's suggestion and have a command window running with system privelege.

https://www.windows-commandline.com/wmic-useraccounts/

David Johnson, CD

Guessing you are replying via a phone or a tablet and don't have another computer handy. You will need access to another computer to create the boot media.

Peter Wilson

ASKER

I am on another Windows 10 Pro computer!

@nobus - the computer is a dell precision 5510

arnold

The following is a link to download windows10 ISO, or you could download mediacreator and create a bootable USB..

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Depending on which vendor ..

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

McKnife

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Peter Wilson

ASKER

I was able to make a Windows Installation Disk.

Once I saw McKnife's post I tried that and it worked!

I had to enter the BitLocker's Recovery Key to access the HDD, which was nice to see (reassuring a criminal couldn't just do this and get my data).

Thank you everyone!