So my friend called me today and informed me that his wife had bought a computer from a pawnshop. They started it up in the shop and were logged in to an account but didn't really mess with it too much. So they get it home and discover that they can't get into the other accounts or delete them using the control panel. In control panel, when they attempt to go "User Accounts and Family Safety" they get a password prompt. All other user accounts are password protected. Obviously they should have passed on this computer or demanded a copy of Vista, but I'm trying to keep them from having to purchase one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Locked out of Vista
- Thread starter bigj480
- Start date
Alright so you just want to delete these other accounts right?
I *think* this method still works in vista (i know it doesn't in 7)
1) Restart computer
2) As it is booting up press F8 repeatedly until you get to the os startup choice menu
3) Choose safe mode
4) When you get to user choice menu you should be able to pick the administrator, it won't have a password
5) From the administrator account goto control panel and find the accounts settings/user accounts (not sure exact route to get there).
6) From there you should be able to delete and or change the password of any account, except the admin account but that's normally hidden
I *think* this method still works in vista (i know it doesn't in 7)
1) Restart computer
2) As it is booting up press F8 repeatedly until you get to the os startup choice menu
3) Choose safe mode
4) When you get to user choice menu you should be able to pick the administrator, it won't have a password
5) From the administrator account goto control panel and find the accounts settings/user accounts (not sure exact route to get there).
6) From there you should be able to delete and or change the password of any account, except the admin account but that's normally hidden
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Thank you for the replies. The computer is a desktop (Dell Inspiron 530) and they got it for $165 with a monitor, mouse and keyboard. There is a 30 day return policy, so that's always an option. I could also get one of the guys off of craigslist to install Vista or Windows 7 for like $25. I talked to them again today and they are saying that they can not run any program without a password prompt popping up. I will not be able to work on it until next week. How would I find a recovery partition, if it has one? If I start in safe mode and take 1101's advice, would that help them run programs by removing passwords or creating new accounts? It seems to me that it may not. Anyway, thank you and please keep the suggestions coming. I should have the computer here Monday.
