A few things

[aaron333]

Right guys.

1) I need to do a clean install of a Windows Vista on a PC that's a few years old. I have a 64 Bit DVD (Original) but I need to install 32 Bit Windows on this pc, to avoid compatibility issues.

2) The main reason for doing this is that the user accounts have a password, which have been forgot. Any way or retreiving these?

Thanks for your time guys,

Aaron.

[BurningFeetMan]

i don't *think* you can get the password, i do *believe* there is a way to delete the old one though, i shall have a quick lookie about.

BFM


EDIT: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm (Mod please remove if not allowed! )

[snakedoc]

1: I have yet, in 3 years, encountered a compatibility issue with x64. What issues have you encountered?

2: As an admin account, you can reset the passwords.

2a: If you do a fresh install, you can simply take ownership of the user account folders.

[aaron333]

No issues as such, infact none myself running a 64 Bit O/S on all 3 PC's/Laptops.

It's not my PC, So I'd rather not complicate things :P

If you start in safe mode, do you need a password?


i don't *think* you can get the password, i do *believe* there is a way to delete the old one though, i shall have a quick lookie about.

BFM


EDIT: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm (http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm) (Mod please remove if not allowed! )

You sir are a legend!

[snakedoc]

No issues as such, infact none myself running a 64 Bit O/S on all 3 PC's/Laptops.

It's not my PC, So I'd rather not complicate things :P

If you start in safe mode, do you need a password?

You have no user account access at all? Safe mode will not give you access if you don't have the password.

You should be able to locate some x86 media floating around the net. Just make sure it's a clean copy. As long as you have a legit key you have no worries. When you install, elect to keep file system. All docs etc will be popped in a folder called Windows.old which you will have access to.

[aaron333]

You have no user account access at all? Safe mode will not give you access if you don't have the password.

You should be able to locate some x86 media floating around the net. Just make sure it's a clean copy. As long as you have a legit key you have no worries. When you install, elect to keep file system. All docs etc will be popped in a folder called Windows.old which you will have access to.

That was the other way!:D

I'm not sure, you see the PC is not with me, I have been asked to go and sort it out tomorrow. All I know from past experience is it's running Vista and is Packard Bell Branded.

If there is access with an account that's not the admin, what are my options?

[snakedoc]

That was the other way!:D

I'm not sure, you see the PC is not with me, I have been asked to go and sort it out tomorrow. All I know from past experience is it's running Vista and is Packard Bell Branded.

If there is access with an account that's not the admin, what are my options?

Without some fiddly reg editing or third party software, a clean install is about it.

[aaron333]

So, I've concluded:

1) Run "Ophcrack" live CD.
2) Find out password
3)Delete/Create appropriate accounts
4)Make a password reset DVD

:)

Thanks for you help guys, repped both of you.

EDIT: Gotta spread rep before giving it to both of you again.

[aaron333]

Sorry for double post, but "Ophcrack" is amazing, it established my current PC's user account and established it had no password.

The LivedCD is just the program running in Linux, with the option to close the LIveCD and shut down in a DOS/CMD like box.

Link to download, here (http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/). The Vista one should run under Win7 too.

Brilliant!

[aaron333]

What was happening was a printer needed to be installed, but UAC kept asking for the admin password. Tried "Ophcrack" and tonnes of other. I had to reinstall in the end with the 64 Bit version and drivers were fine:)

[Hayling Laser Sailor]

Just to add, maybe next time you create a password also create a password reset disk?

[aaron333]

Just to add, maybe next time you create a password also create a password reset disk?

I don't think the password will be forgotten this time:). Thanks for the suggestions, I did consider but didn't go ahead with the idea.