Locked out of brand new PC
Thread poster: Nicholas Stedman
Nicholas Stedman
Nicholas Stedman  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 16:40
French to English
Oct 28, 2015

I purchased a new HP desktop PC with Windows 8.1 yesterday and entered my usual password as administrator. Today I am locked out of the computer as it doesn't recognise my password. I suppose I could have made the same mistake twice yesterday when creating the password though that would be very unusual and today I have so far been unable to make the same mistake again; I have tried all the obvious things like caps on and off. The password I entered yesterday has a @ in it - is that OK? Also ther... See more
I purchased a new HP desktop PC with Windows 8.1 yesterday and entered my usual password as administrator. Today I am locked out of the computer as it doesn't recognise my password. I suppose I could have made the same mistake twice yesterday when creating the password though that would be very unusual and today I have so far been unable to make the same mistake again; I have tried all the obvious things like caps on and off. The password I entered yesterday has a @ in it - is that OK? Also there may be some confusion as I have an italian keyboard although the PC has registered that. I can't reprogam the computer as it came without any CD. Has anyone any ideas what to do. ThanksCollapse


 
Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:40
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Keyboard first Oct 28, 2015

NR_Stedman wrote:
I have tried all the obvious things like caps on and off. The password I entered yesterday has a @ in it - is that OK?

Try with the NumLock key on and off. Also if you have a keyboard with a Function (Fn) key (common on some laptops/notebooks), that can also cause problems.

Dan


 
Oliver Walter
Oliver Walter  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:40
German to English
+ ...
Changed keyboard layout? Oct 28, 2015

I am still using a PC with Windows XP, but the following may also be applicable to Windows 8.1. The keyboard layout (i.e. which character is represented by each key) may have been accidentally changed. On mine, pressing Alt+Shift cycles through different keyboard layouts. I sometimes find it types the (at) symbol @ when I press Shift+2, which is normally the double quote. That is evidently because I accidentally pressed Alt+Shift at some earlier moment.

For typing the password that
... See more
I am still using a PC with Windows XP, but the following may also be applicable to Windows 8.1. The keyboard layout (i.e. which character is represented by each key) may have been accidentally changed. On mine, pressing Alt+Shift cycles through different keyboard layouts. I sometimes find it types the (at) symbol @ when I press Shift+2, which is normally the double quote. That is evidently because I accidentally pressed Alt+Shift at some earlier moment.

For typing the password that idea may not be very helpful because I suppose you can't see the characters when you are typing it. You may need to take the PC to a specialist who can reset it to null or to your choice. Perhaps you can find the answer on the Web by searching for:
windows reset password
although the couple I've looked at (there are millions more!) require an installation CD.
In any case it's probably advisable to have only relatively simple characters in the new password so that you press the same keys to type the password in future. This might require some experimentation: if you want, for example, only letters and numbers, you'll need only those letters that are the same in all keyboard layouts (the numbers are probably the same in all layouts).
I remember that, whereas the English keyboard has QWERTY on the top row of letters, the French one has AZERTY.
Oliver
Collapse


 
Terry Richards
Terry Richards
France
Local time: 16:40
French to English
+ ...
I did exactly the same thing! Oct 28, 2015

I did it with Windows 7 but I bet you have the same problem. The fact that you have set up your Italian keyboard only applies to your account - i.e. AFTER you have logged on. The logon screen is expecting a keyboard that matches the Windows version.

There is a way to change the keyboard layout for the logon screen. I can't remember but I did it quite easily once I realised what the problem was. You have to be logged on (as an administrator) to do it though.

To get logg
... See more
I did it with Windows 7 but I bet you have the same problem. The fact that you have set up your Italian keyboard only applies to your account - i.e. AFTER you have logged on. The logon screen is expecting a keyboard that matches the Windows version.

There is a way to change the keyboard layout for the logon screen. I can't remember but I did it quite easily once I realised what the problem was. You have to be logged on (as an administrator) to do it though.

To get logged on, just pretend that your keyboard matches whatever language Windows was installed in.
Collapse


 
FarkasAndras
FarkasAndras  Identity Verified
Local time: 16:40
English to Hungarian
+ ...
Type in username field Oct 28, 2015

Type your password in the username field so that you can see what is being entered. The keyboard layout may have been changed, mabe the @ is the problem. If the pw is correct in the usernapme field, you can copy-paste or retype it in the password field.

 
Oliver Walter
Oliver Walter  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:40
German to English
+ ...
Account types Oct 28, 2015

Further thought, relevant to using computers but not to this specific problem: Make sure that an account with administrator privileges is only used when these privileges are necessary. For all normal work, use an account with standard, non-administrator privileges. I think these different account types have different names in the different versions of Windows.
Using a non-privileged account gives a (probably rather small) improvement in security because a virus or other malware running in
... See more
Further thought, relevant to using computers but not to this specific problem: Make sure that an account with administrator privileges is only used when these privileges are necessary. For all normal work, use an account with standard, non-administrator privileges. I think these different account types have different names in the different versions of Windows.
Using a non-privileged account gives a (probably rather small) improvement in security because a virus or other malware running in a non-privileged environment will not be allowed to do certain actions (e.g. modify registry entries, I think) that could be harmful.
Collapse


 
Nicholas Stedman
Nicholas Stedman  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 16:40
French to English
TOPIC STARTER
Still tryng Oct 28, 2015

I have tried absolutely everything - I can change to a UK keyboard layout on the welcome screen but that hasn't solved anything. I have also typed in every conceiveable error that I might make.
I purchased the computer from the well known electronic commerce company and it came without any restore disk or any other paper information (no guarantee, after-sales service number, licence number or anything).
I have even got into the bios and tried to restore it with a USB key carrying a
... See more
I have tried absolutely everything - I can change to a UK keyboard layout on the welcome screen but that hasn't solved anything. I have also typed in every conceiveable error that I might make.
I purchased the computer from the well known electronic commerce company and it came without any restore disk or any other paper information (no guarantee, after-sales service number, licence number or anything).
I have even got into the bios and tried to restore it with a USB key carrying a password restore program). They have also changed the VGA cable since my last computer so my first job was to go out and buy an adaptor. Soon I will have wasted the equivalent time to buying a new computer!
Collapse


 
Oliver Walter
Oliver Walter  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:40
German to English
+ ...
No password! Oct 28, 2015

NR_Stedman wrote:
I purchased a new HP desktop PC with Windows 8.1 yesterday and entered my usual password as administrator. Today I am locked out of the computer as it doesn't recognise my password.
It has just occurred to me: if the PC really was new, perhaps it didn't have a password - leave the Password field empty and try to log in that way. You can't expect the new PC to know your password just because you used it on the previous PC.
Then (if that works) you can create a non-privileged account, define or delete passwords etc.

[Edited at 2015-10-28 10:42 GMT]


 
Nicholas Stedman
Nicholas Stedman  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 16:40
French to English
TOPIC STARTER
How to get a Windows 8 recovery disk? Oct 28, 2015

BTW thanks Oliver I tried that too (leaving it empty) although I had entered my password yesterday.

Does anyone know where/how you can get a windows 8 recovery disk? As I have nothing in this new computer the best thing would be to reformat it all over again


 
Oliver Walter
Oliver Walter  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:40
German to English
+ ...
Try this one Oct 28, 2015

Half-way down this page, there appear to be (links to) solutions to this problem even if you don't have a reset disk or memory stick:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/f/forgot-password-windows-8.htm

The really interesting question, to which you probably won't be able to find the answer, is: What does your new W8.1 computer think that
... See more
Half-way down this page, there appear to be (links to) solutions to this problem even if you don't have a reset disk or memory stick:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/f/forgot-password-windows-8.htm

The really interesting question, to which you probably won't be able to find the answer, is: What does your new W8.1 computer think that password is?

[Edited at 2015-10-28 11:33 GMT]
Collapse


 
LEXpert
LEXpert  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:40
Member (2008)
Croatian to English
+ ...
Creating recovery medica Oct 28, 2015

NR_Stedman wrote:

BTW thanks Oliver I tried that too (leaving it empty) although I had entered my password yesterday.

Does anyone know where/how you can get a windows 8 recovery disk? As I have nothing in this new computer the best thing would be to reformat it all over again



See:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

or borrow a friend's disc. As long as you know the product key from the COA sticker on the bottom of your machine, you should be able to reinstall Windows, even without the original discs. With a clean install, you may need to reinstall a few drivers, which you can find on the computer manufacturer's website. You may be able to order the exact recovery discs for your model from the manufacturer for a modest charge, though that would take some time.



[Edited at 2015-10-28 13:21 GMT]


 
Nicholas Stedman
Nicholas Stedman  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 16:40
French to English
TOPIC STARTER
New Hope Oct 28, 2015

After speaking with HP (my computer manufacturer) on the phone there are apparently passwords that windows 8 does not accept! Hence my problems. The solution is to do a system recovery from scratch . Turn off the computer. Press the ON button once immediately followed by F11 and then follow instructions to restore initial conditions. This takes an hour and I'm doing it now and fellinghopeful. Thanks for all your suggestions

 
ct200xus (X)
ct200xus (X)
United States
there are easy ways to go Dec 19, 2016

NR_Stedman wrote:

After speaking with HP (my computer manufacturer) on the phone there are apparently passwords that windows 8 does not accept! Hence my problems. The solution is to do a system recovery from scratch . Turn off the computer. Press the ON button once immediately followed by F11 and then follow instructions to restore initial conditions. This takes an hour and I'm doing it now and fellinghopeful. Thanks for all your suggestions


A system restore would cause the file being wiped and it is a dangerous move. Instead, there are a few handy tools you can use to easily set the password to blank.

P.S if you signed in with Microsoft account, then you can reset the account password via Microsoft password reset page.


 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
recovery Dec 19, 2016

Recovering to the factory defaults (resetting partitions and thus removing data, except preinstalled hidden partition) is rather harsh approach, I guess.

I'd rather try either using a default Admin account, system restore point (before setting that password), or a bootable CD/DVD/USB to enable the Admin account OR just to reset the password--there're many tools.

On the other hand, how come a system accepts invalid passwords?! Blast it.


 
Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Laureana Pavon[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Locked out of brand new PC






Protemos translation business management system
Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!

The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »