I lost my password for my windows 7 laptop, it's a new model, toshiba. Is there any simple way to get onto it without changing any settings? Any help would be appreciated.

You could try to login to windows using the login name "administrator" and just press return for the password. Sometimes they don't change that one when they preload windows.

If that fails, you could try password recovery software. I used to have one for XP. You boot the cd, and then use some command lines to reset the password back to nothing.

I'll try that later, I don't have access to it currently. Thanks for the help.

That doesn't work, I can't seem to change the user.

It may be that you just have one user set up, and the default admin user was deleted. Other than re-installing windows, you would need to use a password recovery disk.

My account has two users set up, how can I do a recovery disk?

You have to purchase the software. It's not part of windows.

Is there a way to get it for free? Or is it pay only software?

You're going to have to research that yourself....considering the information you are asking for could be used to access a computer that doesn't belong to you.

Stryder, the mod of this subforum frowns on "hacking" threads.

Oh, sorry, didn't realize that it could be used to hack into someone elses computer.

Oh, sorry, didn't realize that it could be used to hack into someone elses computer.

If you've got a disc for resetting passwords then you can of course gain access to another machine, if of course you know what you are doing.

The main reason for not having hacking threads here is mainly due to the forums terms of conditions which is bog standard, but states that members should post material promoting illegal activities etc. (So it's nothing of personal choice.)

If you have a Toshiba system then you will likely have a Recovery Partition on the drive, its possible that it has a password recovery tool available for use.

Just note however that if you "return to factory default" or "reload image" you will likely lose some data.

Oh, sorry, didn't realize that it could be used to hack into someone elses computer.

Just a little side story on this subject. I was working for company that offered computer repair to the general public. A woman brought in a laptop, claiming that she had forgotten the windows password, and asked us to reset it for her. I used my boot disk and reset the password for her...no big deal..just a $50 service fee...didn't even charge her labor.

What we didn't know was that this was her husband's laptop and they were going through a nasty divorce. She was to try get some dirt on him for the divorce. His lawyer threatened to sue our company over the incident. Fortunately, they never pursued it. After that, we had a strict policy about not resetting passwords.

What we didn't know was that this was her husband's laptop and they were going through a nasty divorce.

In the UK, she could get jail time for that. I think you guys would be clear as she misrepresented the situation, but the wording of the 'computer misuse act', doesn't mean she gets away with it because she engaged a 3rd party.

Problems like the above are a good reason for partitioning a hard disk and/or having more than one hard disk.

If the Operating System is in one partition & all your data files are in other partitions, various serious problems can be solved by reinstalling the OS & reinstalling all the software.

If all is in one huge partition (as per systems like those sold by almost all vendors), reinstall of the OS results in losing all your data, including such items as your favorites places (internet bookmarks).

BTW: If you follow the above advice, you must customize applications like word processors & spread sheets to store their data files in partitions other than the OS partition.