Administrator account disabled, can't boot into safe mode

Question

I recently obtained a used windows 7 computer. The only visible user had administrator privileges, and its name was that of the previous owner's. I changed the name via User Accounts ► Change your account name, but for some reason that revoked my admin privs. Now, whenever I try to do something that requires admin privs a box pops up that wants me to enter an administrator password, but doesn't have any place to type any password.

After a bit of googling, I found a few places that said the first step to fixing this was to boot into safe mode. I restarted the computer and pressed F8, but that didn't do anything. The only other way I saw to boot into safe mode uses msconfig, which needs admin privs. I tried changing the name back, in case that helped, but that, too, requires admin privs.

How can I get my Administrator privileges back?

Solution 1

I have two answers for you.

The first is not a solution to your immediate problem but still... Reinstall the system.

Sure, I might be a bit over obsessive about safety, but for me that's quite a risk to run a system somebody else configured. It just has security risk written all over it. :P

---

The second solution is actually an answer to the problem - how to get admin privileges on a Windows machine you have physical access to.

• boot the machine into live linux distribution - Debian/Ubuntu/etc
• mount the windows system partition
• cd into mounted-partition/Windows/System32 and backup osk.exe, that's On Screen Keyboard executable. After doing that, replace it with cmd.exe - like cp -f ./cmd.exe ./osk.exe
• reboot into Windows, on the login screen click on the Ease of Access icon on the left bottom, and choose the On Screen Keyboard. This will run cmd.exe
• in the console window type: net user user_name new_password to reset admin account password. You can then log into that account and do whatever you please.
• of course you need to undo the changes you've made. ;)

Solution 2

Use a password reset utility like this one: http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Burn the utility to a disc (or flash drive - instructions are on the site), reboot (make sure bios is set to boot to disc or flash drive accordingly), and follow on-screen text to either reset or remove password for administrative account (you can also set a new administrator or enable the base administrator account if it's disabled). Don't mention that this exists to any other Windows users... hum de dum.

Comments

[rob]

F8 should work, try pressing it repeatedly in half second taps while the computer is restarting. There is only a small window when it will work. Unless it has been deliberately disabled.

[Raystafarian]

Do you have a windows 7 disc?

[Ramhound]

Something like passwordresetkey.com/site would solve your problem

[The Guy with The Hat]

Okay, the problem appeared to be that I was holding down F8, not pressing it repeatedly. Thanks @rob!

[The Guy with The Hat]

@Raystafarian No, the previous owner did not give me the disc.

[The Guy with The Hat]

@Ramhound Could you expand upon that and add it as an answer? I'd probably upvote it if you did.

[Raystafarian]

@TheGuywithTheHat the real answer is what you did after you got into safe mode..

[joeqwerty]

Why would you not install Windows from scratch after getting a used laptop?