This is indeed embarrassing

[Dreaper]

Alright let's get to the point my home desktop pc I think is locked, the password is changed I didn't do it nor anyone in the house, I don't have a password reset disk/USB so I have no clue what to do now any help is appreciated 

[Theguywhobea]

Try your microsoft account password

[Dreaper]

2 minutes ago, Theguywhobea said:

Try your microsoft account password

The acct was linked the my microsoft acct but i never made it so it used that password still try it?

EDIT: Didnt work  

[Radium_Angel]

4 minutes ago, Dreaper said:

Alright let's get to the point my home desktop pc I think is locked, the password is changed I didn't do it nor anyone in the house, I don't have a password reset disk/USB so I have no clue what to do now any help is appreciated 

There used to be some software right from MS that would boot from a CD, and allow you to unlock an account. It worked for 7 and 8.1. Never tested it for 10. Not at home to check name, but I will once I get home.

[xriqn]

Get yourself a linux usb and do EXACTLY as I say, it could break your computer if you do this wrong. (it involves 2 system files being swapped from a live linux usb)

1) Boot into the linux live USB.

2) Navigate to your HDD. Find the system32 folder on your HDD

3) Find cmd.exe. Rename it to cmd1.exe

4) Find sethc.exe. Rename it to cmd.exe

5) Rename the cmd1.exe to sethc.exe

6) Reboot back into windows, press shift 5 times at the login screen. This opens an ADMINISTRATOR cmd window rather than sticky keys.

7) Type net user yourusername *

8) Type a new password in twice

9) Login. Switch the files back round in Linux if you want to, you don't have to do this.

 

EDIT: I noticed you're using a microsoft account for this. You can try my method but I've only used it with local accounts before, I have yet to test it with ms accounts. I'll test it now on my 8.1 rig with a duped account.

[Dreaper]

1 minute ago, xriqn said:

Get yourself a linux usb and do EXACTLY as I say, it could break your computer if you do this wrong. (it involves 2 system files being swapped from a live linux usb)

1) Boot into the linux live USB.

2) Navigate to your HDD. Find the system32 folder on your HDD

3) Find cmd.exe. Rename it to cmd1.exe

4) Find sethc.exe. Rename it to cmd.exe

5) Rename the cmd1.exe to sethc.exe

6) Reboot back into windows, press shift 5 times at the login screen. This opens an ADMINISTRATOR cmd window rather than sticky keys.

7) Type net user yourusername *

8) Type a new password in twice

9) Login. Switch the files back round in Linux if you want to, you don't have to do this.

Any Linux? 

[xriqn]

Just now, Dreaper said:

Any Linux? 

Any linux will do, so long as it will boot on your system and has a file manager. I'd recommend Ubuntu for its simplicity though. Puppy is also a good choice.

[lavablade02]

I remember there is a way to get into an account without the password. IIRC it is through disabling some safety setting in the BIOS

[Dreaper]

Just now, lavablade02 said:

I remember there is a way to get into an account without the password. IIRC it is through disabling some safety setting in the BIOS

Do you recall the name at all? 

[NinJake]

You "think" it's locked?

 

Reset it or ask someone at home who knows it to enter the password. OR

 

Using your choice of linux navigate to your important docs and first back up your stuff if you don't regularly do backups. Then wipe.

[Dreaper]

Just now, NinJake said:

You "think" it's locked?

 

Reset it or ask someone at home who knows it to enter the password. OR

 

Using your choice of linux navigate to your important docs and first back up your stuff if you don't regularly do backups. Then wipe.

Im the only one who has ever used this computer, no one else knows the passwords.

[xriqn]

1 minute ago, NinJake said:

You "think" it's locked?

 

Reset it or ask someone at home who knows it to enter the password. OR

 

Using your choice of linux navigate to your important docs and first back up your stuff if you don't regularly do backups. Then wipe.

Uhh, backups are good and all but I threw him a bone with another linux method.

[Dreaper]

1 minute ago, xriqn said:

Fun fact btw: I hacked my school's network admin using this exact method, only I had to activate the admin account locally too because it was on a student machine, not staff. This was 2 years ago when I was 14 lmao. The guy still hasn't fixed it.

Would it be fine to download the file through a mac?

[NinJake]

Just now, Dreaper said:

Im the only one who has ever used this computer, no one else knows the passwords.

What do you mean you "think" it's locked?

[Dreaper]

Just now, xriqn said:

Uhh, backups are good and all but I threw him a bone with another linux method.

Yea ive never done a backup myself. 

[Dreaper]

Just now, NinJake said:

What do you mean you "think" it's locked?

I think in the sense that i dont know of a way to "unlock" it  

[xriqn]

Just now, Dreaper said:

Would it be fine to download the file through a mac?

The linux ISO? Yeah so long as you have a program to burn the iso to a usb or dvd its good.

[xriqn]

https://github.com/unetbootin/unetbootin/releases/download/657/unetbootin-mac-657.dmg

Here's a program for burning the ISO to a usb.

[NinJake]

@xriqn The fact of the matter is you are stating how to bypass security. If OP has someone else's computer or someone else happens to obtain a stolen pc, telling people how to access data that isn't theirs isn't allowed.

[xriqn]

oh and if ur unsure about what account your microsoft linked account is type "net user list all" and pick the one with your name in it.

[NinJake]

3 minutes ago, Dreaper said:

I think in the sense that i dont know of a way to "unlock" it  

So you've never set a password on this machine ever, and now there's magically a password on it you're saying?

[Dreaper]

Just now, NinJake said:

So you've never set a password on this machine ever, and now there's magically a password on it you're saying?

No there was

[xriqn]

4 minutes ago, NinJake said:

@xriqn The fact of the matter is you are stating how to bypass security. If OP has someone else's computer or someone else happens to obtain a stolen pc, telling people how to access data that isn't theirs isn't allowed.

Technically its allowed in this situation because he's recovering his own data. You're right though it can (and has been) used for malicious intent too.

 

EDIT: That's basically what password reset disks do only they revert the file swap afterward, this is just the manual method.

[Dreaper]

1 minute ago, xriqn said:

Technically its allowed in this situation because he's recovering his own data. You're right though it can (and has been) used for malicious intent too.

That program is asking what version of ubuntu and tbh i have no idea i installed this one https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/1710

[xriqn]

So you have linux right now then? If not, the version of Ubuntu it wants is 17.10. Be sure to check the all isos box and select the iso you just downloaded since it won't be named the way unetbootin wants it named.