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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
My mother has volunteered me to take a look at, and preferably fix, one of her friend's computer because it's acting up. No problem, I don't mind.
The computer arrives, delivered by my mum. I ask what the problem is. She doesn't know. The woman, henceforth known as X, would just say "it wouldn't do anything". She's an artist, my mum explains, and a bit vague. Not a good start. Never mind, I can work miracles so I'll have a look.
It boots fine and reaches the windows login screen. It's password protected and I've not been told the password.
I telephone X. She gives me the password.
The password doesn't work. I try a few sensible permutations. No go.
I telephone X again. She tells me that's definitely the password. Maybe the first letter is a capital. No, I tried that. Oh, maybe the number at the end is at the start. No, tried that too.
Can you ask your son (who usually looks after it) to see if he changed it?
Oh no he wouldn't have done that. I'm sure that's definitely the password.
Sorry, but it really isn't.
*She spells it for me again*
Yes, that's what I typed. It says incorrect password.
But that's the password. Definitely. All I can suggest is you type it very slowly. Sorry.
It's ok but if I can't log in, I can't find the problem or fix it.
Oh, well, sorry, I can't help you. *pause* Oh. If you can't get in I won't be able to get in either...
Head/desk
Repeat |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"My mother has volunteered me to take a look at, and preferably fix, one of her friend's computer because it's acting up. No problem, I don't mind.
The computer arrives, delivered by my mum. I ask what the problem is. She doesn't know. The woman, henceforth known as X, would just say "it wouldn't do anything". She's an artist, my mum explains, and a bit vague. Not a good start. Never mind, I can work miracles so I'll have a look.
It boots fine and reaches the windows login screen. It's password protected and I've not been told the password.
I telephone X. She gives me the password.
The password doesn't work. I try a few sensible permutations. No go.
I telephone X again. She tells me that's definitely the password. Maybe the first letter is a capital. No, I tried that. Oh, maybe the number at the end is at the start. No, tried that too.
Can you ask your son (who usually looks after it) to see if he changed it?
Oh no he wouldn't have done that. I'm sure that's definitely the password.
Sorry, but it really isn't.
*She spells it for me again*
Yes, that's what I typed. It says incorrect password.
But that's the password. Definitely. All I can suggest is you type it very slowly. Sorry.
It's ok but if I can't log in, I can't find the problem or fix it.
Oh, well, sorry, I can't help you. *pause* Oh. If you can't get in I won't be able to get in either...
Head/desk
Repeat"
Some people just shouldn't be allowed near technology, I feel for you  |
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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"So did you not think to cold start it and use F8?"
I still need the password to do anything with it 
I can't just change someone else's password. Particularly when she doesn't seem able to compute the change. |
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Use Ophcrack!
Download the (free) software to another machine, burn a boot cd, boot the machine you need the password for from the cd and in a few minutes it will display all the usernames and passwords on that machine. |
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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"Use Ophcrack!
Download the (free) software to another machine, burn a boot cd, boot the machine you need the password for from the cd and in a few minutes it will display all the usernames and passwords on that machine."
I've found it by trial and error whilst burnt a CD to crack it. 
She was close.
The story was more meant for the amusement (or ) of those who get lumbered with other people's computers than because I didn't know what to do next.
I'm not letting a pile of plastic, silicon and numbers defeat me! |
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"So did you not think to cold start it and use F8?
I still need the password to do anything with it
"
As long as it is just a normal user password the F8 method will bypass the need to enter the password by opening the advanced start-up menu. Select "Safe Mode" and the desktop will open. Then reset the password via the control panel. |
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"
But that's the password. Definitely. All I can suggest is you type it very slowly. Sorry.
"
This bit made me laugh out loud. Did she think you're typing too fast the computer couldn't understand you?
Isn't that what we do to foreign people, speak English, but really slowly |
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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"
But that's the password. Definitely. All I can suggest is you type it very slowly. Sorry.
This bit made me laugh out loud. Did she think you're typing too fast the computer couldn't understand you?
Isn't that what we do to foreign people, speak English, but really slowly"
Initially I wanted to throttle her. Five minutes later it was funny.  |
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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"So did you not think to cold start it and use F8?
I still need the password to do anything with it
As long as it is just a normal user password the F8 method will bypass the need to enter the password by opening the advanced start-up menu. Select "Safe Mode" and the desktop will open. Then reset the password via the control panel."
No it doesn't. If it needs a password, it still needs a password for safe mode. |
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"So did you not think to cold start it and use F8?
I still need the password to do anything with it
As long as it is just a normal user password the F8 method will bypass the need to enter the password by opening the advanced start-up menu. Select "Safe Mode" and the desktop will open. Then reset the password via the control panel.
No it doesn't. If it needs a password, it still needs a password for safe mode."
I apologise...... it must have been a recurring dream. |
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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"So did you not think to cold start it and use F8?
I still need the password to do anything with it
As long as it is just a normal user password the F8 method will bypass the need to enter the password by opening the advanced start-up menu. Select "Safe Mode" and the desktop will open. Then reset the password via the control panel.
No it doesn't. If it needs a password, it still needs a password for safe mode.
I apologise...... it must have been a recurring dream."
It would be a dream if it worked
I'm in now anyway. Bloody (l)users!!! |
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Before their demise, I used to work a front line tech support helpdesk at a company called Time computers (now defunct). Believe me, this is completely ordinary run of the mill stuff. But you shouldn't disparage people just for their lack of understanding or aptitude. Everyone has things they are good and bad at. Sometimes when I had walked someone through something elementary (to me) like a driver install, they would say that I must be terribly clever. Total nonsense! It's just something that I'm used to and have done loads of times. By comparison, the lady next door can take some balls of wool, two pointed sticks and some instructions that seem to consist of randomly generated characters and turn out a beautiful sweater, whereas I would just about manage not to stab myself with the sticks. Probably.
It's all down to what you are used to.
(oh, and in the case of a passworded computer, use a bootable disc specially designed to simply delete the password file).
x |
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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"Before their demise, I used to work a front line tech support helpdesk at a company called Time computers (now defunct). Believe me, this is completely ordinary run of the mill stuff. But you shouldn't disparage people just for their lack of understanding or aptitude. Everyone has things they are good and bad at. Sometimes when I had walked someone through something elementary (to me) like a driver install, they would say that I must be terribly clever. Total nonsense! It's just something that I'm used to and have done loads of times. By comparison, the lady next door can take some balls of wool, two pointed sticks and some instructions that seem to consist of randomly generated characters and turn out a beautiful sweater, whereas I would just about manage not to stab myself with the sticks. Probably.
It's all down to what you are used to.
(oh, and in the case of a passworded computer, use a bootable disc specially designed to simply delete the password file).
x"
I know it's run of the mill stuff. But try typing it in very slowly is funny
On a different note, I had a Time computer back in the 90's. I still have the case, (it has had several sets of new innards since and now works as a dedicated machine for a task that doesn't require much processing grunt or memory). |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"My mother has volunteered me to take a look at, and preferably fix, one of her friend's computer because it's acting up. No problem, I don't mind.
The computer arrives, delivered by my mum. I ask what the problem is. She doesn't know. The woman, henceforth known as X, would just say "it wouldn't do anything". She's an artist, my mum explains, and a bit vague. Not a good start. Never mind, I can work miracles so I'll have a look.
It boots fine and reaches the windows login screen. It's password protected and I've not been told the password.
I telephone X. She gives me the password.
The password doesn't work. I try a few sensible permutations. No go.
I telephone X again. She tells me that's definitely the password. Maybe the first letter is a capital. No, I tried that. Oh, maybe the number at the end is at the start. No, tried that too.
Can you ask your son (who usually looks after it) to see if he changed it?
Oh no he wouldn't have done that. I'm sure that's definitely the password.
Sorry, but it really isn't.
*She spells it for me again*
Yes, that's what I typed. It says incorrect password.
But that's the password. Definitely. All I can suggest is you type it very slowly. Sorry.
It's ok but if I can't log in, I can't find the problem or fix it.
Oh, well, sorry, I can't help you. *pause* Oh. If you can't get in I won't be able to get in either...
Head/desk
Repeat"
use hirens boot cd to remove password |
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By *ee Viante OP Woman
over a year ago
Somewhere in North Norfolk |
"My mother has volunteered me to take a look at, and preferably fix, one of her friend's computer because it's acting up. No problem, I don't mind.
The computer arrives, delivered by my mum. I ask what the problem is. She doesn't know. The woman, henceforth known as X, would just say "it wouldn't do anything". She's an artist, my mum explains, and a bit vague. Not a good start. Never mind, I can work miracles so I'll have a look.
It boots fine and reaches the windows login screen. It's password protected and I've not been told the password.
I telephone X. She gives me the password.
The password doesn't work. I try a few sensible permutations. No go.
I telephone X again. She tells me that's definitely the password. Maybe the first letter is a capital. No, I tried that. Oh, maybe the number at the end is at the start. No, tried that too.
Can you ask your son (who usually looks after it) to see if he changed it?
Oh no he wouldn't have done that. I'm sure that's definitely the password.
Sorry, but it really isn't.
*She spells it for me again*
Yes, that's what I typed. It says incorrect password.
But that's the password. Definitely. All I can suggest is you type it very slowly. Sorry.
It's ok but if I can't log in, I can't find the problem or fix it.
Oh, well, sorry, I can't help you. *pause* Oh. If you can't get in I won't be able to get in either...
Head/desk
Repeat
use hirens boot cd to remove password"
Thanks, but no longer a problem |
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