Password problem

[Mrsspagnoli57]

My Dad has been locked out of his laptop after incorrectly inputting his password 3 times. He is now being prompted to use a 'reset password flash drive'. I know what his password is (he forgot to put caps lock on for part of it). If I use my laptop to create a reset password on my USB flash drive using his password will I be able to use it on his laptop to re set his password and get into his laptop for him? He has a DELL laptop-mine is Toshiba.

[ChuckFickens]

That's not a normal policy to be applied!

The lock out policy normally expires after a set amount of time, how long has it been since he locked himself out?

[boxtops]

IMO, if he tries to use a password now which he has already used, it won't let him do it.

[Mrsspagnoli57]

locked out last week-I'm not sure what has gone on as I don't live at home-I was going to go to see him next week to see if I can help-Dad is 82 & not computer savvy-I'm not too bad but after looking on the web it seems to suggest a reset disc can be used-on windows 'help'

[galeck1947]

Not knowing your OS you can download and run a free program called OPHCRAK which can find your password for you once you are locked out. There is on version for Windows XP and one for Windows 7 and Vista . You have to burn the program as an ISO image and boot the computer from the disc .you may have to change the boot order to do this.

[tamborine]

Dell PCs often run shadows. When I phoned Dell they faxed me a shadow password.