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grumpyduck

(6,232 posts)
Tue Aug 30, 2022, 04:55 PM Aug 2022

Help w/ recovering a Win 10 password

About a year ago I bought a gaming computer to use with a flight simulator. It came with Win 10. Haven't used the thing for a while, so I forgot the password. And for some stupid reason I didn't write it down like I did with all the others.

So far, almost an hour later later, I've tried every password I could think of (I have a system for creating them). No dice. The computer let me get to my security questions once, but apparently I got one wrong, and it's not letting me answer them again, i.e., not showing them again.

Looked online and it said you could recover the password by creating a Microsoft account. So I went there and clicked on "create account," and a message came up saying the link was not safe. WTF???? It also said you could type "i forgot my password" in the password window. No dice. Another answer was to hit the Windows key and type something to get a menu. No dice.

This is driving me nuts. Is there a way to get to those $^%#&*^#$%@ security questions?

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Help w/ recovering a Win 10 password (Original Post) grumpyduck Aug 2022 OP
In all that time ItsjustMe Aug 2022 #1
Yes, I have the flight simulator grumpyduck Aug 2022 #3
You are not going to crack the Windows password. Earth-shine Aug 2022 #2
I found these on Reddit ItsjustMe Aug 2022 #4
Thanks so much! grumpyduck Aug 2022 #5
I have had some luck with program named Ophcrack. nt aka-chmeee Aug 2022 #6
what worked? Kali Aug 2022 #7
I found a way around the password Marthe48 Sep 2022 #8
Thanks much. I was able to get in. grumpyduck Sep 2022 #9
That is good news! Marthe48 Sep 2022 #10

ItsjustMe

(11,230 posts)
1. In all that time
Tue Aug 30, 2022, 05:01 PM
Aug 2022

you could have just done a clean install

Do you have any files on the drive you need you save?

grumpyduck

(6,232 posts)
3. Yes, I have the flight simulator
Tue Aug 30, 2022, 05:07 PM
Aug 2022

progran which took almost an hour to install.

I'm just looking for a way to get around the password problem.

Earth-shine

(4,002 posts)
2. You are not going to crack the Windows password.
Tue Aug 30, 2022, 05:06 PM
Aug 2022

Creating an MS account on their servers will not help you get into a PC in which you are locked out.

Is it possible it has no password? In which case, when asked for one, just press enter.

As suggested above, you might have to do a clean install of Windows.

Kali

(55,007 posts)
7. what worked?
Tue Aug 30, 2022, 10:23 PM
Aug 2022

I have an inherited laptop I would like to open as it might have some writing on it that I would love to recover.

Marthe48

(16,949 posts)
8. I found a way around the password
Thu Sep 8, 2022, 09:17 AM
Sep 2022

over 2 years ago and I can't remember what I did.

If you haven't had any luck, let me know, and I will try to locate the solution i came across.

grumpyduck

(6,232 posts)
9. Thanks much. I was able to get in.
Thu Sep 8, 2022, 09:37 AM
Sep 2022

Used the "forgot password" prompt.

Don't know if it didn't show up before or if I just didn't see it, but it was there, and it worked.

Marthe48

(16,949 posts)
10. That is good news!
Thu Sep 8, 2022, 09:40 AM
Sep 2022

When I used the work around, I was amazed it worked. As soon as I unlocked that laptop, I got rid of the password.

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