Windows 8 Password doozey

[ClickRight]

My client has a Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 13 Running Windows 8 with a Microsoft account. There are no local account. The computer freaked out while she was at the airport and she couldn't sign in, but she was able to get it working by typing the password backwards.

I of course tried, but it did not work. So, I reset her Microsoft account online and setup a new password on another computer. BUT--this laptop doesn't have a network port so there's no way to transmit the new password. Wireless doesn't work as you can't change the network without logging in. I tried a USB 2.0 and 3.0 network card, but neither of those got the computer online (I'm assuming because the drivers were not installed.)

My question is: Does anybody know of a way to get this computer online to get the updated password (IE. create a local account offline and then connect to our wifi)

 

[Vicenarian]

Maybe this would work?

http://4sysops.com/archives/offline-enable-the-windows-8-built-in-administrator-account/

Haven't tried it, but it seems pretty legit

 

[mraikes]

I gotta ask - what does "freaked out" mean, and what about the process of freaking out made her even think of typing in her password backwards?

It would never occur to me to type in a password backwards without something hinting I should.

 

[Vicenarian]

I gotta ask - what does "freaked out" mean, and what about the process of freaking out made her even think of typing in her password backwards?

It would never occur to me to type in a password backwards without something hinting I should.

It's a Canadian thing

 

[katz]

but she was able to get it working by typing the password backwards.

I don't understand this either - how does a backward (incorrect) password get you in to the system?

 

[AtYourService]

http://thelead82.com/products-win.html

best product to have in your toolkit
run it right from a usb
will bypass passwords or you can open a system cmd prompt by pressing shift key 5 times at logon screen

 

[teche]

WiFi should be available on the bottom left of the logon screen, no? Had one this weekend with the same thing. Had to sign into my wifi before typing their password. It was running 8.1 Update 1. May make a difference.

 

[Moltuae]

I gotta ask - what does "freaked out" mean

Don't you say "freaked out" in the US then?

I would've assumed it was a British 'thing'. Interesting it's used in Canada but not in the US.




Gotta say, I've never heard of a password working backwards before, unless it was originally entered that way.

 

[cypress]

WiFi should be available on the bottom left of the logon screen, no? Had one this weekend with the same thing. Had to sign into my wifi before typing their password. It was running 8.1 Update 1. May make a difference.

Same thing I occured when working on a clients laptop a couple weeks ago.

 

[Larry Sabo]

My question is: Does anybody know of a way to get this computer online to get the updated password (IE. create a local account offline and then connect to our wifi)

The latest version of Active@Password Changer can enable the Administrator account, reset local passwords, and also connect to the web to reset the MS account password. Boots from UEFI without problem. I have it but have only used it once, IIRC.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Don't you say "freaked out" in the US then?

I would've assumed it was a British 'thing'. Interesting it's used in Canada but not in the US.




Gotta say, I've never heard of a password working backwards before, unless it was originally entered that way.

I think he was asking what technically happened. Sure we use the slang term freaked out but it doesn't tell me as a tech what the end user actually saw. Completely useless if trying to do a diagnostic.

 

[mraikes]

Don't you say "freaked out" in the US then?

I would've assumed it was a British 'thing'. Interesting it's used in Canada but not in the US.

I think he was asking what technically happened. Sure we use the slang term freaked out but it doesn't tell me as a tech what the end user actually saw. Completely useless if trying to do a diagnostic.

Exactly this ^^

 

[ClickRight]

Maybe this would work?

http://4sysops.com/archives/offline-enable-the-windows-8-built-in-administrator-account/

Haven't tried it, but it seems pretty legit

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! This worked.

For all the other comments -- "Freaked out" means it wasn't working properly, according to my client

I will look into Active@ and Kon-Boot as well

For the wifi, I found there was no way to connect from the login screen, unless I was missing something.

 

[nlinecomputers]

"For all the other comments -- "Freaked out" means it wasn't working properly, according to my client"

Which again doesn't really tell me sh-t. And yes I know with most end users that is the best you'll get.

 

[Moltuae]

Ah! I see.

Well, "freaked out" is a better description than I get a lot of the time.

Many of my customers seem to think that "my computer isn't working" is all the information I need.

 

[ClickRight]

Ah! I see.

Well, "freaked out" is a better description than I get a lot of the time.

Many of my customers seem to think that "my computer isn't working" is all the information I need.

Agreed, we get that a fair amount as well. In fact, at first all I got on this one was "I think something happened to it while I was using is at the airport" so "Freaked out" did narrow it down to "it's really not working"