can't uninstall or install anything without a password

Hi all, My son is running a HP2000 laptop with win 7 home premium 64-bit SP1, Celeron dual-core cpu T3500 @ 2.1Ghz, 3.0Gb RAM, Mobile Intel 4 series express chipset family. He has two accounts. One is the administrator, the other is for others.

Something has changed the administrator password. We don't know what it was changed to. but we do know that we can't make any changes to the computer without it.

In addition, it won't let me run most malware cleaning programs. It did however, let me run Spy bot S&D. There were over 1000 hits but it required the password to fix them. CCleaner appears to work but finds zero errors in the registry. I have never seen that happen. And I can't uninstall or install without the password.

I started down the "Read & Run me first" instructions and was stopped at the "disable to UAC" step because I needed the password.

I have run into numerous dead ends. At this point in time, I feel I need to reformat the HD.

Any ideas?

 

NO, I will and report back. Thanks

 

It stops me at the disable uac step by asking for a password again

 

I tried all 3 methods. Method 1 required me to enter the unknown password to continue. Methods 2 and 3 just sent "No items match your search" response.

 

Maybe try some Windows password recovery tools from these lists: http://download.cnet.com/windows/password-managers/?tag=bc
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

Or try this method:
http://www.wikihow.com/Break-the-Admin-Password-in-Windows-7

Calling your local computer repair man if all other methods do not work.

PS: Before installing any software, make sure to check reviews etc. A lot of people report new wave of ransomware viruses like cryptolocker: http://privacy-pc.com/how-to/remove-cryptolocker-virus.html Last thing you want is catching it bundled with password recovery software.

 

could try using Ophcrack, use the Vista version for Win 7.