The Only Guy With The Password Died

[niftyned]

A mate called me this morning with a unique problem. This guy who worked with him died at the weekend taking with him the password to his company supplied laptop. There are some autocad files on there that they need urgently but they cant get to them. It is a real small company that does not have an IT guy so they are trying some data recovery software but no go . I told him that he should remove the hdd and try hooking it to another machine as an external drive but that didnt work either. Does anyone know of any company in Perth that may be able to get these .dwg files back for them.

[NoService]

I told him that he should remove the hdd and try hooking it to another machine as an external drive but that didnt work either

that would be the best bet if its just the data files they need as the operating system dont come into play so a password wouldnt be needed

when you say it didnt work i assume you dont know how they tried to hook it up, maybe they didnt switch the jumper on the hdd to slave so it wasnt recognized

NS

[Godzilla]

Did you look at this a couple of threads down?

[bambbbam]

You could also use the recovery disk, if there is one..

[fandtm666]

is it the admin login password or bios password

if its the admin just use this and follow the prompts to reset it



Windows Key resets Windows login passwords in a matter of minutes – no need to reinstall the system. Windows Key creates a password reset CD, USB Flash Drive or a driver floppy that work during the boot process and instantly reset Administrator or other account passwords and Windows security settings that prevent you from logging in.

Features:
* 100% recovery rate
* Resets passwords directly from a bootable USB Drive, no floppy or CD-ROM drive required
* Resets password for any account
* Resets local policy settings for any account
* Displays the detailed information about local user accounts
* Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is supported
* Windows Server 2003 is supported
* Windows Server 2003 R2 is supported
* Windows XP Home and Professional Editions are supported
* Windows 2000 Professional, Server and Advanced Server are supported
* Windows NT Workstation and Server 4.0 are supported
* Resets Domain Administrator password for Active Directory Domain Controllers (Enterprise Edition only)
* All secure boot options are supported
* All Service Packs are supported

But if its the bios then that's another story and all details of the unit would be needed to determine if it can be over ridden

[tagg]

ER Comander will allow you to change or remove any password, as it is a system on a disk there is no need to log into windows to do it. Very handy disk to have in your tool box.

Tagg

[K1.Cruiser]

is a Linux Off Line Password and Registry editor.
Download and create a bootable CD using any ISO burner program (Nero's or Power ISO) then get the machine to boot from the CD
Follow the prompts.
When it asks for PATH - That is the path to the HDD operating system usually C:\Windows
enjoy

[niftyned]

Well I rang him back just to clarify. It had a bios password which I took care of for him but it comes up on the screen that the HDD is password protected. I dont know if that means a windows logon or something else. It is a dell and I have no experience at all with their stuff and not being able to see the laptop makes it harder because none of these guys are real bright when it comes to anything to do with computers they`re all carpenters and cabinet makers so get a bigger hammer is the most offered solution from their end.
Edit: Oh yeah and it is running vista another area where I have no experience.

[porkop]

tell me, where they at all concerned about the guy dying???

[SystemRat]

If it’s an ATA hard drive password then your option is to send it to a data recovery firm



I am not sure what it will cost but you need special equipment to clear the password. Be careful of some internet advice which is targeted at making the drive usable and will wipe the data in the process of clearing the password.

This is some detail of ATA password protection.



Good luck.

[niftyned]

tell me, where they at all concerned about the guy dying???

Not really, I`ve met the guy before he was a complete arsehole. I dont think they are at all concerned about it. Well maybe who gets his parking space may be of concern to some.

[niftyned]

If it’s an ATA hard drive password then your option is to send it to a data recovery firm



I am not sure what it will cost but you need special equipment to clear the password. Be careful of some internet advice which is targeted at making the drive usable and will wipe the data in the process of clearing the password.

This is some detail of ATA password protection.



Good luck.

Cheers for that SR thats what I was after. I really did not want to waste too much time on it. Let my mates boss pay someone to do it, the wanker has more money than the Westpac bank, he just doesn`t like parting wth any of it.

[porkop]

tell me, where they at all concerned about the guy dying???

Not really, I`ve met the guy before he was a complete arsehole. I dont think they are at all concerned about it. Well maybe who gets his parking space may be of concern to some.

fair enough. answers that question for me

guess he is having the last laugh though

[happykaka]

there is an article that offers some solutions to bypass the passwords, which may be helpful for you

[Zero Alpha]

I can remove this password for you.

[intelliGEORGE]

What is the brand of the PC?