Windows 10: I'm locked out!

Like an idiot I set the power on password for my HP 15-f305dx laptop (Win 10) and forgot to write down or remember the password. I've tried taking out the cmos battery for twenty minutes (no AC or battery either) and all that happens is the screen comes up and says the cmos checksum is wrong and then after ten seconds it prompts for the power on password again. Anyone? Thanks in advance!

:)

 

HELP!!! I'm locked out!!!

Hi Sangeeta, thank you for replying.

I'll try to reply as thoroughly as possible.

First off, this is my primary account. I tried deactivating both accounts in order to bypass the login screen, since there would be no accounts to log in to on my PC, but to no avail.

1. I see only the secondary account. What is peculiar is that in the place where should be the account picture, it shows the picture of this account, and yet, under the picture it shows the secondary E-Mail address.

2. When I put in the right password, it says that my device is offline, and, as I've previously said, it tells me that I should try the last password I can remember. That doesn't work.

So let's sum it up. The correct password doesn't work, the last password I could remember doesn't work, the password for my primary account doesn't work, and I'm still locked out.

I have no other system to log in to since that is my only PC.

Please respond in a timely manner.

 

Help, I'm locked out!

I think your only options are to beat the new code out of the eejit who changed it, try the 3 button reset on start-up (unfortunately, that way you will lose all data in phone memory) or take the phone and Proof of Purchase to a service centre .. where
they'll probably reset it, thereby losing all your data

Message Edited by patc on 30-Oct-2008 09:44 AM

 

login as guest or local account then login to your ms account, select lost password, follow instructions to create new, then i think you get a mail notification or phone call with some code number.

 

Is that prompt on a Windows screen? There can be 2 passwords assigned in the BIOS [on the CMOS], one for making changes and the other for booting the computer. Then comes the one for Windows. For the BIOS, usually removing all power for a period of time, I use several minutes, will remove the passwords and any user settings such as time, date, etc. If it's the Windows password it may require obtaining a software made for the purpose of removing that password.

 

This appears to be a BIOS password. With most laptops built in the last 10 years such passwords are not stored in the CMOS and are by design difficult to remove. You will likely have to contact HP and be prepared to prove ownership.

 

Thank you! That's the impression I was getting. I'm assuming there's a USB hack of some kind, maybe a thumb drive firmware hack which is beyond me, but I'm thinking that's going to be a tall order to find. I'm spending time just sitting at the keyboard and letting my mind float around what I was doing at the time, and most of it has come back. Is the password stored in an EEPROM chip then? Thanks again!

 

I don't think I would care to provide any more information of where the password is stored or how it might be reset. The problem is that this is a popular public forum where all posts will be accessible to anyone with an Internet connection for years to come. I don't wish to provide any help to someone with dishonest intentions.

 

I know Dell has a program that you can generate a master unlock password with, using the service ID. Don't know if HP has a similar thing, but I have to assume they do.

 

There must be a master password to unlock it. Ask the service to unlock it for you. Next time avoid using passwords in BIOS. You can lock Windows to prevent others using your computer. Unlocking Windows can be done with the appropriate tools, but unlocking BIOS if the power trick fails, is not so easy.