Locked out of laptop win 11 start up

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xyeovillian

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#303649 25-Feb-2023 11:42

I recently bought a used HP Elitebook 840 G8 Business Ultrabook 14" FHD. It has been working perfectly but kept getting this nagging message each time at start up to change my password Windows 11 pro which I set up originally for a local account.
Unfortunately I can't remember the password so I ignored it and eventually it locked me out, and when trying to change the password it needs my original password which I don't have.
Is it anything to do with HP Wolf security which is on the splash screen at the start. Is there a setting in the bios that I could change.

Batman

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#3041752 25-Feb-2023 13:21

you can wipe the entire OS - prev versions of windows don't require a password to wipe and you get a clean system like when it first came out of the box

not sure if win 11 will do that

Rikkitic

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#3041753 25-Feb-2023 13:23

I don't have experience of Windows 11 but on earlier versions it was easy to hack the password. I did a quick search and these suggestions look hopeful:

https://beebom.com/how-change-windows-11-password/

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/remove-your-password-on-windows-11/

These claim to work for local accounts and they probably do. You may lose personal data specific to the account so that is something to bear in mind. I have done this kind of thing many times on earlier Windows versions and it is usually pretty simple. Good luck with it.

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xyeovillian

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#3041762 25-Feb-2023 13:50

Batman:

you can wipe the entire OS - prev versions of windows don't require a password to wipe and you get a clean system like when it first came out of the box

not sure if win 11 will do that

I have tried reformat couple of times even installed linux wiped drive with gparted.

Still no go just keeps coming up with reset password etc but cannot because forgot original password local account.

Must be something in the bios to alter start up.

Ruphus

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#3041768 25-Feb-2023 14:32

No sure which drive you've re-formatted but it doesn't sound like the OS drive. You would have needed to reinstall windows if you'd did, especially if you'd have blown away the recovery partition.

Back in the day I would have used a DaRT USB to reset the admin password. Thanks to Rikkitic's links, I'd use this method.

Forgot Your Windows 11 Password? Here is How to Reset Windows 11 Password | Beebom

xyeovillian

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#3041776 25-Feb-2023 15:12

All sorted Microsoft helped me restore my device good as gold!

xyeovillian

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#3042226 26-Feb-2023 14:29

Here is the advice that I received from Microsoft which helped me resolve my problem. I expect you know the advice given but I did not so happy to share.

Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your
device.
Press the power button again to turn on your device. On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer's logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device. Press the power button again to turn on your device. When Windows restarts, hold down the power button for 10 Allow your device to fully restart to enter WinRE.
seconds to turn off your device. Press the power button again to turn on your device.

Hey presto back to normal.

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DamageInc

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#3042227 26-Feb-2023 14:37

xyeovillian:

Here is the advice that I received from Microsoft which helped me resolve my problem. I expect you know the advice given but I did not so happy to share.

Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your
device.
Press the power button again to turn on your device. On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer's logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device. Press the power button again to turn on your device. When Windows restarts, hold down the power button for 10 Allow your device to fully restart to enter WinRE.
seconds to turn off your device. Press the power button again to turn on your device.

Hey presto back to normal.

What the heck, never seen that one before. Great result though.

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