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I've recently sent my computer to be repaired and I am almost certain that I set a password to my account - the only account on the system.
After the repair has been completed I've found out that my account had no password set.
So please tell me - did I forget to set it, or are there some tools to remove user's password?
I am using Windows 7 64-bit
elmes
Posted 2012-03-02T14:09:50.457
Reputation: 439
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Yes, there are tools to remove the user's password. Most repair shops use them when you haven't given them your password, it's much quicker than calling you for the password.
BloodPhilia
Posted 2012-03-02T14:09:50.457
Reputation: 27 374
but .. is it even LEGAL ?! – elmes – 2012-03-02T14:13:42.447
1Well, technically not without permission... But if you gave them your computer to fix, they probably needed to do so. – BloodPhilia – 2012-03-02T14:15:37.320
And can I check, weather the passwords was set or not? – elmes – 2012-03-02T14:16:56.967
1@elmes probably not, removal by means of such tools isn't logged. You could always try asking the repair people/shop/guy if they removed it... – BloodPhilia – 2012-03-02T14:41:34.110
1You'd need to be able to check the time stamp on an individual key in the registry. I'm not sure if that's possible. But like BloodPhilia said, if you sent your computer off for repair and did not give them your password, it is usually actually MORE secure that they wipe your password. If they know your computer password it is highly likely they know the password to your banking sites, your email, and many other things. If they simply wipe the password, they never had to see your initial password. When I did support I tended to wipe passwords and tell people to set it up again rather than ask. – music2myear – 2012-03-02T14:41:50.463
@music2myear Good practice, thanks.. – elmes – 2012-03-02T14:44:04.797
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Important side note that the process of wiping the password will invalidate the certificate for the user account so if you used windows to encrypt files you will not be able to recover the files if you did not have a backup of the certificate before the wipe.
– Scott Chamberlain – 2012-03-02T14:52:11.917And what about passwords in MS Outlook? They are gone too! – elmes – 2012-03-02T14:55:21.773
1@elmes Yes that's because those are in the same store. All passwords saved with the password store API will be gone. – BloodPhilia – 2012-03-02T15:59:20.633
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W7 Password change using a System Repair disc or a W7 install disc...http://superuser.com/a/395392/40928
– Moab – 2012-03-02T16:27:46.430