Recovery Manager denies access to Windows repair tools

[Alarob]

Hi, I am working on a friend's Pavilion dv6000 running Vista SP2.

She was unable to log in with either the admin or standard user account. I suspect system corruption. She started the password reset process but does not have a password recovery disk.

I'd like to access a system prompt and boot from the last System Restore point, or else try the "Sticky Keys trick" described here.

Problem is, all I have to work with is the HP System Recovery disk or partition. When I try to boot from the disk (or partition) into Windows RE, I cannot get around the insipid Recovery Manager app, even when I indicate that I want a system prompt in safe mode.

System Recovery is not a satisfactory option. My friend has not been disciplined about backups, and I do not want to waste hours of my time downloading and installing Vista updates — again.

I'm trying to use the Windows repair toolbox, and instead HP hands me a sledgehammer. Is there a way around this?

[DavidPK]

Hi,

It may be worth trying to gain access to the Password for the Admin account.  The tools on the link below give a few different options that could be worth trying.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

Option 3 may help in particular as it will remove the password ( corrupt or not ) entirely.

Hope this helps.  Let me know how you get on.

Best wishes,

DP-K

[Alarob]

Thanks for the guidance. Option 3 (PC Login Now) did indeed look like the best option.

While the disk was burning (on a Mac; I'm glad these are ISO files), I followed a hunch and was able to get into the admin account. My friend was confused about the actual password. Her user account was still hosed though. I could have reset the password from the admin account, but decided to use the PC Login Now CD, just to see how it worked.

Suprised to say that the utility did not reset the password in this case. I had to do it from within the admin account.

Using PC Login Now causes the system to prompt you to run CHKDSK on reboot. Maybe I should have postponed that until after trying to login to the targeted account.

[Mumbodog]

So did you get it solved?

chkdsk may have fixed the corruption you spoke of in your first post.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

It is reported in the information on the download page that this utility can cause Windows to detect a possible HDD issue although there shouldn't be any problem in letting Chkdsk run.  As you now have access to the Admin Account at least you will be able to take control of the User Account as you have suggested.  It might be worth seeing if accessing the User Account with a bootable Ubuntu CD helps in recovering data etc.  Guide and download on the link below.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windo...

Let me know how you get on.

Best wishes,

DP-K

[CherylG]

Nice link DavidPK! I have used Knoppix Live CD ,but may have to try Ubuntu.