Password works at Safe Mode but not the Normal Mode on Windows 7 , can't log on laptop, help please!

[ET-HP-G60]

--My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium. 

I had the issue of using known password to access my laptop and didn't have the Password Recovery disc.   I learned to access to Safe Mode, made a copy of the recovery disc on USB in Control Panel but it still didn't work on accessing from the Normal Mode. 

I also tried to remove the password, create new password and remove it in CP and logged back in the Normal Mode many times. I tested the new password on Safe Mode, it worked.  But it still didn't let me log in and the recovery disc showed error message on the Normal Mode. 

One time I used Win +R and typed : control passwords2 (or something, I don't remember now) in Safe Mode, I got to add another account with password.  But it didn't allow me to log in NM.    No matter what I did, every time after serveal attempts in Normal Mode, it showed "User Profile Services services failed to log on" so it can't be loaded. 

I don't have other user account previoussly and seemed like my account is the Adm account.  So when I went into Safe Mode trying to change "User Account Setting" or some other things, it didn't allow me to, and, on the left side of those selections showed a "shield" (looked like it is protected). 

Is there way (such as below Youtube videos) to fix it without using 3rd party software?  Is altering from "Regedit" safe and it won't need to be backup first, right? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT4ESA2Unng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SpJ_EZlEyY

Thank you. 

[MKazi]

@ET-HP-G60

Let me take a moment to thank you for posting on the HP Support Forums. I came across your post and would like to help. 

I understand that you have an HP G60-600 series laptop. I read that you're unable to login to your account in Windows 7. However, you're able to login to safe mode. I appreciate the steps you have performed and have certainly done a good job.

During my research on this case, I came across this HP document which discusses about the possible ways to reset/change the password in Windows 7. 

If the issue persists then the only option is to reinstall Windows 7 (also, called as system recovery): http://hp.care/2rNLwq4

I sincerely hope this information helps. Let me know the outcome. Cheers! 🙂

[ET-HP-G60]

Since there was no other accunt, I couldn't use "manage other account" in Control Panel and could only try the System Recovery.   However, it would be my last resort as it is going to reset my NB to the factory condition.   

1. Are there other ways to fix it such as using commend prompt from the links I mentioned before before doing the Recovery?  

2. If necessary, can I reinstall Win 7 by keying in the Product Key from Windows website?  Or, how can I get the Win 7 for free?  But it will erase all my files/doc, right? 

In safe mode, I also noted that there was NO more a safe point to do system restore or go back to a earlier time.    I wondered if the hard drive is failing.   BTW, my display is blank so I have to use external mointor (to see the log in page) and flash light (for Safe Mode).

Thank you. 

[MKazi]

@ET-HP-G60

You're most welcome and glad to have you back. 

1. Are there other ways to fix it such as using command prompt from the links I mentioned before doing the Recovery?

I did some research and came across the following steps to reset the password in Win7 through the command prompt. Following are the steps:

• Start computer and press F8 while the computer boots up.
• When Advanced Boot Options screen appears, select Safe Mode with Command Prompt and press Enter. Then your computer will start in safe mode with command prompt.

• Run command prompt with default Administrator privileges.
• Generally, Administrator is disabled and has no password protection by default. So usually you don't need to choose Administrator and enter its password. But if you see, please select Administrator on login screen and enter command prompt. Then Command Prompt will be run as Administrator automatically.

2. If necessary, can I reinstall Win 7 by keying in the Product Key from Windows website?  Or, how can I get the Win 7 for free?  But it will erase all my files/doc, right? 

• If you have created the recovery disks on your laptop, then they can be used to reinstall Windows. Or you may contact our HP phone support to check the availability of the recovery media for this laptop model. When you reinstall Windows 7 using the recovery media, you do not have to enter the Windows key. It is automatically embedded into the operating system. However, the Windows product key needs to be entered if you're installing a retail version of Windows.

I genuinely hope the issue gets resolved without hassles and the unit works great. Keep me posted. Good luck! 🙂

[ET-HP-G60]

Thank you for sending me the instructions on using the commend prompt.  Can you help to answer below questions?  I am trying to find the safest way and a way which is not going to delete my files/doc to fix the "User Profile Services services failed to log on" so it can't be loaded error.  Most likely it is a Registy Key issue. 

* Running Regedit in Safe Mode: 

Before doing anything to change the contents of S-1-5-21 folders under the Registy/..../ProfileList, do we need to write down the original value? In case it didn't fix the problem, can we re-type in the original value and reverse it back? Please help to clarify whether a backup copy is needed before making key changes. Thank you.

** Using the commend prompt in Safe Mode:

What happen if something went wrong or it still doesnt fix the existing problem?  How can I reverse it back?  There is no System Restore point in the Safe Mode though. 

[DavidSMP]

Hi @ET-HP-G60,

I reviewed the post. It is great to have you back. You have displayed brilliant efforts, great attitude and commendable technical competence to try and resolve the issue. Kudos to you for a job well done. 🙂

As @MKazi is out for the day, I am responding on his behalf. Please try these links to remove the password from the command prompt by typing out these commands. This might for the trick for you.

• Link1: http://hp.care/2Ededn4  (How to Reset Windows 7 Password Using Command Prompt)
   
• Link 2: http://hp.care/2EdL3nJ (Bypass Windows 7 Logon Screen and Admin Password)
   
• Link 3: http://hp.care/2EdL6zV (Reset Windows 7 Password Without CD Or Software)
• These are third party links. Please follow only instructions on it. Do not click on any image, link. ad, download or icon. It is strictly to follow instructions and screenshots (if found) only. Please adhere to this.

If this helps then to simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care, stay healthy, keep smiling big and have a blessed year a and have a blessed week ahead. 🙂

Cheers!

[ET-HP-G60]

Thanks, I did receive the instructions how to using cmd to reset password from MKazi.  But I prefer NOT to use any 3rd party software to solve this problem so link 3 won't work. However, if I do make below changes in Safe Mode, will I lost any data?  I do want to confirm that the 3 links you sent will be the solution to the error message "User Profile Service service failed the logon."  for window 7 Home. 

1. Change the File of type option to All Files and browse to C:\windows\system32\sethc.exe. Rename this file as a backup, just like "sethc-copy".

2. Find the cmd.exe file in the same folder and rename it to sethc.exe.

Again, I would like to clarify a couple of quesitons frist ? 

* Running Regedit in Safe Mode: 

Before doing anything to change the contents of S-1-5-21 folders under the Registy/..../ProfileList, do we need to write down the original value? In case it didn't fix the problem, can we re-type in the original value and reverse it back? Please help to clarify whether a backup copy is needed before making key changes. Thank you.

** Using the commend prompt in Safe Mode:

What happen if something went wrong or it still doesnt fix the existing problem?  How can I reverse it back?  There is no System Restore point in the Safe Mode though. 

[DavidSMP]

Hi @ET-HP-G60,

This is not third-party software. It is doing it from the windows command prompt. It is built right into windows 7. The screenshots are from a third party website that should work fine on the computer. The steps provided are not any third party software. It is going into safe mode and command prompt and executing built-in windows commands.

The links are only third party links. you don't need to click on anything there. just follow instructions from there and it might do the trick for you.

It is best to take a backup of the registry in case something happens and it gets corrupted. So please do that. Also, write down the values before attempting anything regarding the registry. First backup the registry. HP cannot guarantee any data loss if the registry is tweaked. So You will be doing it at your own discretion. I am being honest about it without beating around the bush.

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes. To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care and have a blessed week ahead. 🙂

Cheers!

[ET-HP-G60]

Thanks Daivd.  I am going to give it a shot.  Shall I try the Regedit first or the Link 1?  

BTW, if I write down the Reg Key Value, I will be able to reserve it back later, right?   All I need to do just repeat the steps and type in the old value in, right ... if it didn't fix the Error. 

[DavidSMP]

Hi @ET-HP-G60,

Please try the links that I sent you first. The Regedit option should be done as a last resort. Also backup your registry before doing it as it might cause data loss if done incorrectly. I am being honest about it by keeping your best interest in mind.

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes. To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care and have a blessed week ahead. 🙂

Cheers!