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- Best Buy installed anew hard drive on my Hp laptop, deleting...

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06-14-2025 07:57 AM
Hi @Kathy1977-_,
Welcome to the HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.
If Best Buy installed a new hard drive on your HP Pavilion G6 and you’re now locked out because your sign-in password was deleted or reset, here are a few steps you can try to regain access:
Step-by-Step Recovery Options
1. Try a Blank Password
Sometimes, after a hard drive replacement, the system might not have a password set:
- On the login screen, leave the password field blank and press Enter.
2. Use a Microsoft Account (if applicable)
If your laptop was previously linked to a Microsoft account:
- Click on "I forgot my password" on the login screen.
- Follow the prompts to reset your password online using another device: Microsoft Password Reset
3. Use HP Recovery Tools
If Best Buy installed a fresh copy of Windows, HP recovery tools might be gone. But if they’re still present:
- Turn off the laptop.
- Turn it back on and immediately press F11 repeatedly to access HP Recovery Manager.
- Look for options like System Restore or Reset this PC.
4. Use Safe Mode with Command Prompt
If you can boot into Safe Mode:
- Restart the laptop and press F8 or Shift + F8 (older systems).
- Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
- In the Command Prompt, try:
- net user Administrator /active:yes
Then restart and log in as Administrator.
5. Use a Password Reset Disk (if you created one)
If you had created a password reset disk before the hard drive change, you can use it now.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, as it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
VikramTheGreat
HP Support