Scam lockout

[HeatherJordan1]

My friend was not able to resolve my problem either so any further help would be appreciated

[CherylG]

@HeatherJordan1

Immediately after powering on start tapping the F11 key. This will boot into  Recovery Manager to do a System Recovery. Follow the gude here after choosing your OS:

http://hp.dezide.com/ts/start.jsp?guide=HPSystemRecovery.net&as=true&SFS=sdoc&section=ccweb

[EddyK]

A system restore has already been suggested and HeatherJordan1 is not able to use it. I would doubt anyway that the scammer forgot to destroy the restore points. 

HeatherJordan1,

Please take a picture and when replying to a post or a private message, you'll see the "Photos" option in your text editor. Send a picture of the password login and then I can confirm if it is syskey encryption. 

Regards,

kem579

[HeatherJordan1]

[EddyK]

Hi HeatherJordan1,

This is syskey encryption.

This is from Microsoft and other forums so kudos to them. If you need additional help or clarification just reply and I'll try to help out:

1. Boot from the Windows 7 install cd.
2. When the Install Windows page appears, click Repair your computer to access system recovery options.
3. Run System Restore to last point before syskey password blocked access. (This will fail, but must be done). Click run system restore again (this will take you back to the options list)
4. Open Command Prompt from the options list.
5. Open Regedit (Type regedit into the command prompt). Regedit will open.
6. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa, and change 'SecureBoot' value to 0.
7. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SAM\SAM\Domains\Account Change F value to 0000
8. Reboot and Login

There are actually several ways to resolve this issue but since you are running Windows 7, this would be the recommended method. A more step by step procedure with pictures is detailed here: https://www.computernetworkingnotes.com/sysadmin-tutorials-collection/how-to-remove-syskey-in-window...

It is under the very last method called "Changing registry key to remove the Syskey"

Awaiting your response,

kem579

[HeatherJordan1]

Ok I did exactly what you said and then restarted the PC and it didn't work.   It's like it's not saving the changes because when I went back and tried it again the changes weren't saved they were the values were back to what they were before

[HeatherJordan1]

Also my system is Windows 10

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

@HeatherJordan1

Do you have access to another computer that you can use to make a bootable usb flash drive for Winodws 10? If so you can use the free Media Creation Tool at Microsoft to make the flash drive. It requires at least an 8gb flash drive and can be used to boot your Stream and reinstall Windows.It will use your product/license key embedded in BIOS to activate.

Click 'Download tool now" and Run it when asked to save or run. Have your flash drive plugged in.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

[HeatherJordan1]

That worked !! Thank you so much!! I learned a valuable lesson from this!!

[CherylG]

@HeatherJordan1

You're very welcome. Happy to hear you are back up and running even though you jumped through a lot of hoops to get there.

My grandmother always said "any lesson you learn the hard way is not easily forgotten".