Vintage Pavilion dv7 password reset

[CaseyRyan86]

I have a vintage HP Pavilion dv7 notebook that’s been sitting around since 2010. I have pictures/videos/movies I’d like to retrieve from this device. When it powers on you have the selection for safe mode, safe mode with prompts (I think) another safe mode or power on normal. This screen happened when shut down improperly.

i do not remember my password from that long ago to log in to windows. How can I get around this without deleting my data?

[NonSequitur777]

@CaseyRyan86,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

The good news is that there is a good chance your files are fully recoverable. Below I'll provide two safe, reliable approaches (one non-invasive, one hardware-level) plus notes about BitLocker and what not to do (to avoid accidentally deleting data).

Pick the approach that feels easiest and I'll walk you through any step in more detail.

---

Two reliable ways to retrieve files without wiping the drive:

Option A — Easiest / no-teardown: Boot the laptop from a Linux Live USB and copy files to an external drive:

Why: you don’t need the Windows password because you’ll run a different OS from the USB stick and mount the laptop’s internal drive to copy files.

What you need:

• A second working PC (to make the USB).

• An empty USB stick (≥8 GB) for the Live OS.

• An external USB drive or large USB stick to copy your photos/videos onto.

• Rufus (or BalenaEtcher) on the working PC to write the ISO.

Step-by-step:

1. On the working PC, download a Linux desktop ISO (Ubuntu Desktop is simple).

2. Use Rufus (Windows) or BalenaEtcher (macOS/Linux) to write the ISO to the USB stick (this creates a bootable Live USB).

3. Plug the Live USB into the dv7. Power on and immediately press the dv7 boot menu key (usually Esc, F9, or F12 — try Esc then the boot option shown). If needed, enter BIOS/UEFI (F10) and enable USB boot and/or set USB first.

4. Boot the USB and choose "Try Ubuntu" (or "Try" option) -this runs Linux from the USB without installing anything.

5. In the desktop, open Files. You should see the internal Windows partition (usually flagged as the largest partition). Click it to mount.

6. Browse to C:\Users\<username>\Pictures, Videos, Documents, etc., and copy the folders/files to the connected external USB drive.

7. When done, safely eject the external drive and shut down. Nothing was written to the internal drive unless you explicitly chose to do so.

Notes & pitfalls:

• If the drive is BitLocker encrypted, Ubuntu will not be able to read it unless you have the BitLocker recovery key. See the BitLocker section below.

• If the laptop has an eMMC rather than a removable SATA drive, Ubuntu can still usually mount it -same process.

• This method is safe and does not change Windows user accounts or passwords.

---

Option B — Remove the drive and attach it to another PC (best if you prefer working on a desktop):

Why: physically remove the HDD/SSD and connect it to another computer or use a USB-SATA adapter. Useful if the laptop won’t boot from USB or you prefer a direct connection.

What you need:

• Small Phillips screwdriver(s).

• A USB-to-SATA adapter/enclosure (for 2.5" drives) or a desktop PC with spare SATA cable and power.

• External drive or the desktop PC to copy files onto.

Step-by-step:

1. Power down and remove the battery (if removable) and AC adapter.

2. Remove the laptop's bottom cover screws and lift the access panel (consult the dv7 service manual if unsure). The dv7 series typically uses a 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD.

3. Carefully disconnect and remove the drive.

4. Attach the drive to the USB-SATA adapter and plug it into another PC. The drive should appear as an external disk in File Explorer.

5. Browse the Users\<username> folders and copy your files to the other PC or an external drive.

Notes & pitfalls:

• Work on an anti-static surface. Disclaimer: If you're not comfortable opening hardware, ask a local laptop or computer service/repair shop -they can do the removal and copy for a small fee.

• If the drive uses a proprietary connector (rare on dv7), ask before forcing anything.

---

Important: BitLocker & full-disk encryption:

• If Windows BitLocker was enabled on that old laptop and the drive is encrypted, you will not be able to read files on another machine or from Linux without the BitLocker recovery key.

• Possible places to find the BitLocker key:

  • The owner’s Microsoft account online (if the account was a Microsoft account): https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.

  • A printed/saved recovery key the user might have stored.

• If the drive is encrypted and you don’t have the key, data recovery is effectively impossible without the key.

---

What not to do:

• Don't reinstall Windows on the dv7 -that will overwrite data.

• Don't format the drive.

• Don't run random "password reset" tools downloaded from unknown/questionable sites -they can be risky and may corrupt files.

• Don't attempt complicated password bypass tricks (like replacing system files) unless you fully understand the risks -they can make recovery harder and are security-sensitive.

---

Quick checklist & recommendation:

• If you just want the files and are comfortable with a little tech: do Option A (Live USB). I can give exact Rufus commands and Ubuntu ISO links and step-by-step screenshots if you want.

• If you're uncomfortable opening the laptop: do Option B but either hire a local tech or buy a cheap USB-SATA adapter and I'll show how to use it.

• If the drive is BitLocker encrypted, locate the recovery key first -otherwise copying will fail.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777