forgot admin password

[xoxoluly]

My dad forgot his password to the admin account on our family computer and we need to update systems and such things and we cant because it keeps asking for his password. how do i reset it or restart the computer/wipe system clean? i need help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MKazi · Accepted solution]

@xoxoluly

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums. 🙂 I came across your post and would like to help. I understand that you have an HP Pavilion Slimline PC with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (64-bit) and forgot the Admin password. 

You could reinstall the original operating system that came with the PC. I'm not sure if this PC came preinstalled with Windows Server 2008 because normally the consumer PCs come with non-server operating systems like Win8, Win8.1, Win10, etc. Please send me the exact model no. of the PC. Refer this link to locate the model no: http://hp.care/2bygf7l. 

Meanwhile, please refer to the step by step guide to unlock the password in Windows: http://hp.care/2dW5X1o. I will wait for your response. Cheers!

[xoxoluly]

it is a windows 7 system. ive already tried going through the second admin account to manage other accounts but a window pops up asking for the password of the admin which has been forgotten. i just want to reset the whole computer, can i do that or do i have to purchase something to do that?

[MKazi]

@xoxoluly

Thanks for replying with the information. Before you reinstall Windows 7 let me inform you that all your data in the computer will be deleted. If this Windows 7 OS came preinstalled in the computer then you can perform a system recovery which will restore your computer to its original factory condition:

Refer to "Steps to follow for Recovery from the startup screen (during system boot) OR when unable to boot to login in screen" from this link: http://hp.care/2ekILYP. 

Good luck and let me know the outcome. 🙂

[xoxoluly]

i tried the link in your last message and it did not work. it says it is invalid. 

i am so sorry for all the trouble, i appreciate all your help so much!

[Bill-M]

The link did not work as shown because MKazi MIS-TYPED it.   Customer Support 101:  Never end a sentence with a URL, because the normal rules of ending the sentence with a period will "break" the URL ... which does not, in fact, end with a period.

Copy/paste the URL to your browser, delete the trailing "." ... and the link works.