I am trying to boot to the restore partition, to do a system restore. I forgot the admin password and can't get in to the OS.

Heaps of things can cause this - corrupt software, corrupt OS, virus, hard disk error. etc

First of all, I'd try turning the pc on, press the F8 key repeatedly until you get a list of options in dos mode text.
The first one listed will be safe mode.
use the arrow keys to select Last Known Good Configuration.
press enter, and, if you are in luck, your system will boot up just like normal.
This has fixed numerous pcs in the past.
If it works, I'd advise doing a checkdisk on the hard disk and running an AV scan, just to make sure.

If that fails, I'd again press F* repeatedly on boot, then select safe mode.
Wait ages, until you get a prompt with heaps of text, with yes to go to safe mode, no to go to system restore.
Select NO, and the system restore wizard will start... select a date previous to when the issue started, wait a while, and then test. if that goes thru, but the system still wont boot, i'd rerun system restore, but choose an earlier restore point.

If that fails, you'll need to boot from an XP disk, home or pro - the one that matches your OS - home or pro... boot from the cd, at first screen press r to repair via the recovery console.
select your os partition ( usually just press 1)
put in your admin password (usually just press enter, unless one is set)
and, when you can see the command line...
type in
chkdsk /r c:
and press enter.
this will check and repair, if possible, any faults on the hard disk.
once this completes, reboot and retest.

If that fails, you'll need to again boot from an XP disk, at the first screen press enter to install OS, press F8 to accept the licence agreement... then, if and ONLY if you get the option to press "r" to repair, press R, and allow it to repair the OS.
DO NOT CONTINUE PAST THIS SCREEN OR CHOOSE ANY OTHER OPTION OTHER THAN R, as you will OVERWRITE YOUR DATA.

To reiterate, if you don't get the option to press R to repair STOP, or otherwise say goodbye to your files.
you will not get the option to repair if you either are using the wrong xp disk, ie home disk with pro OS, or vice versa, or if the hard disk is corrupt, or the OS is too badly damaged to be recognised...

Hope this info helps.

erecovery password
Acer has a software named eRecovery. This software dedicated to their customers in order to get Windows OS recovery process a lot more easier and faster even a kid able to do it.

Acer created a hidden partition labeled PQSERVICE

You wouldn't able to see this partition in Windows explorer. If you want to see this partition existance, right-click My Computer -> Manage -> Disk Management


PQSERVICE partition contain an image of Windows OS (XP/Vista/Seven) and this partition will be load to recover anytime when your Windows OS crashed, unstable, or infected by virus.

By pressing ALT+F10 before entering Windows boot process, you will access Acer eRecovery menu and asked the location where the backup will restore (ussually C: Drive). After few simple clicks (as easy as click Next) you will have your Windows back as 'factory default' state (State when you bought your Acer machine)

But how if there are password required for eRecovery? The windows is crashed and unfortunately... you don't know the password?

Here are the tricks!


Try the default password 000000

flash BIOS in support.dell.com bios master password will be reset

If you can't get passed the F2, F12 then maybe the keys are disabled.. Windows does this sometimes. To release just hit "F".. if that doesn't do the trick then probably drive is corrupt..
You will need to restore using restore disc if you have one.

Depending on the OS you can Ctrl + Alt + Delete and it would change to a screen that you can enter a user name and password.
Enter the username "Administrator" and leave the password blank or try "admin" or "administrator"
If your able to login with those details you can go to
Control Panel > Admin Tools > Computer Management > Local Users and groups (On the left) > Users > and then right click the username you forgot the password for and click "Set Password"

OR


Forgot Windows Password? Would you like to choose to reinstall the OS ? If not, then follow this tutorial to recover/remove the password.It is adjust to Windows XP/Vista/NT/2000/2003/2008/7.....
1.Download Windows Password Recovery utility from Password Recovery Official site :
http://www.recoverlostpassword.com/products/windowspasswordrecoery.html
2.Decompress the Windows Password Recovery utility and note that there is an .ISO image file. Burn the image file onto an blank CD with the burner freely supported by Windows Password Recovery utility
3.Insert the newly created CD into the locked computer and re-boot it from the CD drive. 4.After launched the CD, a window pop up with all your account names(if you have several accounts) select one of the accounts that you have forgotten its password to reset it. Just one press, you have removed the password.

If its a XP operating system on you laptop then you can boot to safe mode by tapping f8 key when the laptop is powering on and in safe mode choose admin account and once logged in can go to user accounts from control panel and under user account select the profile for which you have forget the password and click manage account from there you can change or clear the password

note : by default there would be no password for admin account
in safe

Vista or Windows 7 OS you can try doing a restore if the password was expired then it will ask you to enter a new password if not reinstall of the OS is the solution

if the NB goes with Recovery partition then you can reinstall the OS from it

keep tapping the f11 key when the NB is booting and it will take you to recovery screen follow on screen instructions this will FORMAT the hard drive and then re-installs the OS

As far as I know, You can reset windows user account password in safe mode(F8 when booting up). But if you forgot administrator password, you must reinstall windows OS or use the "Windows Password Seeker". Official site: http://www.passwordseeker.com

The experience that I forgot Windows password happened to me a few weeks ago. And my classmate recommends me to take use of Windows Password Recovery 6.0, which is very smart and just take me a short time to reset a new password. It is great and you can find it by clicking blue words。

click forgot password and go through that

Hi smt35216,

Regarding the issue with your password, one possible option to resolve it is using the system restore using the windows vista cd or using the boot advance option.

When you turn on the system, after you pressed the power button to turned it on just keep on tapping F8 key on the keyboard (depending on the system model) until you see an option to boot to "repair my computer". Follow the instructions. When you are in the Recovery option, select system restore and restore the settings back to the working date.

If system restore won't work. Last resort is to reinstall your Windows Vista. You may also ask you computer manufacturer if they have a recovery partition of your hard drive to restore your computer back to factory defaults.

Regards,

Jeff