Clean install

it will remove everything..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
That's it.. You'll have to download the OEM drivers and load your own programs
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thanks KYHI,

Still fighting the password issue, so I guess the only way to get around it would be to do a clean install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
command prompt - account reset - did not work for you?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
No, it did not work. It worked on my PC at home, but not the one I needed it to work on. When I got to the part to click on the ease of access icon, the icon is not there.

I also noticed the following:

In user accounts, it shows only one user now. Guest account only with password protected. That is all there is.

I used a free version, Offline NT Password & Registry editor, and it shows that Guest password is blank. The PC will boot up completely when you turn it on without doing anything but turning it on. Of course it is in the Guest account.

There is another account that shows up when I run NT Password & Registry editor. Its the Admin account I needed access to. It shows its password is blank as well. But this account is not in the user accounts in control panel. Its not the embedded one either. Don't know how to bring it back.

When in control panel UAC and try to manage another account, it ask for a password.


I am totally confused as to what to do, which is why I thought about a clean install. I would prefer to correct the issue and leave the PC with everything like it was and have an admin account with password and a user account with password. They don't need to use the PC using the admin account. They just didn't know any better.

If you know anything that might work, I'm all ears and would appreciate it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
net user administrator /active:yes

may not work in guess account as you need cmd(admin)

another option is boot from setup media and hit F10 at install screen to bring up cmd admin
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thank you. I will give it a try and let you know the outcome.

You have been extremely helpful and I am truly grateful for your assistance. Sure am learning a lot thanks to you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
I tried it on my PC at home and it said it was successful. There is no change in the control panel user accounts. Still can't seem to get to the account.

Any other ideas? I'm at a loss on this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
Reboot
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
I just ran the command and signed out and then signed in admin - no reboot required
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Maybe I'm missing something. Here is what I did.

Booted from an Windows ISO.

When the install screen came up, I selected shift + F10 to get to the command prompt.

Entered net user administrator /active:yes and it said "The command completed successfully".

Entered exit.

Note: I think its at this point maybe I'm doing something wrong.

I removed the dvd.

Rebooted into bios to change it to boot from the OS. Otherwise it will ask for media in the dvd drive.

It is here that I get the log in screen for my account which is an admin account. There is only one, which I already had. When I log in, I check for the additional admin account in UAC I just activated and its not there. I have done this on 2 PCs with Windows 8.1 at my house.

Another Note: I was logged in as administrator on a PC with Vista. Used command prompt (run as administrator) and did it. When I went into control panel UAC, there was now an additional admin account with no password.


Am I missing something when I do the Windows 8 machines?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
C:\Windows\System32\cmd net user administrator /active:yes

try that..

so that it uses the c\windows directory and not the media.. but I would think a dvd would pull an error as it is read only

if you set DVD as first Boot device and there is no bootable media, it will go to the next option in the bios setup
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
On my win8.1 I just ran the command from desktop mode, signed out and the signed in as "administrator"

But you are booting from media and you may have to add c;windows so it know where to run the settings..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
When I boot to the dvd and click shift + F10, my command prompt starts with x:\Sources>

Not sure how to put in what you said : C:\Windows\System32\cmd net user administrator /active:yes
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
I'm thinking that I have to use the dvd. I can't get to an elevated cmd on desktop without a password.

So, I have tried to do it but I just can't seem to figure it out how to do the command.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
cd c\windows\system32
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Well, I was finally able to execute the command when booted from the media. It said it was successful. Checked UAC and the admin account is not there.

If I boot normal, with no media, and log in as administrator, execute the command, a new admin account shows up in control panel.

I have followed the tutorial as well for doing this. It just will not work and I am clueless as to why. I know it works or there would not be a tutorial for it on this site.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
So, after a clean install, the only thing on the PC will be the OS?

That's it.. You'll have to download the OEM drivers and load your own programs

Windows 8.1 is very much hardware complete at install time.
Windows Update will provide updated drivers if you set automatic updates on.
There are however, some drivers (addtil thermal protection and acceleration driveguard, in my case that I had to vist HP to install.)

My printers all installed from what Windows had.

The only thing you should have on a stick before a clean install are your network drivers. This is a failsafe measure so you can connect if the wired or wireless devices don't get installed for some reason.

And yes, you will have to install any programs you use.

Which tutorial di you follow?
Please fill in your system specs on the forum so we don't have to play 20 questions - thanks.

Bill
.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro | Win10TP Pro - boot to VHD
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv6-c610us
    CPU
    AMD VISION A6-3420M Quad-Core (2.4GHz/1.5GHz)
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 SDRAM (2 DIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6520G Discrete-Class Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2072a (20" LED)
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi 640GB (5400 RPM)
    Seagate 2 TB external
    WD 500 GB external
    Keyboard
    Logitech K520 (wireless bundle)
    Mouse
    Logitech M310 (wireless bundle)
    Browser
    IE 11 (default) & Pale Moon
    Other Info
    HP product specs:

    http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-dv6-6c00-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-series/5191856/model/5218495/document/c03138553/
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