I have a late model VIZIO laptop with SSD and no cd/dvd drive. It was brand new and the Windows 7 os had not been activated. A friend installed Linux Sabayon through a USB drive. He partitioned the HD and left Windows in a small section. I want to be able to access it, though, but now I can't because a password prompt keeps coming up. I don't remember him ever setting a password for Windows (or even creating a user account). I have tried my Sabayon login password (since the Windows prompt shows the same screenname we created for Sabayon), but that doesn't work. My friend travels a lot and I haven't been able to reach him.

I've looked online for solutions for password recovery, but they all seem to require getting into Windows safe mode, but I cannot even get into Windows itself to get into safe mode. If I boot from the Sabayon splash ("Windos loader") screen, Windows doesn't seem to start or look the same as the Windows 7 on my older laptop. I tried to create a recovery disk, but I can't get the external cd/drive unit I bought to operate so it can boot from there.

Complicated, I know. And I'm just a beginner.

I suggest you try UBCD.
It's a great tool for things like this, I've used it a lot. Password recovery works like a charm.
And despite the name you can run it from USB.

When booting UBCD, you'll want
/HDD/Data Recovery/Offline NT Password & Registry Editor
Just go for the defaults, and lastly don't try to change passwords, just empty/blank administrator password. (Don't remember the exact term used, you'll find it.)

You can. of course, install ntpasswd directly in your Sabayon, no need to go via UBCD.

Trinity Rescue Kit would be another option. It's a bootable Linux live distro designed specifically to be used to fix Windows computers.

Hi yonamel & Welcome to Linux Questions.-

Looking about half way down the page to the Trinity Rescue Kit link that our Guru:frankbell linked for you it's mentioned that you can use a tool called "Winpass" to reset your Windows password.

Since you do not have a CD/DVD drive put Trinity Rescue Kit on a usb memory stick.
See the Download here:
http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.ph...g=en&locale=en

The documentation is on this page and TRK for noobs is on the left hand side highlighted in green.
http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.ph...g=en&locale=en

Good luck:-

Many thanks to pingu, frankbell, and Ztcoracat for your suggestions. However, as a Newbie with virtually no tech savvy, I don't understand. I don't know what UBCD is or where to look for a description of it. I tried the 'nt password' link but I couldn't get anything to download because, apparently, the pages were 'offline'. 'Tinity' is way too confusing! Plus I don't know how to get into the computer's (os) BIOS to set the boot menu to USB, which I imagine is crucial in this (my only options are 'sabayon' or 'windows 7 loader' after the computer's icon appears and I press F1. I was not able to find 'Winpass'.

Or you could use chntpw, here is a nice howto. You don't need SystemRescueCD or any rescue CD, you should have chntpw in your sabayon repository.

1 members found this post helpful.

Do you know the exact model of your Vizio?
If so, I can look it up and try to find the manual online to tell you how to get into your BIOS to set the machine to boot to usb. Aside from that it would be in the motherboard book that came with your computer. (if one came with it)

To get into the BIOS on my laptop I have to tap the "F2" button twice to enter into the BIOS:-
On some desktops it's the 'DEl' key

Sorry your overwhelmed. I too was overwhelmed when I was new to Linux; I think most of us were.
Hang in there an take one step at a time.-

Here is a different link to Trinity Rescue maybe this won't be offline and you'll be able to download it.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/download...301-32458.html

My laptop is in a dual boot with Fedora and Windows 7 and I had help from this group and complete success so I'm sure you will too. Take your time. Try not to rush.

I suggest you install chntpw in your sabayon, it's the easiest way to get this fixed.
Here's a guide - I can't test it since I don't have any Windows computer, it's all picked up from various sites I've found.

Install chntpw - you know how to do that I hope
Mount the Windows partition if it is not already (should be, really)
If you can't find it, open a terminal and post the output ofThen in a terminal as root:
cd to Windows directory "Windows/System32/config/"
That means, if Windows partition is mounted on /mnt/Win then
cd /mnt/Win/Windows/System32/config

chntpw -i SAM
choose "1 Edit user data and passwords"
You will see a list of all Windows accounts
I suggest you just clear Administrator password, it's the safest bet.
Then quit "q" a few times, and confirm you want to write the change

Thanks again people!! Ztcorocat, I was able to use the F2 key to get into the BIOS, and I know how to change the boot order now. That's a success for me already! I'm getting closer. Captain Pinkeye and Pingu: I do not know how to install chntpw nor mount the Windows partition. Can I access that in the BIOS? I don't see any option for that. If I can get there, I think I can do this. It seems that one of you says chntpw is already in sabayon, and another says I have to download an ISO image (?) and execute it on a USB.

Have patience with me. Your help is so much appreciated! I know I'm getting closer.

Oh,one other thing: I don't understand why a password hint appears when I we never set a passwrod in the 1st place. The passwordk is 'kitty'> Is that generic for something?

p.s. I have also tried entering command prompt when Windows 7 loader begins, but after I select it, I just see lines and lines of script, then it just starts into regular Windows mode going back to the username login screen. In addition, I tried using a Windows repair disk that I burned from another Windows 7 laptop,(now that I figured out how to boot from an external cd rom drive). It even asks for the password there!

Glad you were able to get into your BIOs, Congrads!

On this page (unless I'm wrong) here is chntpw that you can download and install it on your Sabayon:-
The second link worked for me and when I attempted to download the package it looked like this (so you know you have the right one)
http://www.filewatcher.com/m/app-cry....273335-0.html

Which is a Tar archive and is a bzip compressed--

Once you have chntpw installed than follow the rest of pingu instructions in post #10

Here is another page for chntpw to give you more info-
http://wolf911.us/wgo/info/doku.php?...ensics_-_usage

If you get stuck follow the instruction in post #7 that Captain Pinkeye linked for you.
That is a good 'how to'

Dear Ztcoracat, Thanks for your last suggestion. I downloaded the 2nd link, but it consists of 3 folders that have icons in them. Nothing happens. I tried to 'extract' the contents to see if something will open to start the installation. Again, nothing happens. I'm used to an automatic install, or clicking on 'run' or 'exe', but I don't see anything like that. I said a am a true Newbie. Besides, I have no idea how to 'mount' anything, and I don't even know how to get into the DOS (would it be Sabayon DOS, Windows DOS, Vizio DOS?) to see what the partition looks like and where Windows in located on in.

Perhaps I should try to find my elusive friend. I would even consider deleting that Windows altogether (if I knew how) and install a newly purchased one to start from scratch. But I still need to be able to see the HD partition.

Thanks for you help.

1 members found this post helpful.

Any chance one of those 3 folders are titled "Read Me" or "Install"?

If you want to look at all of the partitions on your machine with your Sabayon up and running, you can open the terminal and run the fisk -l command as root.

But because Sabayon Linux is based on the distribution "Gentoo" I don't know what commandline utility Gentoo uses so I can't help you run that command.

***I know a member running Gentoo and I have already asked him to join your thread.***

That way you can see all partitions and you will be able to eventually get chntpw installed to change your Windows password.
Did your laptop come with Windows 7 Recovery disc's?

I won't give up so easily as I once was a n00b and these folks here gave me great support and encouragement.

If you were able to get into your BIOS you can see your partitions (I'll explain them when you post them) than you can with help accomplish this-