Locked out of my old Laptop

[Axel Slingerland]

Recently, don't ask me how this happened because I have no idea, the PIN of my Laptop changed. I thought, no problem, I'll just log into my Micro$oft Account and create a new one. Things are never quite that simple. The email address I used is long since dead and unrecoverable.

In any case, I had a number of Batch files to do various things with FFMpeg, such as add thumbnails to MP4 files in bulk. I managed to recreate several of them but they are have a common problem. I can't remember the batch command to read a filename, do whatever, (such as add an image as a thumbnail), then save the file with the original filename, then move on the the next one.

Can anyone refresh my 70ish failing memory here? I would appreciate it very much.

Ax

[The_Doman]

Recently, don't ask me how this happened because I have no idea, the PIN of my Laptop changed.

This happens with so many people.
Is it really needed for basic/home use?

You can reset the password to local login with a good WinPe Rescue USB.
Assuming you (should) not have used encryption/bitlocker.
Hiren's BootCD PE
Hiren’s BootCD PE: HOWTOs - Resetting Windows Password

Another well known is of course:
Sergei Strelec's WinPE
But the legality status of all the included programs is of course dubious.

[thecoalman]

This happens with so many people.
Is it really needed for basic/home use?

If you are using it for anything personal, absolutely. Not only password protected but full disk encryption. It's like putting on a seat belt, you don't expect you'll need it but you'll be glad you did if you need it. (e.g. someone steals the laptop).

As for recovery if you can't get the password working and assuming Bitlocker is not enabled another option is use bootable Linux USB stick or DVD.

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

That should allow you access to the drive to recover the files. If you are feeling adventurous once the files are recovered you can install Linux Mint on the laptop with that USB stick.

[Axel Slingerland]

Is it really needed for basic/home use?

In 2018 I bought that Laptop (a Lenovo IdeaPad 3) for $300 at Costco to use as an MP4 player and looking things up when we went on vacations. I used it strictly as an MP4 player for 3 years, since we didn't get to go on a vacation during that time due to my wife's health. It worked perfect as an MP4 player.

In 2022 my wife, son and I all got Covid and my wife passed away, my some had it for 3 weeks and got over it, and I was in three different hospitals for 96 days. After all that our daughter talked up into moving to southern California. Her and her 2 boy toys moved us down here, and in the process they ruined my primary Window 7 Desktop PC. After that I started using the Lenovo Laptop as my primary, and it ran well for 3 years. It had a few quirks, but that's what happens when Micro$oft fixes things that are not broken. 2 years ago I bought an Acer Laptop for use as an MP4 player, also for $300 at Costco. That one is now my primary PC. And even though it's Windows 11 and just like Windows 10, it's quirky and very annoying at times. But it too works well enough to use. Which is good because with all the price hikes on everything recently, I can't afford to fix my old Window 7 Desktop.

So yes, I've used the Lenovo for 8 years, and now the Acer for the last month or so, for basic/home use.

Now that we have the off topic stuff out of the way, does anyone know the answer to my question?

[cholla]

Here are my suggestions:
First remove the hard drive from the laptop.
Then buy an adapter that will let you plug in the hard drive & is USB on the other end.
Plug that into your other laptop or other computer.
You should be able to retrieve all the files you want from the hard drive.

Once you have the above done you can try password retrieval programs .
That way if those programs FUBAR the data you will have the important files.

It's too late for my last suggestion.
Get a good backup program & do regular backups.
If you had a good backup you could just restore with it & your old password or PIN would be there.

This assumes it is the Windows PIN or password.

If it is the BIOS password or PIN then on PCs like a desktop The usually is a reset jumper.
I do not know if laptops have anything similar on their motherboard.

[Axel Slingerland]

First remove the hard drive from the laptop.

I can't do that. It's cheap Laptop, and all of it is hardwired.

If you had a good backup you could just restore with it & your old password or PIN would be there.

I can't do that either. The PIN has changed (and I didn't do it), and it is rejecting every password I have used for the last 10 years. I have them all in password log book. And as I said before, the email address I used to register my Micro$oft Account is long since dead and unrecoverable. I contacted them and explained the situation, but that was over a month ago and until I get a reply (IF I get one) there isn't much I can do. That's why I have moved on and have started trying to replace all of my audio / video files. Just about everything else is backed up on an external hard drive.

Since I learned how to set up these batch files here, the answers to all of my questions about recreating them are here. I just have to find the threads on that, IF they still exist.

[Secoast]

Basic batch script is as below. I've included a set variable for the ffmpeg code for ease of applying. The example below trims MKV files that are in the same directory as the script. If filtering is required you must include -vf or -filter_complex. This method also creates and adds encoded files to a directory named Converted. This can be edited if desired.

   
set P= -ss 10 -to 15 -c:v copy

if not exist Converted mkdir Converted
for %%i in ("*.mkv") do ffmpeg -i "%%i" %P% "Converted\%%~ni%%~xi"

Replace

%%~xi

in output with alternative (supported) extension if required

Example:

"Converted\%%~ni.mp4"

Google should offer all the additional info to edit the above, if for example you wanted to encode directories and sub directories of files. The above gives you a starting point.

[cholla]

Enter Windows recovery mode.
Different brands have different keys to enter this mode.
My laptop uses F8 when booting.
Hit the Power button & start pressing the F8.
Some use F11 or F12.

If this fails Power on then when you see the Windows logo power off.
Repeat at least once.
Then let the laptop boot.
You should have a black screen that has Windows Repair or recovery,
Choose it.
Then it should have these selections:
System Restore: Reverses system changes by returning your computer to a previously saved restore point.
If you have system restore points try this first.
It should have your old PIN or password.
If not try
Startup Repair: Automatically fixes common issues that prevent Windows from starting correctly.

If this fails What is the OS,Brand & Model of your laptop ?

[thecoalman]

Bootable Linux on USB stick or DVD is probably the fastest, easiest and safest way. It can care less about Windows passwords or file permissions. I used to keep one on hand for this reason.

Write the stick or disc, change boot order in BIOS to boot from it, once OS loads you can copy files to whatever destination.

To reiterate this assumes no Bitlocker. If you have Bitlocker enabled you are SOL without password or recovery key.