Windows 7 weird log in problems

[alienjesus]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone out there could help me with my PC.


Yesterday when I tried to turn on my computer, my password wouldn't work for my account. After spending ages trying different passwords, testing combinations of Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock etc on and off and hitting my head against a wall repeatedly, I bought myself some DVD-Rs, downloaded some crack software and set about hacking my computer to figure out what my password was, assuming it had been changed by some sort of virus.

After working on it for over an hour, the software told me that my password was exactly what it always was, and what I had been typing over and over for hours the day before.

Figuring it was probably a keyboard issue in that case, I enabled the on-screen keyboard, typed in my password and voila!, it worked. That's all well and good, but after testing my keyboard over and over on word, my web browser and whatnot - theres not a damn thing wrong with it.


So I can't for the life of me figure out why it won't me log in when I type it on my keyboard. I've seen some people online have the same issue, but they either had had a family member change it without them knowing (not helpful) or they had Num Lock enabled on a mini keyboard that had letters and numbers sharing the same keys.

I don't have this issue at all - my keyboard has a seperate number pad, and I don't even use it to type my password anyway.

I'm completely stumped. For now I'm going to use the onscreen keyboard every time I need to sign in, but I'd really like to try and resolve it if I can.

[Stark]

I'd try changing the password to something simple temporarily and see if that works, then change it hard again. Odd problem though for sure.

[ExedExes]

Are you the only one that uses your computer? I read a few weeks ago on how to disable a login password in Windows and login automatically, and it's MUCH nicer this way. No more passwords!

[Hobie-wan]

No, don't disable passwords and make it easier for someone to get into your PC if they walk off with it or make it easy for housemates to play pranks on you if you're away for a few days.

Go into the control panel and check keyboard and regional settings to make sure they haven't gotten set to something weird. For instance French (France) switch the Q and A keys. You might even want to pick a different region, apply, then set it back and apply again. If that doesn't do it, go into device manager and remove the keyboard, then reboot so it reinstalls it.

[aaron]

you got another keyboard you can troubleshoot with? that'd be the first thing i'd check.

[alienjesus]

For what it's worth, this issue resolved itself two days after I posted it. I didn't do anything to fix it.

Still not idea what the cause was, but whatever, at least its workign again.

Thanks for the help guys

[jinn]

I have never had this problem but I get a lot of customers that need their password reset because they can't log in.
Might just be a bug in Windows 7.
Glad it got sorted out.
Could you provide a link to the software you used to check your password, I'm sure some users will find it useful and won't need to pay someone to get them back in their system.

[alienjesus]

It's easy enough to find if people need to use it, it's called Ophcrack.

[Hobie-wan]

Yes, but searching for something like that is likely to lead many places that are not safe to visit. Presumably you found a safe one somewhere...

[alienjesus]

Sure, here you go - first google result:

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

I used the ISO burned to a disc and booted from the disc drive at start up.

It took about 2 and a half hours to crack my password, but I've heard lots of people say it took less than 5 minutes to get theirs.