PrintThis document pertains to HP Notebook PCs with Windows 7.
Each individual should use a password for the standard Windows login to protect their information from unauthorized people. However, if you forget your password, it can prevent you from accessing your work.
This document explains the levels of password security, how to set up individual passwords and power-on passwords, how to use drive-lock passwords, how to change passwords from the administrator account, and how to create and use a password reset disc.
NOTE:On some model notebooks, a fingerprint reader can substitute as a password. To learn more about using the DigitalPersona Fingerprint Reader, see
HP Notebook PCs - Using the DigitalPersona Fingerprint Reader for Windows 7
.
What if I forget my password?
If you forget your password, check to be sure that you are entering the password correctly. Please remember that passwords are case-sensitive, so, if the caps lock
or num lk
keys are turned on while you are typing your password, your password will not work - unless your password only contains capital letters and numbers. Turn off the caps lock
and num lk
keys, enter your password, and then turn the caps lock
and/or num lk
keys back on - if you want them on.
If turning the caps lock
and num lk
keys off to enter your password does not work, follow the steps below to view your password hint.
- Press the enter key at the logon screen. The text The user name or password is incorrect displays.
- Click OK . The logon screen displays with the password hint directly beneath the Password field.
You should now be able to remember your password. If you still do not remember your password, see Change your password
for further information.
Why should I create a user account that is separate from the administrator account?
The administrator account controls many aspects of your computer, such as permitting access to the computer, setting permissions for other accounts on the computer, and resetting passwords for those other accounts. Using a secondary account with fewer permissions gives you a safety net. If you forget your user account password, you can always log onto the administrator account and reset the password and settings for your user account from there.
Understanding levels of password security
To promote security, you can set your computer to require individuals to enter a password before they can access files. There are multiple levels of password security built into your HP computer.
- Power-On
- Drive Lock
- Windows Logon
- Windows Administrator, or an account with administrator privileges
During logon, you must enter a password for each security level that you enabled on the computer. Passwords are great for preventing access to your computer, but they can be a major problem if you forget them. It is a good idea to write down all of your passwords and keep them in a secure place away from the computer. For proper security, it does no good to create a password and then write it on a piece of paper attached to the top of the computer.
Types of user accounts and security
For security purposes, you should create and use at least two user accounts: a standard user account for normal, everyday use, and a different account with administrator privileges that is only used for installing and configuring applications. If a virus attacks the computer and tries to control the standard user account, it can do little damage because the standard user account cannot change any OS settings. However, if you use an administrator account all the time, the same virus could do more damage because the administrator account can make changes to the OS settings.
There are three types of user accounts:
- Standard User account - can use most of the installed software, and can change OS settings that do not affect other people.
- User account with administrator privileges - has access to the computer and can change most, but not all, of the settings that affect all other user accounts.
- Administrator account - has complete access to the computer and can change settings that affect all of the user's accounts and the security of the computer.
If you forget or lose one of these passwords, use one of the following methods to access the computer.
Use the power-on password
The power-on password prevents anyone from starting the computer until they enter the proper password. With the power-on password enabled, the screen remains black and you are prompted to enter a password as soon as you turn on the computer.
The power-on password is set (enabled or disabled) in the System BIOS option window. By default, the power-on password is turned off.
WARNING:If you forget the power-on password, a repair at an HP-certified repair center is required to reset the computer. Please contact HP to schedule a repair. This service is not covered by the warranty.
To set the power-on password, do the following steps:
- Press the power switch to turn on the PC, and immediately press the f10 key to open the BIOS option window.
- Use the arrow key to scroll to the Security tab, and then use the down arrow key to highlight the Power-On password option.Press the enter key, and then type the desired new password.
- Press the enter key to go onto the second line to confirm the new password.
- Press the enter key to save your changes.
- Press the enter key again to return to the Setup Utility.
- Press the f10 key and select Yes to save and exit the Setup Utility.
You will be prompted immediately after exiting the Setup Utility to enter the new password.
Use the Drive Lock password
The Drive Lock password protects the data on your hard drive through encryption. The data on the hard drive is inaccessible if you do not enter the Drive Lock password.
WARNING:The Drive Lock password cannot be reset. If the password is lost or forgotten, the hard drive must be replaced. Please contact HP to order a new hard drive. This service is not covered by the warranty.
To set the Drive Lock password, do the following steps:
- Press the power switch to turn on the computer and immediately press the f10 key to open the BIOS option window.
- Under Security , select the Drive Lock password option.
- When prompted, select Enable the Protection .
- When prompted, enter the appropriate information.
- Select Save the changes and exit , and allow the computer to restart.
Use the Windows Logon
The Windows Logon password prevents unauthorized access to the operating system and programs. If you are the only person with physical access to the computer, you can leave the password blank. When you turn on the computer, it starts up in Windows and then prompts you to enter a password before you can access any files or applications in a user account.
If more than one person uses the computer, you may want to set up an individual user account for each person. Everyone is encouraged, but not required, to set up a password for each account. Individual accounts allow users to organize their desktops and install programs that cannot be used by other people.
If you forget a password and find yourself locked out of one account, you can login as someone with administrator privileges and reset the password.
Change your password
There are three ways to change a forgotten password: you can change your own password once you are logged into your user account, from the administrator's account, or by using a password reset disk.
NOTE:If you are on a company network, there are other restrictions for changing your password.
Change your user password
Each user can set or change a password on their User Accounts by following the steps below.
- On the Windows desktop, click Start , enter user in the search field, and select User Accounts from the list.
- On the Make changes to your user account window, click Manage User Accounts . A new window will display.
- Select a user from the Users for this computer list, and click Change the password .
- Type the current password in the Current password field, type the new password in the New password field, and then retype the new password in the Confirm new password field.
- Enter a password hint in the Type a password hint field.
- Click Change password to save your changes.
- Click OK to save your changes.
- Close the User Accounts window, and log out of Windows 7.
Your new password is valid the next time you logon to the computer.
Change a user password from the administrator's account
The administrator's account or a user's account with administrator privileges, can reset a forgotten password, or delete an unwanted user's account, by following the steps below.
NOTE:When the administrator changes a user's passwords, the person must logon using the new password to access the emails that were received under the old password.
- Restart the computer and logon with an administrator's account.
- Click Start , enter user in the search field, and select User Accounts from the list.
- On the Make changes to your user account window, click Manage User Accounts . A new window will display.
- Select a user from the Users for this computer list, and click Change the password .
- Type the current password in the Current password field, type the new password in the New password field, and then retype the new password in the Confirm new password field.
- Enter a password hint in the Type a password hint field.
- Click Change password to save your changes.
- Click OK to save your changes.
- Close the User Accounts window, and log out of Windows 7.
The password on the user account has now been changed. Log out of the administrator's account, and the user can now logon using the new password.
Password reset disk
If you tend to forget your password, you can create and use a password reset disk to logon to Windows. This disk can be either a CD disc or a USB storage device. Devices called flash drives, memory sticks, or thumb drives are examples of valid USB external storage devices. To create and use the password reset disk, follow the steps below.
Create a password reset disk
To create a Password reset disk
to protect your user account, follow the steps below. The password must be stored on a USB flash drive, or other removable media.
- Insert a flash drive in the USB port.
- Logon as the correct user.
- Click Start , enter password in the search field, and select Create a password reset disk when it becomes available in the list. The Forgotten Password Wizard will display.
- Click Next to begin.
- Choose a disk from the list, and then click Next .
- Enter the current user password in the Current user account password field, and then click Next to continue.
- Wait for the password to load onto your disk, and then click Next .
- Click Finish to exit the wizard.
Label and store the flash drive or removable media in a convenient, but secure, location.
Logon using a password reset disk
If you forget the password for the user account, use the Password Reset Disk to reset the password by following the steps below.
- If an incorrect password is entered on the user logon screen, a Windows Security logon error window will display.
- On the Windows Security logon error window, click OK .
- Below the password entry field on the user logon screen, select Reset password...
- When prompted, insert the Password Reset disc, and then click Next .
- On the Password Reset Wizard window, click Next .
- From the drop down list, select the drive containing the password reset key file, and click Next .
- Follow the instructions to type a new password , confirm the password , and enter a hint to help you remember the password.
- Click Next to accept the choices, and then click Finish to close the Wizard.
When the Wizard closes, enter the new password to logon to Windows 7.
Restore your PC to original condition
In the event that you have lost all of your administrator account passwords, and you do not have a password reset disk available to change or restore the password, you will have to re-image your computer.
If you have a factory-installed image on your computer, you may do so by turning the computer off, turning it back on, and pressing the f11
key before the Windows 7 logo screen appears. Then follow the directions on screen.
If you have installed Windows 7 yourself, you may have to reinstall the operating system manually.
