Vista Question

[MrBishop]

I've got a computer with Vista installed...p/w protected and I don't have the p/w. No password recovery disk found. I have the Vista installation cd, so I suppose that I can reinstall...but I want to keep the MyDocs etc...

Q1 - will Vista wipe the personal information (MyDocs, pictures etc) from the HD during a re-installation?
Q2 - If so, is there a way to get Vista to not do this?
Q3 - If not, is there a way to crack the P/w?
Q4 - would it be easier to simply remove the main drive, turn it into a temporary external drive (USB) and remove the information using another computer?
Q5 - If so, how do you backup contacts/emails from Outlook without actually running Outlook?

**Inherited computer. Dell w/Vista Home installed, plus MS Works and Office.

 

[Luis G]

What you need is Ultimate boot CD to reset the password.

 

[Winky]

Louie's got it right.
Up tight and outta sight.
Good luck wid dat, Holmes.

 

[paul_valaru]

I
Q5 - If so, how do you backup contacts/emails from Outlook without actually running Outlook?

copy the .pst file, then import it into a new outlook (or thunderbird, or postbox)

 

[Winky]

No

 

[paul_valaru]

No

it's a maybe, the best way is to export it.

 

[chcr]

copy the .pst file, then import it into a new outlook (or thunderbird, or postbox)

I have to do this on average twice a month (some end users are morons). You don't import it you replace the existing .pst from the fresh install with the old copy. You get all the folders and their contents but you don't get the email settings.

 

[Winky]

Reading is fundi-mental Did not our brother from down south
already answer this question?

 

[Leslie]

If it's an inherited computer, why do you have to save the info and emails?

 

[catocom]

mr. b, I also found out, that on the prem ver at least, to disable the system restore, and hibernation, and some other optimizations, it has to be done through command line now.

You might want to do a search for command line stuff.

 

[MrBishop]

mr. b, I also found out, that on the prem ver at least, to disable the system restore, and hibernation, and some other optimizations, it has to be done through command line now.

You might want to do a search for command line stuff.

Thanks... <sigh> back to the drawing board.

 

[MrBishop]

If it's an inherited computer, why do you have to save the info and emails?

I'm mostly interested in the pictures and letters... it's inherited from my late beloved Aunt. As for the emails...it's mostly the addresses that interest me. We weren't able to reach a chunk of her friends, so many may not know that she's passed on. I want to inform them, as a last gift in memorium to my Aunt. Once that's done, the computer can be wiped clean...but to lose pictures because of a lost password would be a crying shame.

 

[paul_valaru]

I'm mostly interested in the pictures and letters... it's inherited from my late beloved Aunt. As for the emails...it's mostly the addresses that interest me. We weren't able to reach a chunk of her friends, so many may not know that she's passed on. I want to inform them, as a last gift in memorium to my Aunt. Once that's done, the computer can be wiped clean...but to lose pictures because of a lost password would be a crying shame.

get puppy linux, install it on a USB stick, then you can boot from that, and access the files.

 

[MrBishop]

What about the remove HD and turn it into an 'external' option?

 

[paul_valaru]

What about the remove HD and turn it into an 'external' option?

sure, that would work, quite easily, all you need is an external sata case.

 

[MrBishop]

sure, that would work, quite easily, all you need is an external sata case.

I've got a nice cable that can plug into hard-drives on one end and USB1 on the other. I've used it to wipe found drives before using them.

 

[paul_valaru]

I've got a nice cable that can plug into hard-drives on one end and USB1 on the other. I've used it to wipe found drives before using them.

IDE or sata cable?

 

[Professur]

If you need SATA external, swing by my place and borrow mine.

 

[MrBishop]

IDE or sata cable?

If you need SATA external, swing by my place and borrow mine.

Looks like this one... So, I'd say both IDE and Sata

 

[Professur]

that looks a lot like mine, 'cept mine has the sata out the end of the top.