Unable to log in to the W7 x64 recovery console
I'm running W7 x64 RC1 (build 7100). The system was kind of upgraded (had to be running x64 before the DVD install would proceed) from XP x64 (build 2790, SP2 + all hotfixes). During the upgrade/install, I was prompted for an Administrator account password, which I entered and verified. However, during the latter part of the install, I opted to NOT use the Administrator account and created a single user account with admin priveleges. The only other accounts on the system (Control Panel|User Accounts|Manage Another Account) are ASP.NET machine account, and the guest account (which I've turned off). There is no Administrator account listed anywhere.I've been trying to remove some stubborn files from windows.old (see my other threads in the W7 misc forum for more details), and I decided to try logging in to the recovery console and deleting the files from there.However, I was (and still am)completely unable to log in to the recovery console, no matter what password I use. Each time, I get the "incorrect or invalid password". I've tried the password I used when installing, plus other "default" passwords (including blank, JIC) but they all failed.So I rebooted normally, and used Administrative Tools|Computer Management|Local Users and Groups|Users|Administrator|More Actions|Set Password to "reset" the Administrator password to what it should have been, and rebooted - and I still can't log in to the Recovery Console!Any ideas on where to start looking for a solution to this problem?
September 28th, 2009 11:09pm

I think I found the problem. The Administrator account was disabled when I looked at the properties page under Administrative Tools|Computer Management|Local Users and Groups|Users|Administrator. I've now enabled it, and I'll try logging in to the RC again. I can't do it for another 12-15 hours as my RAID is again rebuilding, but I'll post an update here when I've had a chance to try.Of course, this naturally begs the question : how and why is the Administrator account disabled? This is the very first time I've even looked in the Local Users management tool, and I know for a cast-iron fact that I didn't disable the account! So somehow, the installation disabled the Administrator account and the Recovery Console didn't find that as a reportable problem. Or am I missing something obvious somewhere else?
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September 28th, 2009 11:40pm

Well, I was wrong. After enabling the Administrator account and rebooting, no password is accepted. I've rebooted twice and manually changed the Admin password twice (to 2 different and simple passwords), and whenever I try to run the RC, the password is rejected 3 times.Any ideas, suggestions, points of reference where I can find WTF is going wrong?
September 30th, 2009 11:28pm

Don't use the "Administrator" account.Use a different account that is a member of the Adiministrators group. You could also try booting to the recovery environment from the installation DVD. You won't be prompted to authenticate. Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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October 1st, 2009 10:28am

Hi Kerry,Thanks for the suggestion.During the console login, I am prompted for "the Administrator's password", so I can't specify a particular user, administrative or otherwise. Using either my user's password (my user is (or was) the sole user on the system, and it has full administrative permissions) or the "administrator" user's password both fail with "invalid password". Any password fails. It looks like something is badly broken with the recovery console on this system, but I don't have the faintest idea how to fix it without logging in to the RC first! I might try reinstalling the recovery console and see if that resets something.FWIW, I can log on to Win7 using the Administrator account and password (I thought the RC login might fail if the admin user hadn't logged in at least once through the GUI, since the RC failed to show the admin account was disabled). But that's a dead end too.
October 1st, 2009 11:41pm

There should be a drop down list with all the administrator users listed. Do you have a Windows 7 DVD? Have you tried booting from the DVD to the recovery console? You don't have to authenticate when booting from the DVD. You can also create a bootable Windows Recovery CD from the Control Panel.Control Panel -> Backup your computer -> Create a system repair diskThis disk will boot to the recovery console without authentication.Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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October 2nd, 2009 1:22am

I am running Windows 7 32 bit and having an identical problem. Go here: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7repair/thread/7ff2b01b-9d30-4e10-94a3-bf73a3c5f253?prof=required&ppud=4 to read the thread I started. There is no resolution yet. In the thread you will find the registry hack I have successfully used which allows entry to the Recovery Console without a password. I'm posting the hack below but REMEMBER THIS IS FROM 32 BIT WINDOWS 7. I would assume it works in 64 bit Windows 7 but that is untested (by me). To remove the prompt for a password when accessing the System Recovery Console: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\setup\recoveryconsole] "securitylevel"=dword:00000001 "setcommand"=dword:00000000 To require a password to access the System Recovery Console (the "default" registry setting): Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\setup\recoveryconsole] "securitylevel"=dword:00000000 "setcommand"=dword:00000000 Observation: This is a workaround, not a solution. I have to add this disclaimer: I have successfully used these registry entries in 32bit Windows 7. Use at your own risk. = Ron
July 9th, 2010 2:54pm

There should be a drop down list with all the administrator users listed. Do you have a Windows 7 DVD? Have you tried booting from the DVD to the recovery console? You don't have to authenticate when booting from the DVD. You can also create a bootable Windows Recovery CD from the Control Panel. Control Panel -> Backup your computer -> Create a system repair disk This disk will boot to the recovery console without authentication. Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience I believe this gets you into the Command Console , the same place you get to with Run | cmd.exe when inside of the OS. The Recovery Console provides about 30 commands, e.g., FIXBOOT, MBR, FORMAT, which you cannot access within the Command Console . = Ron
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July 9th, 2010 3:00pm

Hello PC Pete, I no these posts are from 2009 & 2010 but....here's my 2c Open a Command Prompt in Administrator Mode by right-clicking and choosing Run as administrator To Enable the Hidden Admin Account: net user administrator /active:yes To Disable the Hidden Admin Account: net user administrator /active:no Cheers, Juliette
September 16th, 2012 3:18pm

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