Windows 10: I lost my password to log in to my new computer and now am unable to access my data

I set up my new Dell All in one computer last week. I do not remember setting up a password. And now, I just turned on my computer and it's asking for a password to "User" I am now unable to access my data.

:)

 

Password Protecting Sensitive Data

If you use bitlocker to encrypt the folder then it uses your Windows credentials to unlock the certificate store and allow you access to the folder. This means that they have to know your Windows password to log into Windows to gain access to the folder. Also, if they use one of those 3rd party password reset tools to change or reset your password the certificate store will reject the new credentials and not allow access to the folder. The same goes if they try to put the drive in another computer, there would be no way for them to read the encrypted folder. The only way this method would fail would be if you left your computer on and logged in, and someone walked up to it and started using it.

As for an encrypted Zip file using 7-zip, there is no way to access the data in the file without the password.

 

Unable to access MS account

Hi, Not strictly MS office. I'm having trouble accessing my MS account. I rarely use it, and do not use it to log in to my computer. I've had a couple of emails suggesting that there has been some unusual activity on it (from Russia!), and a security alert. These do seem genuine emails. However, I have tried to access the account to see the activity, but I have been unable to log in. It keeps prompting me for the password, and even when I have (apparently) successfully changed it, it then refuses to allow access saying that the password is incorrect. When changing the password, I have tried to put in the same one as previously entered, but it says that I cannot use it as it has already been used before. This would suggest that it has accepted the previously entered new password, but will now not accept it. I don't understand. Matt

 

Reset desktop password to access computer

• Is this a local or a Microsoft account?
• How did you reset the password?
• What message do you get when logging on?
• Does the problem persist with your spare admin account?