[PCWorld]

Post your comments for How to bypass the Windows 8 password screen here

[KuttyJoe]

I love change, but only when that change is actually for the better. What we have with Windows 8 is change for a particular reason. Microsoft is trying to be relevant on mobile devices. They are trying to basically indoctrinate all PC users, including desktop users, on the interface for mobile devices because Microsoft sees that as the future. Metro is their vehicle for getting it done. They've tried to force people to use Metro whether they want to or not and it was viewed right from the start as a mistake. Metro is useless on the desktop. It feels like a separate program that you are forced to use even if you have no use for it. Without Metro, Windows 8 appears to have almost nothing new that is remotely interesting. No great eye candy, no great new features, no great new smoothness of operation. Nothing remotely as visually pleasing and wonderful as the OS X experience. Hence, people are totally uninterested. I upgraded all of my PCs then promptly disabled Metro. The best new feature is that it boots up faster. If the price weren't significantly cheaper than previous upgrade costs, I would never have upgraded from Windows 7 on my desktops.

Microsoft has some soul searching to do. Windows Phone is suffering an even worse fate. They've decided on a direction and the people seem to be largely rejecting it. But just like that stupid ribbon bar, Microsoft is staying the course. How long will they stay the course?

[Charles03zp]

Quote

I love change, but only when that change is actually for the better. What we have with Windows 8 is change for a particular reason. Microsoft is trying to be relevant on mobile devices. They are trying to basically indoctrinate all PC users, including desktop users, on the interface for mobile devices because Microsoft sees that as the future. Metro is their vehicle for getting it done. They've tried to force people to use Metro whether they want to or not and it was viewed right from the start as a mistake. Metro is useless on the desktop. It feels like a separate program that you are forced to use even if you have no use for it. Without Metro, Windows 8 appears to have almost nothing new that is remotely interesting. No great eye candy, no great new features, no great new smoothness of operation. Nothing remotely as visually pleasing and wonderful as the OS X experience. Hence, people are totally uninterested. I upgraded all of my PCs then promptly disabled Metro. The best new feature is that it boots up faster. If the price weren't significantly cheaper than previous upgrade costs, I would never have upgraded from Windows 7 on my desktops. Microsoft has some soul searching to do. Windows Phone is suffering an even worse fate. They've decided on a direction and the people seem to be largely rejecting it. But just like that stupid ribbon bar, Microsoft is staying the course. How long will they stay the course?

You can disable Metro?

[mseyf]

I believe an alternate method to get to the User Accounts window is Win-R and "netplwiz" (without the quotes, of course)

[RSA1972]

"Hey, I'm all about security, but this machine never leaves my desk, so I'm really not worried about unauthorized access. The password check is one step I could do without. "

Oh the irony........

I'm assuming that your machine is connected to the network / internet. I think you need to rethink your password policy, or lack there of.

[TsarNikky]

Another example of Microsoft arrogance. First they removed the option of which UI a user prefers. (The Metro UI is inappropriate for my laptop and desktop uses, so I'm sticking with Windows-7.) Now, they remove the option of whether or not requiring the entry of a logon password. (I am a one-person household with exclusive use of my two computers, another reason to not move to Windows-8.)
Keep it up Microsoft, arrogance never has and never will have a happy ending. Just look at history.

[djnforce9]

Thank you very much for the tip! In my case, nobody uses this computer but me and on top of that, should my live account be hacked and my password changed, I won't find myself locked out of my PC all of a sudden.

[berock212]

The problem about the lock password is it isn't very secure. If your computer gets stolen, someone can easily pop the hard drive into another computer and they would have access to all of your information. The best security technique is to encrypt all of your data with bitlocker or trucrypt.

[oldschoolh4ck3r]

And people complain about Linux and the learning curve of using its command line... geez.

[PeterWoodx]

Quote

"Hey, I'm all about security, but this machine never leaves my desk, so I'm really not worried about unauthorized access. The password check is one step I could do without. " Oh the irony........ I'm assuming that your machine is connected to the network / internet. I think you need to rethink your password policy, or lack there of.

Irony indeed - just when we're hoping people will start to understand the importance of security awareness, this sort of daft advice appears. Dear old PC World

[AlKube]

Rick ... Nice tip. Thanks. ... Al

[DavidNation]

If that doesn't work for some reason you can also use this. Press the win key then type run and hit enter then type in netplwiz then hit enter. at the top of the new window un-check were it says password required to login and press ok. then you will be prompted to enter your password twice then click ok and your done.

[iCrapple]

Quote

I love change, but only when that change is actually for the better. What we have with Windows 8 is change for a particular reason. Microsoft is trying to be relevant on mobile devices. They are trying to basically indoctrinate all PC users, including desktop users, on the interface for mobile devices because Microsoft sees that as the future. Metro is their vehicle for getting it done. They've tried to force people to use Metro whether they want to or not and it was viewed right from the start as a mistake. Metro is useless on the desktop. It feels like a separate program that you are forced to use even if you have no use for it. Without Metro, Windows 8 appears to have almost nothing new that is remotely interesting. No great eye candy, no great new features, no great new smoothness of operation. Nothing remotely as visually pleasing and wonderful as the OS X experience. Hence, people are totally uninterested. I upgraded all of my PCs then promptly disabled Metro. The best new feature is that it boots up faster. If the price weren't significantly cheaper than previous upgrade costs, I would never have upgraded from Windows 7 on my desktops. Microsoft has some soul searching to do. Windows Phone is suffering an even worse fate. They've decided on a direction and the people seem to be largely rejecting it. But just like that stupid ribbon bar, Microsoft is staying the course. How long will they stay the course?

Metro works just fin on the desktop, and now that I have it configured the way I like, I can get to anything I deem important on my computer in 2 clicks or less. I also get real time updates for news/weather alerts, facebook/twitter, and even NewEgg daily shell shocker deals. Whats not to like.

When I am working on the actual desktop, it is exactly the same as it ever was, except its faster and does not have transparent windows chrome.

Lumina 920 is is selling out globally, so that kinda puts to rest your theory on Windows Phone.

Also, the ribbon has been well accepted by the majority of the office user base, just a few dinosaurs still complain about it.

[iCrapple]

Quote

Another example of Microsoft arrogance. First they removed the option of which UI a user prefers. (The Metro UI is inappropriate for my laptop and desktop uses, so I'm sticking with Windows-7.) Now, they remove the option of whether or not requiring the entry of a logon password. (I am a one-person household with exclusive use of my two computers, another reason to not move to Windows-8.) Keep it up Microsoft, arrogance never has and never will have a happy ending. Just look at history.

lol. Go buy a mac. That will solve all your problems. lol

[gr1234]

Your instructions have been followed but I choose to not uncheck box as instructed but somehow that process has caused my admin accounts to become guest accounts?!!! I am seriously insane with rage at this point. I cannot gain access to the admin accounts. I cannot initiate a restore!!!
I have tried to boot to the win 8 CD to do a restore point but it is asking me to choose the operating system and then try this. I don't see how that is possible. Please help me correct this problem. I advise no one to follow your advise on this matter for fear if they change their mind something unthinkable like this will happen.

[gr1234]

Quote

Your instructions have been followed but I choose to not uncheck box as instructed but somehow that process has caused my admin accounts to become guest accounts?!!! I am seriously insane with rage at this point. I cannot gain access to the admin accounts. I cannot initiate a restore!!! I have tried to boot to the win 8 CD to do a restore point but it is asking me to choose the operating system and then try this. I don't see how that is possible. Please help me correct this problem. I advise no one to follow your advise on this matter for fear if they change their mind something unthinkable like this will happen.

[gr1234]

OK I was able to get to a restore point by:
instead of inputting the password at the startup screen hold the shift key while clicking on the lower right power button on the screen then click on restart this opens up a repair screen I followed the menu's to reach the restore screen. It asked for administrator password, there is none. this is the hidden administrator. I was able to restore to an earlier point and that restored my accounts to administrators.
reflecting on the series of events I did install the latest windows updates on security before attempting the above advice to drop the password. I can't see how this all led to changing my accounts to guests?

[prince2k2]

thanks bro very informative:)

[cheeryking]

Windows 8 password lost I also met before. With the recommendation I used the Ophcrack. But it is not helpful for me. So I used the reset software lastly like above article said. With the reset software, Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0, I completed my Windows 8 password recovery quickly and my data was safe all.

[krgraves]

this worked great on my laptop but for some reason, it did not work on my dell desktop pc. any more suggestions for it?