How do I turn off password for starting computer running Win-7?

[Just Judy]

Hi, again,

Hi again,

I'm still trying to help my neighbor, 87-years old, whose son
gave her her first computer, a laptop running Win-7, 6 weeks ago. The
only thing she does on the computer is e-mail to/from her far off
children, and plays Solitaire. It's not like she's toting around a
laptop carrying military secrets and the unlock code to launch a
nuclear attack. But for reasons that escape both of us, the most-oft
repeated problem is that when the computer is turned on, she has to
enter her password, which I'll make up here: Computer1.

On more than one occasion, that password has failed to work.
Usually, it's because she's in caps lock mode, or she makes a typo, or
puts a space after the word Computer. (I know passwords are case
sensitive.)

I could clobber her son for setting a password when he bought
the computer, but now she (and I) want to eliminate the requirement of
that password. I'm a minor-league geek, and I know the distinction
between e-mail password and this type of password. <G> It's not an
e-mail password that's at issue.

However, I am_NOT_any semblance of geek in Win-7. I don't even
know if this password requirement is something that's required by Win-7
or it's something that was set up at the initial prompting of Toshiba
(laptop manufacturer) when the computer was first started.

Can anyone tell me how to eliminate that password requirement?
Please, please be specific. Feel free to talk to me as though I am a
babbling idiot. I am (in this instance).

My e-mail address here is correct, but please post your reply
here in the group.

 

[Thip]

Hi, again,

Control Panel>>User Accounts>>Remove Your Password

 

[Dave]

Hi, again,

Hi again,

I'm still trying to help my neighbor, 87-years old, whose son
gave her her first computer, a laptop running Win-7, 6 weeks ago. The
only thing she does on the computer is e-mail to/from her far off
children, and plays Solitaire. It's not like she's toting around a
laptop carrying military secrets and the unlock code to launch a
nuclear attack. But for reasons that escape both of us, the most-oft
repeated problem is that when the computer is turned on, she has to
enter her password, which I'll make up here: Computer1.

On more than one occasion, that password has failed to work.
Usually, it's because she's in caps lock mode, or she makes a typo, or
puts a space after the word Computer. (I know passwords are case
sensitive.)

I could clobber her son for setting a password when he bought
the computer, but now she (and I) want to eliminate the requirement of
that password. I'm a minor-league geek, and I know the distinction
between e-mail password and this type of password. <G> It's not an
e-mail password that's at issue.

However, I am_NOT_any semblance of geek in Win-7. I don't even
know if this password requirement is something that's required by Win-7
or it's something that was set up at the initial prompting of Toshiba
(laptop manufacturer) when the computer was first started.

Can anyone tell me how to eliminate that password requirement?
Please, please be specific. Feel free to talk to me as though I am a
babbling idiot. I am (in this instance).

My e-mail address here is correct, but please post your reply
here in the group.

Maybe some versions of Win 7 are different than others, I'm not sure, but I
tried the tip that Thip gave and didn't see the option of changing or
removing password. If yours does the same, in the pane in the top-right
corner named "search control panel" enter remove password and hit enter. You
should see it now.
HTH,
Dave

 

[Peter Foldes]

Judy

The same in XP,Vista and Windows 7

1. At a command prompt, type "control userpasswords2" and press Enter to open the
Windows 2000-style User Accounts application.
2. On the Users tab, clear the Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This
Computer check box and then click OK.
Then hit Apply and back out.

Reboot


--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Roy Smith]

Hi, again,

Hi again,

I'm still trying to help my neighbor, 87-years old, whose son
gave her her first computer, a laptop running Win-7, 6 weeks ago. The
only thing she does on the computer is e-mail to/from her far off
children, and plays Solitaire. It's not like she's toting around a
laptop carrying military secrets and the unlock code to launch a
nuclear attack. But for reasons that escape both of us, the most-oft
repeated problem is that when the computer is turned on, she has to
enter her password, which I'll make up here: Computer1.

On more than one occasion, that password has failed to work.
Usually, it's because she's in caps lock mode, or she makes a typo, or
puts a space after the word Computer. (I know passwords are case
sensitive.)

I could clobber her son for setting a password when he bought
the computer, but now she (and I) want to eliminate the requirement of
that password. I'm a minor-league geek, and I know the distinction
between e-mail password and this type of password. <G> It's not an
e-mail password that's at issue.

However, I am_NOT_any semblance of geek in Win-7. I don't even
know if this password requirement is something that's required by Win-7
or it's something that was set up at the initial prompting of Toshiba
(laptop manufacturer) when the computer was first started.

Can anyone tell me how to eliminate that password requirement?
Please, please be specific. Feel free to talk to me as though I am a
babbling idiot. I am (in this instance).

My e-mail address here is correct, but please post your reply
here in the group.

It's an easy fix. Just click on the Start Orb and in the search box
type 'netplwiz' (without the quotes) and hit enter. In the window
that comes up make sure you're on the User's tab and look at the top
part of the window. Clear the checkmark on the line that says "Users
must enter a user name and password to use this computer." Now click
on OK and you'll be asked to provide the username and password of the
account that will be used when you boot Windows from now on.

 

[bod]

It's an easy fix. Just click on the Start Orb and in the search box
type 'netplwiz' (without the quotes) and hit enter. In the window
that comes up make sure you're on the User's tab and look at the top
part of the window. Clear the checkmark on the line that says "Users
must enter a user name and password to use this computer." Now click
on OK and you'll be asked to provide the username and password of the
account that will be used when you boot Windows from now on.

Easiest way is to click START..CONTROL PANEL...USER ACCOUNTS..REMOVE
YOUR PASSWORD.

Hope this helps.

Bod

 

[Thip]

Maybe some versions of Win 7 are different than others, I'm not sure, but
I tried the tip that Thip gave and didn't see the option of changing or
removing password. If yours does the same, in the pane in the top-right
corner named "search control panel" enter remove password and hit enter.
You should see it now.
HTH,
Dave

I'm just using the Home version.

 

[Dave]

I'm just using the Home version.

Your tip was a good one and she probably could have got there. I can't help
but wonder why some of the more basic functions of Win 7 aren't
standardized.
Dave

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Hi, again,

Hi again,

I'm still trying to help my neighbor, 87-years old, whose son gave
her her first computer, a laptop running Win-7, 6 weeks ago. The
only thing she does on the computer is e-mail to/from her far off
children, and plays Solitaire. It's not like she's toting around a
laptop carrying military secrets and the unlock code to launch a
nuclear attack. But for reasons that escape both of us, the most-oft
repeated problem is that when the computer is turned on, she has to
enter her password, which I'll make up here: Computer1.

On more than one occasion, that password has failed to work. Usually,
it's because she's in caps lock mode, or she makes a typo, or puts a
space after the word Computer. (I know passwords are case
sensitive.)

I could clobber her son for setting a password when he bought the
computer, but now she (and I) want to eliminate the requirement of
that password. I'm a minor-league geek, and I know the distinction
between e-mail password and this type of password. <G> It's not an
e-mail password that's at issue.

However, I am_NOT_any semblance of geek in Win-7. I don't even know
if this password requirement is something that's required by Win-7
or it's something that was set up at the initial prompting of Toshiba
(laptop manufacturer) when the computer was first started.

Can anyone tell me how to eliminate that password requirement?
Please, please be specific. Feel free to talk to me as though I am a
babbling idiot. I am (in this instance).

My e-mail address here is correct, but please post your reply here in
the group.

If none of these expert tips work, go to the source. Open "Help and
Support." Put "password" in the text box and click on the search icon.
Pick an option and follow directions.

I don't have any personal experience because I have only one account
(administrator) and never had a password. I am running W7 Ultimate (x64).

 

[Gordon]

I don't have any personal experience because I have only one account
(administrator) and never had a password. I am running W7 Ultimate (x64).

Do NOT use Windows 7 with only ONE user account. In Windows 7, the
built-in Administrator account is disabled by default and although it is
possible to enable it, that process may be beyond what you feel
comfortable with.
You need to forget anything to do with XP, and create a User Account
with Administrator privileges, (call it Admin or similar) and give it a
password. Keep this account for emergency access (such as in this case)
and for elevation purposes. Then change your User account to a Standard
User account (there is absolutely no need to run as an administrator on
a daily basis in Windows 7 - Windows 7 has the "right-click-run as
administrator" function for when you need admin privileges). You will be
much safer and better protected doing this.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Do NOT use Windows 7 with only ONE user account. In Windows 7, the
built-in Administrator account is disabled by default and although it
is possible to enable it, that process may be beyond what you feel
comfortable with. You need to forget anything to do with XP, and
create a User Account with Administrator privileges, (call it Admin
or similar) and give it a password. Keep this account for emergency
access (such as in this case) and for elevation purposes. Then change
your User account to a Standard User account (there is absolutely no
need to run as an administrator on a daily basis in Windows 7 -
Windows 7 has the "right-click-run as administrator" function for
when you need admin privileges). You will be much safer and better
protected doing this.

I misspoke. I do have a user account, but with administrator privileges
and no password. Since I live alone and am the only user of my computer,
please tell me what danger I face with no password.

I can't forget anything about XP because I never ran it. My previous
system was W2K.

 

[Gordon]

Gordon wrote:

I misspoke. I do have a user account, but with administrator privileges
and no password. Since I live alone and am the only user of my computer,
please tell me what danger I face with no password.

Any one who gains access to your computer via ANY electronic means can
use it as a bot or worse because you will get NO notification that
anyone is trying to do that.
As I said, there is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED to run as an administrator on a
daily basis in Windows 7.
It's no coincidence that the SECURE operating systems such as Unix and
Linux do NOT allow (in the main) users to run as Root (aka
"administrator") on a daily basis.

 

[Just Judy]

Control Panel>>User Accounts>>Remove Your Password

Thip,

I printed out the various suggestions posted here, and took
them to my friend's yesterday afternoon. I was prepared to try them
all, but it wasn't necessary. Your suggestion -- the first response
posted -- was spot on!

As I had previously told my friend, there are usually many ways
to accomplish the same goal when working with a computer. Thanks to
everyone here for their input. I didn't test your suggestions only
because I subscribe to the theory: If it ain't broke, I don't fix it.


The password requirement is gone! YAY.

Thanks again,

 

[Just Judy]

Others may have supplied a solution, but you MAY want to try:

"Ultimate Windows Tweaker" (freeware) for Vista & Win7:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-v2-a-tweak-ui-for-windows-7-vista

Thanks for the site; I've bookmarked it for future reference.
I'm not quite comfortable doing a lot of tweaks to a friend's system,
with which I am barely familiar, but I have set up a folder for sites
of interest pertaining to Win7. Your reference is the first site to go

Also suggest "CCleaner" (freeware), much better than Windows Disk
Cleanup:
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

She writes 1-3 e-mails per day; browses on 4-5 sites per day;
she does no usenet. Thanks, but my definition of cleaning up a
computer is putting the vacuum cleaner near the cooling vents and
suckin' out the dirt. (I actually did that once to my first computer
in 1995, with disastrous results, resolved only by changing the vacuum
to blow. Problem solved. I kid you not!)

 

[Char Jackson]

Thanks, but my definition of cleaning up a
computer is putting the vacuum cleaner near the cooling vents and
suckin' out the dirt. (I actually did that once to my first computer
in 1995, with disastrous results, resolved only by changing the vacuum
to blow. Problem solved. I kid you not!)

I vacuum each of my computers a couple of times a year, and have been
doing so since the mid 1980's. No problems so far.

 

[Thip]

Thip,

I printed out the various suggestions posted here, and took
them to my friend's yesterday afternoon. I was prepared to try them
all, but it wasn't necessary. Your suggestion -- the first response
posted -- was spot on!

As I had previously told my friend, there are usually many ways
to accomplish the same goal when working with a computer. Thanks to
everyone here for their input. I didn't test your suggestions only
because I subscribe to the theory: If it ain't broke, I don't fix it.


The password requirement is gone! YAY.

Thanks again,

You're welcome. And thank you for the feedback.

 

[Roy Smith]

I vacuum each of my computers a couple of times a year, and have been
doing so since the mid 1980's. No problems so far.

I have a cat that sheds hair like crazy, so I do mine once a month. So
how often you clean out your PC all depends on the environment in which
it resides.


--

Roy Smith
Windows 7 Professional
Thunderbird 3.1.4
Thursday, September 30, 2010 5:41:38 PM

 

[Char Jackson]

I have a cat that sheds hair like crazy, so I do mine once a month. So
how often you clean out your PC all depends on the environment in which
it resides.

Sure, but the question was, have you ever had disastrous results from
vacuuming? I haven't.

 

[Just Judy]

You're welcome. And thank you for the feedback.

As I stated elsewhere, I've been a usenet junkie since 1996. I
consider it very important to provide feedback, and thanks, to those
that help, and even those who try but fail to provide a *desirable*
resolution.

I'd still be strugging with Win-3.1 if not for all the usenet
helpers.

Thank you!