Tech Support Helpline

You know what? I promise never to get angry with tech support people due to the fact they're treating me like an idiot. I now see the world from their perspective, here's the transcript of a conversation I had tonight....

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jarrad says (21:19):

hey, my mum has forgoten her password and we cant remove it cuz you need a password. is they anyway of gettiing round that i have tryed safe mode ?

Ash says (21:19):

you need to log on as a system administrator and then change it via user settings on the control panel

jarrad says (21:19):

she is an adminstertor

lucky shes got a finger print on it so thats how shes singed in but the finger print has fucked up befor

Ash says (21:20):

a what?

well if she's signed in

jarrad says (21:20)

finger print thing you can sign in by finger print

Ash says (21:20):

go start > control panel > users

Ash says (21:21):

"Change your password"

jarrad says (21:21):

yer we have done that but when we try to remove the passwoprd you need your old password

she dosent know it

Ash says (21:21):

right hang on

jarrad says (21:22):

thnaks shes haveing a right stress

Ash says (21:22):

right

are you on vista?

jarrad says (21:23):

yer

Ash says (21:25):

start > run > cmd

This SHOULD work

jarrad says (21:27):

yer doint you have to type you user name

Ash says (21:27):

then type "net users"

it will list all users on the system

Ash says (21:28):

find your mum's account name

type in "net users [NAME] *"

if the name has a space in it, you need to put it in quote marks

like.... net users "debbie southern" *

jarrad says (21:29):

ok

Ash says (21:29):

type in the new password CAREFULLY

cmd won't show it

then hit enter

then retype it

and it should, theoretically, change it

i'd advise changing it to something simple and memorable

like her birthday, or whatever

jarrad says (21:29):

ok trhanks

brb

jarrad says (21:36):

ok i got it with me

jarrad says (21:37):

do i put "net users"(deb)

or "net users deb"

Ash says (21:38):

you put "net users deb * "

jarrad says (21:39):

it says its not an recongised comand

?

jarrad says (21:41):

ok it says C;/users/deb>

Ash says (21:42):

Right, have you got the command line interface open?

jarrad says (21:42):

if you on about the thing with the black backgorund and white writting yes

Ash says (21:43):

ok

just type

"net users"

and hit enter

without the "

jarrad says (21:43):

ok

Ash says (21:43):

like this

jarrad says (21:43):

now hat

Ash says (21:43):

it will show you the users

yes?

jarrad says (21:43):

yer

with admistor on the top

Ash says (21:43):

yep

You want the name of your mum's account

Ash says (21:44):

which is...

jarrad says (21:44):

deb

Ash says (21:44):

ok

now type "net users deb *"

without the " again

jarrad says (21:44):

ok

Ash says (21:44):

asks for new password

jarrad says (21:44):

yes loads of stuuf has come up now i do the password ?

Ash says (21:45):

it will say

"Type a password for the user:"

right?

type in something easy, like 1234

hit enter

it'll ask you to retype, do it again

hit enter

bada bing bada boom

password changed.

jarrad says (21:46):

it says loads oof stuff about what the password used to be

well when it was changed

what what it use to be

like password set

password exspirs

jarrad says (21:47):

then when i typed new password it said jjbjjb is not rconsied

jjb bing the password

Ash says (21:49):

well i have no idea what is going on then

I just did it fine on here

jarrad says (21:49):

ok what i do

net user

jarrad says (21:50):

net user deb

then it says nothing about changeing password

Ash says (21:51):

did you put the * afterwards?

jarrad says (21:51):

no

when do i put that

Ash says (21:51):

afterwards

you put net user deb *

I did say....

jarrad says (21:52):

oh i thoughtit was by acident

jarrad says (21:53):

ok thenn it says user name

password then user name 3 time underneth each orther

?

Ash says (21:54):

what?

it should just say "Type a password for the user:"

jarrad says (21:55):

so for acount nmae i out

net users de *

and thats the only time i put the star

Ash says (21:55):

yes

right close cmd

then re-run it

just type "net users"

then type "net users deb *"

then, type your new password

that's all you have to do

jarrad says (21:57):

dam i follow all that stuff egsactly but it always says

jarrad says (21:59):

NET user

[username [some stuff

username some stuff

user name some stuff

user name some stuff

c;/users/deb>

Ash says (21:59):

what is the some stuff

send me a screen shot

jarrad says (22:00):

i will have to log in to msn on mums laptop i am on mine brb i will swap

jarrad says (22:02):

ok

is screen shot ctr f12?

Ash says (22:02):

no

it's "prt scrn"

jarrad says (22:03):

oh yer soz

jarrad says (22:06):

thats frist part

then i

jarrad says (22:04):

just print scrren

or crt?

and printscree

Ash says (22:05):

just the button

jarrad says (22:07):

do you want them bigger

?

Ash says (22:09):

no thats fine

jarrad says (22:10):

ok

Ash says (22:10):

ok

so now type into that section

net users

jarrad says (22:10):

ok

do i dlo that from my last stage /

cuz i have

Ash says (22:12):

yes

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs142.snc3/16972_404179295091_884665091_10704194_1287500_n.jpg follow that

except change "Ash" to "deb"

once you've typed net users deb *

send me a screenshot

jarrad says (22:13):

ok so what do i do with your link

Ash says (22:14):

CLICK IT!

jarrad says (22:14):

yer i know but after that its just a screen shit

Ash says (22:15):

Yes it is.

it shows you what it should look like

jarrad says (22:14):

yer i never get there

jarrad says (22:15):

oh right i get it

oh dw about tht one

Ash says (22:17):

about WHAT one?

jarrad says (22:17):

oh did it not come i thought i did dw

ok this is what keeps happeng

Ash says (22:18):

you keep sending the same screenshot...

jarrad says (22:22):

ok well it says comand complet

but no password settings

Ash says (22:23):

did you press enter after net users deb * ?

jarrad says (22:23):

yer

Ash says (22:23):

and it just says "command complete" ?

jarrad says (22:23):

yer

jarrad sends:

paint dw.jpg

Ash says (22:24):

same shot

jarrad says (22:24):

thats what it dose

no it ant

Ash says (22:25):

Yes it is...

jarrad says (22:25):

mine never dose what yours dose

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]

Copyright (C) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\deb>net users

User accounts for \\DEBBIE

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Administrator deb debbie2

Guest

The command completed successfully.

C:\Users\deb>net users deb*

The syntax of this command is:

NET

jarrad says (22:26):

thats what minesays

Ash says (22:26):

YOU NEED A FUCKING SPACE!

NET USERS DEB [SPACE] *

jarrad says (22:27):

omg i am such a dumb ass <- HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD.

Ash says (22:27):

type this EXACTLY

Net Users Deb *

NOW.

type the new password.

jarrad says (22:27):

yes its come up

Ash says (22:27):

ok

now type the new password...

jarrad says (22:28):

ok it wont let me type ?

it flashes but nothing comes up

Ash says (22:29):

no it wont come up

as it's a password

so it wont show you

jarrad says (22:30):

so the flashing line stays in one place ?

Ash says (22:30):

I TOLD YOU... Ash says (21:29):

type in the new password CAREFULLY

cmd won't show it

yes. exactly.

Whatever you've just typed is the new password

So. Close the window. and start again.

jarrad says (22:31):

yer i have

Ash says (22:31):

ok

changed?

jarrad says (22:32):

will i say acsess denied

?

i type in jumping

2 times

then it gose acsess denied

jarrad says (22:34):

system error 5 has ucoreid

Ash says (22:34):

well you're clearly not logged in as the admin then.

RIGHT.

jarrad says (22:34):

it says she is on users

Ash says (22:34):

Windows > all programs > accesssories > COMMAND PROMPT

Right click it

select "run as admin"

hit ok when the box comes up

then redo all this

jarrad says (22:35):

doneeee it

my mum says she loves you lol

just going to check it

jarrad says (22:36):

i got sony vagus 9 asswell

Ash says (22:37):

good.

jarrad says (22:37):

cuple of weeks ago its alsome i am makeing and intro at mo

i know how to animate it so its going to look cool

jarrad Signed out. (22:37)

jarrad is online. (22:40)

jarrad says (22:40):

ok it worked

now i am going to bed

bye

jarrad Signed out. (22:41)

Ash (22:41):

You're welcome...

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Now here's something that made me laugh, it's like a harsher version of You've been framed