9

I have weird situation. My friend uses password with polish characters to log in into Windows. However while he was logged in he changed keyboard layout to US. Now when he tries to use "ł" character while entering password nothing happens.

How can I change keyboard layout to Polish without logging into Admin account?

Improve this question
8
  • Which version of Windows?
    – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007
    Aug 22, 2012 at 13:33
  • It's Windows XP
    – matt
    Aug 22, 2012 at 13:34
  • I assume the 'alt' codes do not work on the login screen?
    – user142485
    Aug 22, 2012 at 13:41
  • 1
    I like the issue!
    – tumchaaditya
    Aug 22, 2012 at 13:47
  • 1
    Apparently on Windows you have to enable the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Input Method\EnableHexNumpad with a string value of "1" to enable hex code character input. How lovely! Apparently this is enabled by default in Mac OS.
    – HeatfanJohn
    Aug 22, 2012 at 14:10

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
3
  • If it is windows 7, then you should have a button on the lower left of the screen. (Actually two buttons. One to shut down without logging in and one to change the locale).
  • Alternatively you could log in with another account and change the setting in the registry.
  • Or you could boot from a live CD and set the password to nothing. There are a many tools to do this. This is one of them.

Edit: Just saw the new comment stating that it was XP.
The second and third options should still work.

Improve this answer
2
  • On my Windows 7 the only options available on the lower left of the screen are the ease of use options. The ease of use options have an on-screen keyboard option, but the "OSK" didn't have an option to enter Unicode characters.
    – HeatfanJohn
    Aug 22, 2012 at 13:57
  • 1
    Thanks... In the end We had to reset the password. ** Warring ** When password is reset You may loose access to encrypted folders.
    – matt
    Aug 22, 2012 at 22:47
1

Log on as another user, then use Runas to run the users control panel as yourself and change your password.

Improve this answer
1
  • This works as long as there's more then one account. In my friend case he has just one account ;)
    – matt
    Aug 22, 2012 at 22:46
1

If you have RDP enabled, you could remote into your system and then change password.

Improve this answer
-1

A workaround:
Use some linux live CD to remove Windows password.

Here is how:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14369/change-or-reset-windows-password-from-a-ubuntu-live-cd/

Improve this answer
3
  • -1 this could cause further issues (like loss of private keys)
    – kinokijuf
    Aug 22, 2012 at 13:51
  • Still better than being locked out of your own PC..
    – tumchaaditya
    Aug 22, 2012 at 14:01
  • Not necessarily. There could be valuable data encrypted with EFS.
    – kinokijuf
    Aug 22, 2012 at 14:03

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .