Windows 7 Locked after scam call - SYSKEY

Anonymous
2014-07-09T06:15:35+00:00

I have had a couple for customers fall for the "This is So and So from Windows 7 Tech support, we have detected malicious software on you PC. The customers have given the scamers access to the PC and its now locked with What looks like the XP Syskey lock screen. There are reports the Password are 123 or 1234 or abcd. But that all failed. If you have this problem:

THIS IS FOR WINDOWS 7 ONLY, MAY WORK ON OTHER OS!!!!

I have repaired the syskey issue when created by scam call from “Windows 7 Tech Support” in windows 7. I repaired customers computers (1 32-bit and 1 64-bit) successfully, To remove following the steps below:

1.     Boot from windows 7 install cd.

2.     When the Install Windows page appears, click Repair your computer to access system recovery options.

3.     Run System Restore to last point before syskey password blocked access. (This will fail, but must be done). Click run system restore again (this will take you back to the options list)

4.     Open Command Prompt from the options list.

5.     Open Regedit (Type regedit into the command prompt). Regedit will open.

6.     Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa, and change 'SecureBoot' value to 0.

7.     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SAM\SAM\Domains\Account Change F value to 0000

8.     Reboot and Login

This has worked for me on two machines. After reboot I ran Super-anti Spyware, Ad-Aware and Hitman Pro to confirm, found 68 items on Super-Anti Spyware, 5 more on ad aware and no further detection's on Hitman Pro. The PC now runs fine with not Lockouts or Passwords.

Hope this helps everyone with this problem.

MICROSOFT / WINDOWS 7 SUPPORT WILL NEVER RING YOU UNLESS YOU HAVE REQUESTED THEM TO DO SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-05-20T07:54:30+00:00

    Is it works in windows 8

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-02T08:03:46+00:00

    I found a nice but commercial tool for recovering Syskey passwords designed mostly against scammers. At least as they state at the website. Haven't tested it though.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-27T16:56:26+00:00

    Thank you Josh vk.

    It worked!

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-21T13:44:56+00:00

    Asus laptop so locked down can't get to cd rom to boot for repair?  boots up to startup password - tried all I could find that has worked for anyone else.  tried all other restore - refresh - and command options - all end in there aren't any administrator accounts on this PC.   I have also tried to reset and says a required drive is missing.  Totally locked down.   But the user was on the phone with them for a couple of times over a two day period.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-01-30T14:36:43+00:00

    I'm working on the same problem with Windows 10 on a HP laptop.  I am using a Win 10 install on a USB drive.  I can get to regedit, but I'm not able to change the keys because perhaps the registry keys for syskey have change from Win 8.1 to Win 10.

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