Infopackets Reader 'ltb223' writes: Show
" Dear Dennis, I have a Windows 7 Pro computer which I haven't used for a long time. Now I want to use it, but I cannot remember my password. It has only one user account, so I believe I need to reset the admin password. Is there anyway to recover the lost password or am I stuck with reinstalling Windows and losing all previous data and programs? " My response: It's possible to reset the admin password, or any user password using a special password reset 'trick', known as the 'utilman' and 'sticky keys' exploit. This exploit effectively allows you to circumvent the operating system in order to reset your password in order to gain access to the system. Best of all: this password reset method works with Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and 11. I've tested these methods myself and have written instructions accordingly in simple English. How to Reset Admin Password for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and 11In summary, here are the steps to reset the admin password, or any user password:
Below are the password reset steps in detail. 1. Locate your Windows install Media (DVD or USB), or Create Your OwnIf you don't have a Windows DVD (or a DVD drive for that matter), you can download a copy from the Internet (for free, 100% legit) from Microsoft via DigitalRiver. Instructions on how to download and create a Windows DVD / USB are here. If you own Windows 10 or 11, you can download Windows install media using the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 or Media Creation Tool for Windows 11. 2. Boot from the Windows DVD / USBThe next step is to restart your computer with the Windows DVD / USB. When the computer restarts, the Windows install media should start booting and will present you with a message to "Press and key to Boot from DVD (or USB)..." At that point, press the space bar to begin. After the Windows install media boots, click Next, then on the proceeding screen, click the Repair your Computer option located at the bottom of the screen. If using Windows 7 or 8: Windows will scan your hard drive and eventually present you with repair options; select Command Prompt. On Windows 10 and 11, you will need to select Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Command Prompt. 3. Launch a command prompt and overwrite utilman.exe with cmd.exeUpdate 2022/03/14: note - this article was originally published in 2015. Recently, Microsoft has patched the utilman.exe (ease of access) and sethc.exe (sticky keys) exploit that allows you to reset your password using a command prompt without having to login to the system to do so. There is a way around the patch which requires disabling Windows Defender using the 'reg' commands in point #3 below.
Proceed to the next step. 4. Restart your computerUpon typing in the 'Exit' command above, you should see the System Recovery Options window again. Click the Restart button on the bottom right of the window. When the computer restarts, you can remove the Windows DVD / USB drive as you will no longer need to boot from it. At this point, Windows should boot from your hard drive as usual. 5. At the login, click the Ease of Access button to open a command promptAfter the computer has rebooted, you will now be presented with the regular Windows login screen. Instead of entering your password, locate and click the 'Ease of Use' icon at the lower left of the screen. The Ease of Use icon is a square button, and somewhat resembles a clock (with dots). A black command prompt window will now appear. If you've activated the sticky keys exploit: press shift 5 times and a command prompt will appear. 6. Convert Microsoft Account to Local Account (Win8, 10, and 11 only!)If you are not using an email address to login to windows, please skip this step. This step is for Windows 8, 10 and 11 users and applies only to users that are using an email address to login to Windows. This involves: enabling the Administrator user, then converting your Microsoft Account (email login) to a local account so that you are then able to login to Windows with a new password. You can then convert your local account back to a Microsoft Account later, if you wish. To do so, enter in the following command into the command prompt you opened in Step #5 (above). Please carefully note the spaces between each command as you type it in, otherwise you will get an error message.
Next: at the bottom right of the login screen is a 'power' icon - click it and select restart. After the computer has rebooted, Windows will display the login screen. Look at the bottom left of the screen and you should see an Administrator user icon. Click it to login as the Administrator user. Once that is finished, please refer to my article on how to convert your Microsoft Account (with email login) to a local account (no email login). This guide will also demonstrate how to set a new password for your account, so you can login to the machine using your account again. Once that is done, you can come back to this article to undo the 'hack'. To do so: resume at Step #9 below (skip Steps #7 and #8). 7. Reset your password using the command promptIf you are not using an email address to login to Windows, you are using a local account. In that case, follow the steps below: Enter in the following commands, replacing User Name with your user name and your_new_password with your desired password. Use quotes around your user name and do not use any spaces for your password:
8. Login to Windows with your new passwordAt the Windows login prompt, select your user (if applicable) and enter the same password you used in the previous step. You should now be able to login to the system. 9. Put back the Ease of Access featureYou will want to put the Ease of Access program back to where it was originally; otherwise, anyone can open a command prompt window without having to login to your machine. To reverse the changes, reboot the computer using your Windows install media and enter in the following commands:
10. Restart your computer; create a password reset diskClick the Restart button on the Windows Recovery Window. This will restart your computer and put you back to the Windows login screen. Everything is now set. Should you need to reset your password again, follow the same steps. Optionally you can create a password reset disk from within Windows, which would also reset your password should you get locked out again. -- If you found this tip useful, please considering donating to the website. Additional Support: From DennisIf all of this is too technical for you and you need additional support getting the job done, I am able to assist you over remote desktop support. Simply contact me using the contact form and we'll set up a time to meet and discuss your options. Got a Computer Question or Problem? Ask Dennis!I need more computer questions. If you have a computer question -- or even a computer problem that needs fixing -- please email me with your question so that I can write more articles like this one. I can't promise I'll respond to all the messages I receive (depending on the volume), but I'll do my best. About the author: Dennis Faas is the owner and operator of Infopackets.com. With over 30 years of computing experience, Dennis' areas of expertise are a broad range and include PC hardware, Microsoft Windows, Linux, network administration, and virtualization. Dennis holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science (1999) and has authored 6 books on the topics of MS Windows and PC Security. If you like the advice you received on this page, please up-vote / Like this page and share it with friends. For technical support inquiries, Dennis can be reached via Live chat online this site using the Zopim Chat service (currently located at the bottom left of the screen); optionally, you can contact Dennis through the website contact form. How do I recover my Administrator password for Windows Vista?Once you've typed the wrong password, Windows Vista will show a Reset password link below the login box. Click on Reset password. Make sure that password reset disk is plugged into the computer at this point. When the Password Reset Wizard appears, click Next to continue.
How can I recover my Administrator password using CMD?In the Command Prompt window, type the password reset command: net user <username> <password> and hit Enter to set a new password for your Windows 10 local admin account. Once password reset is complete, close the Command Prompt and then you can sign into the admin account with the new password.
How do I reset my Windows Vista computer to factory settings without Administrator password?To access System Restore via Safe Mode, follow these steps:. Start the PC.. Press and hold the F8 key before the Windows Vista logo appears on your monitor.. At the Advanced Boot Options, select Safe mode with Command Prompt.. Press Enter.. When Command Prompt is available, type the following command: rstrui.exe.. Press Enter.. |