How toTips and tricks

How to Reset a Windows 7 Password

It’s really a worry thing when you forgot Windows 7 password, especially there are important data stored on it, which stops you reinstalling the system.Did you forget your admin password to login on your Windows 7 computer? Can’t find the password? Don’t be too worry ,Reset a Windows 7 Password is not very complicated now,there are many ways for reset a Windows 7 Password.

Luckily, there are many methods you can reset your lost Windows 7 password, so one is bound to work for you. Each of the techniques covered are quick and easy, and won’t keep your waiting. Check them out below.

Reset Windows 7 Password Reset Disk
Reset Windows 7 Password from Command Prompt
Reset Password with Command Prompt in Safe Mode
Reset Windows 7 Password Using the Utilman.exe Trick
Reset Windows 7 Password with Install Disk

Method 1:Reset  Windows 7 Password Reset Disk

A password reset disk could really come in handy if you ever forgot Windows 7 password. The problem with this method is that you have to create the password reset disk before you forgot the password. Assuming that you have created it beforehand, then you can follow the steps below to reset a lost password easily.

  1. Once you’ve typed the wrong password, Windows 7 will show a Reset password link below the login box.
  2. Make sure that password reset disk is plugged into the computer at this point. Click on the Reset password link.
  3. When the Password Reset Wizard appears, click Next to continue.
  4. Select the password reset disk from the drop-down list. Click Next.
  5. Type a new password and verify it, as well as entering a password hint. Click Next.
  6. Click Finish. Now you can log in to Windows 7 with the new password.

Method 2: Reset Windows 7 Password from Command Prompt

Resetting Windows 7 password isn’t difficult, as long as you have a second administrator account to use. Of course, this assumes that you haven’t also forgotten the password for the other administrator account. If you don’t remember that password, either, skip to one of the other methods outlined below.

If you can login with an account that has administrator privileges, you can reset the password of any user account from the Command Prompt:

  1. Click on the Start button, then select All Programs, and then Accessories. Right-click on the Command Prompt shortcut and select Run as administrator as shown below.
  2. This will open a Command Prompt in administrator mode. Type net user and press Enter. It displays a list of the user accounts on the computer.
  3. Type the following command and press Enter to reset Windows 7 password. Replace username with your desired account, and replace new_password with the password of your choice.
    net user username new_password

Method 3 : Reset Password with Command Prompt in Safe Mode

Windows 7 and earlier versions have a built-in hidden Administrator account which has no password by default. After forgetting the password to your regular account, you can access the built-in Administrator account in Safe Mode, and then reset your forgotten password with Command Prompt.

  1. While starting the computer, hold down the F8 key until the Advanced Boot Options screen appears. Using the arrow keys to select “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and press Enter.
  2. You will see the hidden Administrator account available on the login screen. Once logging in, the system will automatically launch the Command Prompt with admin rights.
  3. Run the following command and you can reset forgotten Windows 7 password in no time.
    net user username new_password

Note that this method doesn’t work if the hidden Administrator account is disabled.

Method 4 :Reset Windows 7 Password Using the Utilman.exe Trick

This trick based on the substitution of the Utility Manager (Utilman.exe) program that can be used during logon screen with Command Prompt (cmd.exe), so you can access Command Prompt from the login screen and reset your Windows 7 password quickly. Follow these steps:

  1. Boot your computer from Windows 7 installation disk. When the Install Windows screen appears, press SHIFT + F10 keys to open the Command Prompt.
  2. Type in the following commands. Replace C: with the drive where your Windows 7 system was installed.
    C:
    cd windows\system32
    ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.bak
    copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe

  3. That’s all we need to do here. Close the Command Prompt and the Install Windows dialog to restart you computer.

4. Let the Windows 7 boots normally this time. At login screen click the Ease of Access icon, it will launch the Command Prompt window. You can then run the following command to reset your forgotten password.

 

net user username new_password

5. Close the Command Prompt and you can use the new password to log in. Don’t forget to restore the original Utilman.exe file back.

 

Method 5: Reset Windows 7 Password with Install Disk

Advanced computer users often prefer to reset forgotten Windows 7 password with this exploit. Assuming you have your Windows 7 install disk, you can take use of the Sticky Keys feature on the login screen by ‘tricking’ Windows into launching a fully privileged Command Prompt. Once you have access to Command Prompt, resetting a user password is a matter of few commands.

  1. Restart your computer and boot up from Windows 7 install disk.
  2. When the keyboard / language setup screen appears, click the Repair your computer link at the bottom.
  3. Select Command Prompt from the list of recovery options.
  4. Now you should be at the Command Prompt, enter the following commands, pressing Enter after each line.
    c:
    cd windows
    cd system32
    ren sethc.exe sethc.exe.bak
    copy cmd.exe sethc.exe
    

  5. Close all open windows. When system reboots, remove the install disk to avoid booting to the DVD again.
  6. At the login screen, press the SHIFT key 5 times and a fully privileged Command Prompt will open. Enter the following command to reset your forgotten password:
    net user user_name new_password
    

     

  7. Close Command Prompt and you can now log in to Windows 7 with the new password.
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