Windows Password Recovery Tool

For Windows 7

There are those of you who have forgotten your own computer login password and now don't know what to do. There are many ways that you can fix this problem. We will introduce you to one such solution so you can regain access to your PC quickly and safely (without changing any files and settings).

This TechRepublic article shows you how to create and use a Password Reset Disk in Windows 7 using a USB Flash Drive rather than a CD or floppy disk:

Keep in mind that the same procedure can be used in Windows Vista.

Use a USB Flash Drive to create Windows Password Reset Disk in Windows 7 

The Password Reset file weighs in at only 2KB, it is the perfect use for an old USB Flash Drive. If there is any data on it, you may want to remove it because this procedure involves formatting the flash drive. 

Insert your USB Flash Drive and wait for it to be initialized and assigned a drive letter.  Now to make sure that the disk is in the best shape that it can be, you should format it. Right-click on the drive letter in Computer and select the Format command. When you see the Format dialog box, as shown in Figure A, just click the Start button: 

Figure A
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221061-267-464.jpg 

Once the drive is ready to use, click the Start button and type User Accounts in the Start Search box. Then, press [Enter] or click User Accounts in the results panel. Either way, you’ll see the User Accounts window and will need to locate and click Create a Password Reset Disk in the Tasks panel, as shown in Figure B: 

Figure B
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221062-620-473.jpg 

When you see the Forgotten Password Wizard’s Welcome screen, take a look at the information and click Next. When you see the next screen, you’ll be prompted to choose your USB Flash Drive’s drive letter, as shown in Figure C. To continue, just click Next: 

Figure C
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221063-513-447.jpg 

On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to type your password, as shown in Figure D. Then, click Next: 

Figure D
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221064-513-447.jpg 

As soon as you do, you’ll see a progress bar that will move rapidly along to 100 percent. You’ll then click Next and will see the last screen in the Forgotten Password Wizard. To complete the operation, click Finish. 

You should then click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon, choose your USB Flash Drive’s drive letter, and then, when prompted to do so, remove the drive. You should label the drive and put it away in a safe place.

Now, you may be tempted to label the drive “Password Reset.” However, since anyone who happens upon this drive can use it to bypass your password and break in to your computer, I suggest a more subtle label — something that will help you recognize the drive but that isn’t so obvious.

Using a Password Reset Disk

If you ever forget and type in an incorrect password, the login screen will change and an error message will appear like the one shown in Figure E. To continue, you will have to click OK: 

Figure E
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221065-456-328.jpg
You’ll then return to the login screen and will see a message appear below the Password box, as shown in Figure F. At this point, you’ll insert your USB Flash Drive and wait for it to be initialized and assigned a drive letter. Then, to launch the Password Reset Wizard, click the "Reset password..." link: 

Figure F
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221066-456-329.jpg 

When you see the Password Reset Wizard’s Welcome screen, take a look at the information and click Next. In the next screen, you’ll be prompted to choose your USB Flash Drive’s drive letter, as shown in Figure G. To continue, just click Next: 

Figure G
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221067-513-397.jpg

Once you select the drive, the Password Reset Wizard will open the saved file, read your saved password, and perform a few operations in the background. The wizard will then prompt you to create a new password, confirm it, as well as create a new hint, as shown in Figure H: 

Figure H
http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/6221068-513-397.jpg 

Once you’ve filled in the text boxes, click Next. You’ll then see the success screen and will need to click Finish to complete the operation. You can now use the new password to log on to your Windows 7 system. 

IMPORTANT!!!!:
As soon as you use the Password Reset Wizard to change your password, the information in the password reset file on the USB Flash Drive will be outdated. Therefore, as soon as you log back in to Windows, you should run the Forgotten Password Wizard again and create a new password reset file.

For other free alternatives to Windows 7 Password Reset, go to this site:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

Someone even posted a way to reset the Windows 7 password using the Ubuntu disc:
https://groups.google.com/group/cofsug/browse_thread/thread/e960e6ff2265f786/9c46e2db0d1943b1?hl=en&q=how+to+create+Password+Reset+disk+for+windows+7#9c46e2db0d1943b1

This one is a small free Password reset tool. Install it on your USB drive and you can reset your password, create an account, raise an account to Administrator on ANY local account. Works on Windows 7, XP, and probably on Vista too. It requires a reboot and a BIOS that understands USB bootup media. This may not work on encrypted drive:
http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/