How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password

  • August 20, 2009
  • 11,284 Views
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It was bound to happen with all those numbers floating around in your brain – you’ve forgotten your Windows password. Here’s how to recover it.

You Will Need

  • Your Windows operating system CD
  • A USB flash drive
How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 1

Step 1

At the Windows login screen, click on the question mark. If you entered a hint when creating your password, a pop-up bubble will display it. Rack your brain for anything that relates to your hint, and type it in as a password.

How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 2

Step 2

If you never included a hint or are still stumped, try connecting as an Administrator. At the login screen, press Control-Alt-Delete twice, then type in “Administrator” with a capital A as the user, and leave the password blank. j

How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 3

Step 3

If you’re able to log in, right-click on My Computer and select Manage. Click on Local Users and Groups and then Users. Right-click on your username and select Set Password. Fill in the field with a new password.

Consider using a password-recovery program. Many are free and available online; borrow a friend’s computer to download and then use a USB flash drive to transfer it to your computer.

How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 4

Step 4

If you can’t log in as an Administrator, you’ll have to do things the hard way. Load your Windows operating system CD and restart your computer. When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.

How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 5

Step 5

When the Setup screen appears, press Enter to set up Windows and then press F8 to accept the licensing agreement. Choose the Repair option on the Setup screen.

How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 6

Step 6

Allow a few minutes for your computer to complete the repair process. It will reboot automatically when finished. After a few minutes, when the Installing Devices progress bar appears, press Shift-F10 to bring up the command console.

How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 7

Step 7

At the prompt, type in either NUSRMGR.CPL or userpasswords2 and press Enter to access your user account. Select your account and change your password – preferably to something you’ll remember. Exit the command console and enter the Windows Product key from your original software if you’re prompted.

How To Retrieve a Lost Windows Password: Step 8

Step 8

When your operating system starts up again automatically, log in with your new password. All of your files and settings should be intact.

According to PC Magazine, the most common internet passwords are “password” and “123456.”

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Comments (17)

mark88

I have downloaded Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 from http://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com. it not only supports XP, 2000, and NT, I have personally tested it with Vista Home Premium and Ultimate. It works perfectly to reset any local user account to a blank password. I Wrote it to an old 128mb USB flash drive do this. Booting up and clearing a password takes a minute or two works like a charm.

over 2 years ago by mark88

Reply
cocosea

<;b>;Forgot windows password<;/b>;?bad thing, I also met it before. I think Advanced Windows Password 3.0 is a good choice to remove the<;b>; lost windows password<;/b>;. I used it and works great. Just burn it to CD and boot from CD. It's a great <;a href=";http://www.recoverwindowspassword.com/";>;<;b>;recover windows password<;/b>;<;/a>; tool.

over 2 years ago by cocosea

Reply
cocosea

It's bad thing forgot windows password. even we can't log in OS. I met it before. the best solution is to recover windows password. Advanced Windows Password 3.0 is a good choice to remove the lost windows password. It can solve all problem within a few minutes. Importantly,No need to call a technician, no need to re-install anything, and you certainly don't need to reformat. I used it and works great. Just burn it to CD and boot from CD. It's a great recover windows password tool. download it from http://www.recoverwindowspassword.com

over 2 years ago by cocosea

Reply
robfluth

I have downloaded windows password key 8.0. It is a very quick and useful utility for resetting passwords. It not only supports XP, 2000, and NT, I have personally tested it with Vista Home Premium and Ultimate. It works perfectly to reset any local user account to a blank password. Just an easy to use bootable CD/DVD . It can also be used on a USB Flash Drive. http://www.lostwindowspassword.com/

over 2 years ago by robfluth

Reply
robfluth

I have downloaded windows password key 8.0. It is a very quick and useful utility for resetting passwords. It not only supports XP, 2000, and NT, I have personally tested it with Vista Home Premium and Ultimate. It works perfectly to reset any local user account to a blank password. Just an easy to use bootable CD/DVD . It can also be used on a USB Flash Drive. http://sn.im/bypasswindowspassword

over 2 years ago by robfluth

Reply
cocosea

Forgot windows password? bad thing, I also met it before. I think Advanced Windows Password 3.0 (download from http://www.recoverwindowspassword.com)is a good choice to remove the lost windows password. I used it and works great. Just burn it to CD and boot from CD. It's a great recover windows password tool.

over 2 years ago by cocosea

Reply
wpsabrina

Hey, I also got locked out of my computer several days ago. I tried several free software. It took me two days and got quite messy. Unfortunately none of them work for me. Finally I made it work with password genius. The good news is that it works. The bad news is it is not free. Check this out: www.password-genius.com/how-to/how-to-recover-my-windows-login-password.html It works for me.

over 2 years ago by wpsabrina

Reply
ych

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over 2 years ago by ych

Reply
ych

Forgot or lost Windows password? reset Windows 7 password with Password Unlocker Bundle, one of whose functions is to recover windows password for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, Windows Vista, Windows 7. ect. This password recovery Bundle is based on friendly GUI, even a computer novice can control the whole process freely. Besides, password unlocker bundle saves a lot trouble. It helps to create a windows password reset CD, with which, you can remove the admin password even you have logged out the computer, yet no reinstalling, no data loss! http://www.passwordunlocker.com

over 2 years ago by ych

Reply
lifeseasy

Whoa, the Did You Know? is staggering.

over 2 years ago by lifeseasy

Reply
za_tinker

Forgot windows password?Do not be so anxious. I know a tool which can help reset windows password, need not to reinstall the windows os, its safely and easily.By using ";Any Windows Password Recovery 3.0 "; ,could be helpful. The reference link to windows password recovery soft: http://www.anypasswordrecovery.com/download.html

over 2 years ago by za_tinker

Reply
annyyu22

I would like to introduce Windows Password Key 8.0 . it not only supports XP, 2000, and NT, I have personally tested it with Vista Home Premium and Ultimate. It creates a password recovery CD/DVD,USB Flash Drive for home, business and enterprise. It works perfectly to reset your Windows password. You can download it from http://www.lostwindowspassword.com

about 1 year ago by annyyu22

Reply
belincoin

As I know, retrieve a Lost Windows password, There is a very easy and safe method to reset Windows OS Password required no reinstalling Windows and no computer skills. The tool is Windows Password Seeker, Not only work on XP/Vista/2000/NT, but also compatible with windows 7, it works perfectly to recover Windows login Password. You can Google Windows Password Seeker or download it from: http://www.passwordseeker.com

5 months ago by belincoin

Reply
emailwonyi

Nowadays,there are many password reset tools. Windows Password Reset 9 is a generally a extensively distribute edition though. After reboot the computer with CD/ USB, remove the lost or forgotten password and then log in to your computer without any password. Here is its official website, Hope it can help you http://www.reset-windows-password.com/how-to-reset-windows-password.html

3 months ago by emailwonyi

Reply
angelsufy

The most simple way is to just to buy a tool like Windows Password Reset 9.0 It will save your plenty of time and it is very effectively. http://www.reset-windows-password.com

2 months ago by angelsufy

Reply
langfleer

After many hours of tweaking a brand new PC, something went wrong. I cannot log into the only Administrator account I had, once the computer had been rebooted. I burned Windows Password Seeker to USB drive, followed the step-by-step instructions and in a few minutes was back in the computer. http://www.passwordseeker.com/howtouse.html What a lifesaver! It will become a permanent part of my toolset for fixing Windows password problems.

2 months ago by langfleer

Reply
pisaaic

If you forgot your windows admin password, I suggest you to remove it with windows password reset tools. I removed my windows password successfully with Windows Password Reset 9.0 yesterday. You can have a try http://www.reset-windows-password.com/reset-windows-7-password.html

2 months ago by pisaaic

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