Passwords set by users to enter the system can be a real headache, since we are all human, and we tend to forget some things. For example, what should I do if the user has forgotten the Windows 7 password (meaning logging in), and previously did not save or record the desired combination anywhere?
It is clear that Windows will constantly display messages stating that user login information has been entered incorrectly. How to restore the ability to login? There are several methods for this, some of which may seem quite complicated to the average user. Here you will have to be patient, because in such a situation simple solutions are not provided.
What to do if you forgot your Windows 7 password: recovery and reset options
As already understood, just recovering or resetting the password, knowing the basics, will fail. Of course, if the system administrator set the password for the registered user on the working terminal, you can find out the combination for entering it. As a rule, administrators keep the passwords of all users in a safe place, because, roughly speaking, this is their responsibility.
But what if the user forgot the password on a computer with Windows 7 or any other system, being himself an administrator? This is where the biggest difficulties begin. Since the situations associated with the impossibility of entering the system can be completely different, then we will consider the following methods:
- resetting primary passwords in the BIOS;
- changing a forgotten password when starting the system in safe mode;
- creating a diskette of forgotten passwords;
- password reset via command line or registry when booting from removable media;
- use of third-party programs.
Reset BIOS passwords
So, suppose that the user forgot the password on the Windows 7 computer, which was originally set up not to log in, but to boot at all or to access the parameters of the BIOS primary input / output system. To start the download, a password such as HDD Password or Boot Password is usually used. Passwords like Supervisor Password and User Password control only access to the BIOS and are not affected by the loading of the operating system.
In order not to choose the right combination, on stationary computer terminals it is easiest to remove the CMOS battery from the motherboard for 10-15 minutes, then insert it back and turn on the computer. Lack of power on the chip will allow you to reset passwords and completely reset the BIOS settings, bringing them to the factory state.
Using safe mode when registering multiple users
But this was only the easiest option. But it may be such that a Windows 7 user forgot the password in a situation where he is one of the registered users of the system, but not an administrator. In this case, it is logical to assume that he either knows the login password on behalf of the administrator, or he can learn it from the administrator, or (which is very unlikely) the login under the administrator registration is carried out without using a password. However, you can do much simpler: when loading the system, call up the start menu by pressing the F8 key and select the start in safe mode from it.
In the process of logging in, you will need to select the administrator, and then enter the account management section in the "Control Panel". Then use the management of another registration, choose your own and install a new combination, which in the future will be used to enter the system.
Note: this method does not apply if you use Microsoft accounts to log in, or when the user is the only registered user (administrator).
Forgot password reset disk
Now let's see what can be done if the user forgot the Windows 7 password and the administrator does not know it or does not remember it, but he can get access to the system. In this case, it is the administrator who can go to the accounts section and use the item to create a forgotten password diskette in the menu on the left.
After selecting the section to save, the "Forgotten Password Wizard" will start, after which you will just need to follow its instructions. Upon completion of the formation of the PSW file with information for resetting the code word, it will need to be copied to any removable medium, for example, to a regular USB flash drive. When the system boots up to the password input window, insert the drive into the appropriate USB port and click the password reset link below its input field. Next, a proposal to create a new password and a confirmation field will be displayed. If necessary, you can add a hint.
What to do if you forgot your Windows 7 administrator password : the preparatory phase
Finally, a few words about the most unpleasant situation. An administrator-level access password without using specialized programs can be reset in two ways, but only when booting from removable media with an installation distribution kit or from a recovery disk like LiveCD.
For situations when the user has forgotten the Windows 7 administrator password, consider booting from the installation disk or flash drive.
First, as usual, a window appears with a choice of regional standards that you can skip. The next step is to go to the system restore point. After that, call the command line through the corresponding rollback menu item or using the quick combination Shift + F10.
Initial Actions on the Command Line
Now, using the console, you need to determine the letter of the system (boot) disk, which will be used for further actions. To do this, the command is written: bcdedit | find "osdevice". After that, the answer will be given in the form of a string: partition = D (although another letter may be indicated).
The next step is to copy two objects using the commands shown in the image above. The second object replaces the standard means of sticking keys with the command line (this will be needed for actions in the next step).
Password reset during system reboot
Now comes the most crucial stage. The system is completely rebooted in the normal mode (with removed removable media).
When the window for entering the password appears, you must quickly press the Shift key five times. This action invokes the command console. Finally, you need to enter the string Net User Name Password, where instead of Name you enter the user name (account name), and instead of Password, the new password is entered.
Upon completion of the password change, boot from the removable media again and return to the sticky keys on the command line, which can be checked during normal start by repeating the Shift key five times, as a result of which a request appears to enable this function.
Password reset through the system registry
Now let's see what to do if I forgot the Windows 7 password, but already in relation to the registry. First, as in the previous case, the system starts from bootable media, after which the registry editor (regedit) is called from the command line.
The HKLM branch is highlighted here and the bush load command is used through the file menu.
Then you will need to specify the location of the SYSTEM file (usually the config folder in the System32 directory). After that, an arbitrary name of the created branch is entered, a transition is made to it and the SetupType parameter is set to "2", and for the CmdLine key, it is set to "cmd.exe" (both values are entered without quotes).
Next, the editor window is closed, the command to call it again is entered on the command line, the HKLM branch is highlighted, and the item for unloading the bush with its name is applied. After that, all windows are closed, removable media is removed and a reboot is performed in normal mode.
When restarting, a command line appears in which, as in the previous example, you should enter the password update command described above with the same data as the name of the registration record and the new cipher.
Note: for both options, if the account name consists of two or more words, it is entered in quotation marks.
Third party programs
Finally, another situation where the user forgot the password. It is impossible to enter Windows, and he does not know what to do. In this case, you can use the Ophcrack utility. Based on it, you can create a bootable USB flash drive, boot in console mode (and not graphical), run the utility and look at the scan results.
The Results field will contain all automatically determined passwords for registered entries. If the user has forgotten the Windows 7 password, for example, for network login, it can be completely elementary removed so that the requirement to enter it does not cause trouble in the future.