Reset User Account Password

How to Reset a User Account Password in Vista​

   Information

If you forgot the password for a user account, this will show you how to reset or change the password to gain access to the user account again.

   Note

• The password used in Vista is case sensitive. You might double check to make sure that you do not have the Caps Lock key on by mistake when typing it in.
• If you do not have a password for the user account, then clicking or pressing Enter with a blank field will usually work.
• METHOD THREE below should only be used a last resort to reset a Administrator account when it is the only account created, but it should do the job for you. Your only other option is to reinstall Vista.
• If you are using BitLocker Drive Encryption, then this will most likely not work.
• If all of these methods fail, then you will need to reinstall Vista.

   Tip

For a CMOS or BIOS Password:
You can usually reset this password by unplugging the computer and removing the battery on the motherboard for just a bit and/or temporarily crossing the CMOS jumper pin on the motherboard, then change or turn off the password in the BIOS at the next start. See your motherboard's documentation for these locations on it. You can usually find documentation at the motherboard's manufacturer's website.

   Warning

To avoid not being able to log on, be sure to write down you user account's username and password and store it in a safe place for future reference if you need it. Another great option is to create a Password Reset Disk. See: See: How to Create a Password Reset Disk in Vista

METHOD ONE

Reset Password while logged in an Administrator Account

   Note

This is if you have a administrator account that you can logon with to change or reset the password for a Standard or another administrator account.

   Warning

If you use an Administrator account to remove the password for any other user account, the user account with the removed password will lose access to its encrypted files, e‑mail messages that are encrypted, and stored passwords for websites or network resources. If the user account doesn't have any of these things, or the user doesn't mind losing them, then using an Administrator account to remove the password is a fast and easy way to recover from a forgotten password.

1. Logon to the Administrator account.​

NOTE: If you forgot the Administrator account password, then logon to another Administrator account.​

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2. Reset or Change the forgotten password for the user account.​

NOTE: For how, see: How to Remove a Password from a User Account in Vista​

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METHOD TWO

Reset Password with your Password Reset Disk

NOTE: A password reset disk will allow you to reset the password for the user account it was created in. You had to of created one first though. See: How to Create a Password Reset Disk in Vista.

1. Start the computer up into the Logon Welcome Screen.​

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2. Click on the Click to Play button in the video below.​

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http://www.vistax64.com/download/flash/Reset_From_Password_Disk.swf​

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METHOD THREE

Reset Password with a Editor Tool

   Note

This should only be used on a Administrator account that you forgot the password for and do not have another Administrator account (METHOD ONE or TWO) or a Password Reset Disk (METHOD FOUR) to use to reset the password. This should only be a last resort to gaining access to an administrative account.

   Tip

Depending on what you use, you will need to have the CD/DVD or USB key drive listed first in the boot order in the BIOS settings to be able to "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD.".

   Warning

If you reset the password using the tool below, the user account will lose access to its encrypted files, encrypted e‑mail messages, and stored passwords for websites or network resources.

Offline NT Password and Registry Editor​

1. For how, see this site: Offline NT Password and Registry Editor​

NOTE: If you have no access to your computer, then you will need to create this boot CD/DVD or USB key drive on another computer so you can use it to boot into yours with and use.​

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2. Click the Bootdisk button at the top of that website. (See screenshot below)​

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3. Scroll down to the Download section and download the lastest version ZIP file (ex: cd######.zip) for the Bootable CD image under (CD release, see below on how to use).​

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4. Extract the cd######.iso file from the downloaded ZIP file, then burn the ISO file to a DVD or USB key drive.​

NOTE: You can use any ISO burner program you like, but the free ISO Recorder or ImgBurn programs are good ones to use. ​

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5. Follow the instructions from their website on how to use the boot CD/DVD or USB key drive. See: Offline NT Password & Registry Editor​

NOTE: Please direct your questions about this tool to the site providing the tool.​

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METHOD FOUR

Reset Password by Doing a System Restore at Boot

   Note

This is for the following scenarios. For more information, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB940765
[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-500][TR][TD]
Scenario
[/TD]
[TD]
Description
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Scenario 1:
[/TD]
[TD]
You recently set a new password for the protected administrator account. However, you do not remember the new password, but do remember the old one.
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Scenario 2:
[/TD]
[TD]
You type the correct logon password. However, Windows Vista does not accept the password because the system is corrupted.
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Scenario 3:
[/TD]
[TD]
You deleted a password protected administrator account. Now, you cannot log on to another administrator account.
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Scenario 4:
[/TD]
[TD]
You changed a protected administrator account to a standard user account. Now, you cannot log on to another administrator account.
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

1. Do METHOD TWO here: How to Do a System Restore in Vista, or here: How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7.​

NOTE: You will be booting from your Vista installation DVD to perform a System Retore with the method at this link.​

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2. Next, do the additional steps below for the scenario that is related to your situation.​

• For Scenario 1
  • After you log on, change the password for the protected administrator account. See: How to Remove or Change a Password for a User Account in Vista
  • After you change the password, restart the computer. Make sure that you can log on by using the new password.
• For scenario 2
  • After you log on, make sure that each user account can log on by using the appropriate credentials.
  • Change the password for the user account that cannot log on. See: How to Remove or Change a Password for a User Account in Vista
• For Scenario 3
  • After you log on, use the User Accounts item in Control Panel to create a new protected administrator account. See: How to Create a New User Account in Vista
  • Log on by using the new protected administrator account. Then, delete the older protected administrator account that was restored. See: How to Delete a User Account in Vista
    NOTE: For security reasons, do not use the restored protected administrator account.
• For Scenario 4
  • After you log on, use the User Accounts item in Control Panel to create a new protected administrator account. See: How to Create a New User Account in Vista
  • Log on by using the new protected administrator account.
  • Change the old protected administrator account to a standard user account. See: How to Change a User Account Type in Vista

METHOD FIVE

Reset Password in Registry Editor at Boot

1. For how, see: Password Reset - Windows 7 Forums​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Reset the Password of a User Account in Windows 7
• Reset your Windows Password
• How to Enable or Disable Secure Logon in Vista
• How to Make Vista Require a Username and Password at Logon
• How to Display Information About Previous Logons During User Logon in Vista
• How to Create a New User Account in Vista
• How to Change or Stop Password Expiration in Vista
• How to Remove or Change a Password for a User Account in Vista
• How to Remove the Password for Your or Another User Account in Windows 7
• How to Logon Automatically at Startup in Vista
• How to Create a Password Reset Disk in Vista
• How to Create a "Password Reset Wizard" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Create a Password for a User Account in Vista
• How to Start Vista in Safe Mode
• How to Add or Remove Change Password from the Vista Ctrl+Alt+Delete Screen
• How to Prevent or Allow a User to Change their Password in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Password Expiration for a User in Windows 7
• How to Change the Maximum and Minimum Password Age in Windows 7
• How to Prevent or Allow a User to Change their Password in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Create, Change, and Use a Password Hint in Windows 7

 

[aeroplan]

Hi Shawn,

thanks for your attention....i guess u'll need to be more patient on me....is it the file cd080802? that's the one i extracted from the zipped file....and when i go into imgburn.com do i have to download avsdvd authoring?....i don't know what to do from there....so just to burn that file i just burn it using the burner here on my laptop (other laptop)...

just when i thought i hv the cd that i needed...i tried to open my laptop and tap that f11 key for that boot intruction.....but nothing has happened it just went to that windows logon screen...(i tried it many times)

and so everything just ended up there....1st i don't know if i hv that right file to burn...next is i don't know what to do w/ imgburn...everythng is not working on me....

i hope u can patiently help me..i'm so stressed and i wanted to give up already...thank you so much

 

[Brink]

No problem.

Yes, the extracted cd080802.iso (image file) is the one you would want to select to burn (write) to your CD/DVD using ImgBurn. You will only need to have ImgBurn installed.

Place a blank (unformatted) CD or DVD in your CD/DVD drive

Click on the Write image file to disc option.

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Under Source, click on the little folder icon, and navigate to and select the extracted cd080802.iso file.

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Click on the larger icon towards the bottom of the screenshot above to start burning the file to the CD/DVD.

Afterwards, restart the computer and press a key to boot from the CD/DVD when prompted. You will only have 8 seconds to do so. You might also look through this walkthrough to help also.

 

[aeroplan]

Dear Shawn,

thanks a lot...it worked..yahooooo....:Dthank you for your big help...

No problem.

Yes, the extracted cd080802.iso (image file) is the one you would want to select to burn (write) to your CD/DVD using ImgBurn. You will only need to have ImgBurn installed.

Place a blank (unformatted) CD or DVD in your CD/DVD drive

Click on the Write image file to disc option.

View attachment 14359
​

Under Source, click on the little folder icon, and navigate to and select the extracted cd080802.iso file.

View attachment 14360View attachment 14361
​

Click on the larger icon towards the bottom of the screenshot above to start burning the file to the CD/DVD.

Afterwards, restart the computer and press a key to boot from the CD/DVD when prompted. You will only have 8 seconds to do so. You might also look through this walkthrough to help also.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Aeroplan.

 

[Dagurl92]

Hey there.
How do you unzip a file? :s

 

[Brink]

Hello Dagurl,

If you are using the default ZIP handler in Vista, then you can right click on the ZIP file and click on "Extract All" to extract all files in the ZIP file to a location of your choice. You can also open the ZIP file and click on the "Extract All" button to extract all files in the ZIP file to a location of your choice.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[guitarafeather]

Alright, I cannot do any of this, and this is what I have to do to get my computer to work. Most of my problem is written on the User Account-Delete page, but I need help with this now. I cannot use Method 1 because both administrator accounts (but not the built-in administrator, as I can't activate it) have the problem Group Policy Client Service can't logon. Neither accounts have passwords in the first place so I can't use Method 2. Method 3 won't work because I don't have a CD burner, and I can't use Method 4 because when we got our computer, we were not given the Vista Install disk. If anyone has any knowledge on how I can get my computer back, please help as soon as possible.

 

[Brink]

Hello Guitarafeather,

You should be able to do a factory recovery (F11 at boot) from the recovery partition to restore Vista back like the first day you got your Lenovo computer.

Lenovo Support & downloads - How do I recover my factory installed programs and files? - Desktops

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[guitarafeather]

OK. Well, is there any way to recover all the files that I can't access because of my computer? I have about 3 gigs of music on my account, as well as Guitar Pro 5 and a bunch of saved Guitar Pro files that I can't access because they are saved on an administrator account and I have to work from a standard account.

 

[Brink]

You could plug the hard drive into another computer (ex: friends) to backup the files that you wanted to keep for the easiest way.

 

[guitarafeather]

OK, thanks Shawn.

 

[Brink]

Please let us know how it went for you.

 

[guitarafeather]

Shawn,

Well, I tried to save all the programs, but I couldn't get a hard drive, so I just erased them, but they didn't mean that much. Anyway, after I re-booted, and the computer restarted a few times, I finally have my computer back. Thank you so much. You have finally fixed my computer's unfixable problems. There is no way I could repay you.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Adam. You being happy is payment enough.

 

[AnimeDan]

Is there a way that i can retreve my password if im allready in the Administrator accoun?

My PC restarts and AutoLogins using that Automatic Log On technique.
so is there a way to retreve my password From my computer somewhere Since the computer is appentely using it to AutoLogin.

Or is there a Cracker i can download and imput the letters and numbers words etc that i know is in my password but i dont remeber exactly how i ordered them but i do know how meny characters are in the password thoue as well.

 

[Brink]

Hello Daniel, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Cracks are not allowed to be discussed as per the forum rules.

You can reset the password using one of the options in the tutorial that best fits yoru situation. For example, OPTION THREE if you do not remember it.

 

[minotar]

Hey,
My keyboard started to go mental in the last day so i reset my pc to 2 days ago (when i got it brand new) to see if it would fix it as i tried everything else.

But it also changed the password (1 account/admin) and for the life of me i cant remember it.Is there anyway to revert back using BIOS?

Or do i have to create that cd?

***I remebered it after all

 

[Brink]

Hello Minotar, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Yes, creating the disk in METHOD THREE of this tutorial will allow you to reset your password.

Shawn

 

[Wetwet]

Brink
Thank you for sharing the information. I tried method no 3. It work but had to try a few times.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Wetwet, and welcome to Vista Forums. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted despite having a bit of trouble with it.