Password Reset Disk : Windows 7 / Vista

How to Create and Use a Windows 7 Password Reset Disk​

If you forget your Windows password, you can use this password reset disk to create a new password. It is recommend that you create a password reset disk when you create your password, so you don't lose access to your files and information.

   Note

A password reset disk can only be created for local user accounts. If your computer is on a domain, a system administrator can reset your domain password.

You must have either a USB flash drive or a Floppy drive; it will not be created on a CD or DVD.

   Information

The disk can only be created from within Windows.

The disk will only work for the OS that it was created in.

This tutorial will also work for Windows Vista.

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This will only create a password reset disk for the local user account that is currently logged on when it is created.

When you create a password reset disk on a USB flash drive, it will create and add a userkey.psw file on the USB flash drive for the specific local user account. You can move the userkey.psw file to another USB flash drive if you like, but you can only have one userkey.psw file on a USB flash drive.

The password reset disk can be used to reset your user account's password no matter how many times you reset it.

   Warning

Care must be taken where the disk is stored; anyone that can gain access to the disk can reset the password.

Let's get started!

OPTION ONE

Create the Password Reset Disk

1) In the Windows start menu search box type "pas" (without the quotes) select the "Create a password ..." link, there will be no UAC prompt but it will ask you for the "Current User Account Password" enter it and click next.


2) Insert the desired media you intend to use, then select the drive the disk is in, then in the wizard click next, then next again when it completes.


3) Then click Finish to close the wizard.

OPTION TWO

How to Use the Password Reset Disk

1) At the Windows logon screen, you'll get the "Reset Password" option when you enter an incorrect password, or if you just want to change the password, do as I did and type 1 in the password box and hit enter, then select "Reset Password".

2) In the wizard that opens click next, you'll then be prompted to create a new password then a conformation, then click next.



3) When it's done click finish to close the wizard.
You have now reset the password.

Enjoy!

Related Tutorials

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• How to Reset a Windows Password in Regedit at Boot
• How to Create a Password for a Windows 7 User Account
• How to Add or Remove Change Password from the CTRL+ALT+DEL Screen
• How to Change the User Account Password if Unable to Login to Windows
• How to Change the Password for Your or Another User Account in Windows 7
• How to Use System Restore to Change User Account Password
• How to Reset the Password of a User Account in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Password must meet Complexity Requirements
• How to Prevent or Allow a User to Change their Password in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Create a "Forgotten Password Wizard" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Remove the Password for Your or Another User Account in Windows 7
• How to Create, Change, and Use a Password Hint in Windows 7

 

[jfar]

Very Good, Thanks for that, it will be very handy for people.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Very Good, Thanks for that, it will be very handy for people.

Thanks jfar, I hope so!

 

[iseeuu]

Another well done tutorial. I may have to make one of these for the first time.

Thanks, BFK!

 

[SIW2]

Nice Tut , BFK.

Trouble is, not many think of doing it. Hope this will inspire a few.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Another well done tutorial. I may have to make one of these for the first time.

Thanks, BFK!

Thank you very much iseeuu!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Nice Tut , BFK.

Trouble is, not many think of doing it. Hope this will inspire a few.

Hello SIW2, thank you!

I hope so, that's one of the reasons I post links to stuff because others beside the OP will see them.

 

[iseeuu]

Nice Tut , BFK.

Trouble is, not many think of doing it. Hope this will inspire a few.

That is the flaw in this solution. One must make the "Password Reset" disk before it is needed. Thinking of it after the password is trashed is to late.

Better to be prepared!

 

[CarlTR6]

Thank you very much. I had forgotten all about this and I need to do it.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thank you very much. I had forgotten all about this and I need to do it.

Yes it's a good idea, thank you!

 

[garysgold]

Thank you very much. I had forgotten all about this and I need to do it.

Me too!

Nice job Ted.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks Gary!

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Good Job Ted ...!! Nice Tutorial !!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks CJS!

 

[DocBrown]

" The disk can only be created from within Windows.

The disk will only work for the OS that it was created in. "


Does this mean it will only work on The Computer it was created on, or any computer with this same OS ?

 

[Tews]

Sweet tutorial Ted

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

" The disk can only be created from within Windows.

The disk will only work for the OS that it was created in. "


Does this mean it will only work on The Computer it was created on, or any computer with this same OS ?

Hello Doc, I haven't finished researching this yet but I did try to use the first disk I did on one of the other instances of Windows 7 on this same machine and it WOULD NOT reset that password. It is individual OS specific.

As I just said I have some more to check out and I will post an update at the tutorial.

 

[Dave76]

Great tutorial, one of them "I should'a when I could'a" that we don't think of till it's too late.
Good work

 

[iseeuu]

As I just said I have some more to check out and I will post an update at the tutorial.

BFK;

I hope I am not stepping on any toes here. I looked around a bit but did not find much info from MS on the Password Reset Disk for 7. I did find this for Vista: Creating a Password Reset Disk in Microsoft Windows Vista

"A password reset disk allows you to access your account on a local computer by resetting the password in the event that the password is forgotten. When you create the password reset disk, it allows you to reset your password no matter how many times you have changed the password."

Evidently the Password Reset Disk is tied to the local user account on a specific computer. You cannot use it to reset the password for another user or on another computer, even with Vista or 7 as the OS.

The good thing is once you have created it, you do not need to update it every time you change your account password.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks Dave.




Hello Robert.

Thanks, I've been figuring that out, it'll only work for the account it was created in.

Also, I've now tried to create one in both my Vista and my other instance of Win 7 on this same machine and neither will create a new "Password Reset Disk" on a flash card that already has one created on it, it seems that a different card will be needed every time.