Password Reset

How to Reset a Windows Password in Regedit at Boot​

This is a fairly simple way to reset / change your Windows user account password if, for whatever reason you can't gain access to your account.​

   Note

A big thank you to Everlong for helping me sort the last steps of this.

This tutorial can be used to reset the password in Windows 7 or Vista.​

   Information

If you don't have a proper Windows installation disk, have a look at the link below to create a repair disk that can be used to reset your user account password in Windows 7 and Vista.

(Windows 7) System Repair Disc - Create

(Vista) Create a Recovery Disc - Vista Forums

   Warning

Making changes to the Windows Registry has the potential to disable the PC, if you have any concerns over using the information set forth here please feel free to post a question in this same tutorial and we will be glad to help.

Be Advised: if you use this method to reset you're user account password ANY / All access to encrypted files stored in the account will be lost.

Let's get Started!

1) The Boot Priority in the BIOS needs to be set to boot first from the optical drive; insert your Windows disk and re-start the PC.
At the first screen select your language then Repair your computer then it'll do some searching, at System Recovery Options dot Use recovery tools then select the OS and click next; while there make note of the OS drive letter, it may not be C: like mine is D:.

2) At the next screen select "Command Prompt" then in the Command window type "regedit" (without the quotes) and hit enter.

3) In the Registry Editor window that opens click to select "HKey_Local_Machine" then at the "File" menu select "Load Hive".


4) In the "Look In" in the "Load Hive" window that opens navigate to (in my case) LocalDiskD:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM and click "Open".


5) In the "Load Hive", "Key Name" box give the new key a name e.g. " 123 " (it can be whatever you like) and click OK.

6) In the left pane of the registry Editor window click the " + " sign to expand the "HKey_Local_Machine" key then click the " + " sign to expand the "123" key then click to select the "Setup" key.

7) Now in the right pane right click "SetupType" and select "Modify", set the "Value data" to " 2 " and click OK.


8) Again in the right pane right click "CmdLine" and select "Modify" and set the "Value data" to "cmd.exe" and click OK.

9) Now just as a precaution, close the Registry Editor at the "File" menu click "Exit"; then in the Command window that's still open type "regedit" and hit enter to open the Registry Editor again.

10) In the Registry Editor click the " + " sign to expand HKey_Local_Machine and click to select the new "123" key, at the "File" menu select "Unload Hive" and click "Yes" for the "Are you sure ..." question.



11) Now close the Registry Editor at the "File" menu click "Exit" then in the Command window type "exit" and hit enter to close the Command window, then remove the Windows disk and restart the PC.

12) When the PC restarts a Command window will open, in that window type "net user <username> <new password>" mine is (net user "Bare Foot Kid" Test6) be advised: if you have a username like mine, with spaces, you must use " " quotes around the user name; when you get the "Command Completed Successfully" type "exit" in the Command window and hit enter; at the logon screen use the new password you chose.

   Tip

If you like, you could type net user in the command prompt and press Enter to see a list of all names for each user account on the PC to help use with step 12.

Enjoy!

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Reset the Password of a User Account in Windows 7
• 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 Create a Windows 7 Password Reset Disk
• How to Create a "Forgotten Password Wizard" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Create a "Password Reset Wizard" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Use System Restore to Change User Account Password
• How to Prevent or Allow a User to Change their Password in Vista and Windows 7
• 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

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Harry, I'm glad it was useful and thanks for the note.

 

[Inukshuk]

Hello,

Thank you very much for these very clear instructions.

I followed them precisely, but when I entered my user name and new password as described in section #12, I received a message saying that my user name was not recognized.

Help please.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Inukshuk, welcome to Seven Forums!


If your username is like mine, more than one word, you must use the quote marks around your username for it to complete successfully.

"Bare Foot Kid"

12) When the PC restarts a Command window will open, in that window type "net user <username> <new password>" mine is (net user "Bare Foot Kid" Test6) be advised: if you have a username like mine, with spaces, you must use " " quotes around the user name;

 

[Inukshuk]

Hello,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

My user name is only one word, no spaces needed.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Bill.


See if using "quote" marks around the username will sort it for you.

 

[Inukshuk]

Hi,

I went back and did all of the steps very carefully again.

When I got to step 12, I entered net user "Dad" 123 and hit enter.

I received the message, "The user name could not be found".

Suggestions please?

Thank you.

Bill

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Bill.


Is "Dad" the default administrator account that was setup when Windows was installed or is it a secondary account created from the default admin account?

 

[jack sutton]

WINDOWS DISC

I NEEDED A START UP DISC, I WAS IN LIVE SUPPORT WITH MICROSOFT, THE TECH TOLD ME TO CALL E-MACHINES AND ASK FOR A INSTALL DISC. E-MACHINES TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS MY COMPUTER CANM FROM THE FACTORY ALL SET UP. FINALLY GOT MY PC FIXED BUT NO THANKS TO E-MACHINES.

NOW WHAT DISK ARE YOU REFERING TO. AND WHY IS SIMPLY CHANGING/RESETTING A PASSWORD SO COMPLICATED. I CAN CHANGE MY BANKING PASSWORD WITH LESS TROUBLE THAN THIS.

JACK SUTTON

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello Jack,

Please refrain from the use of CAPS, because it makes your post hard to read.

You can create or download a repair disc, see here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

The easiest way to change the password is this: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73104-user-account-password-change.html

 

[jack sutton]

Sorry about the caps, forgot they were on, will refrain from now on. thanks for the tip on changing pass word

 

[wesgann]

Another way

There is another way(very similar) to do this that does NOT involve the registry. I read the comment about the balance so a 12 year old won't try this on his/her parents. Do I have permission to post the alternate way, which is the method I use? I know for a fact my method works on Server 2008, but I'm sure your method will as well.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

There is another way(very similar) to do this that does NOT involve the registry. I read the comment about the balance so a 12 year old won't try this on his/her parents. Do I have permission to post the alternate way, which is the method I use? I know for a fact my method works on Server 2008, but I'm sure your method will as well.

Start a new thread here.

 

[hmr007]

I registered in this forum just for saying thanks to this article
Thanks mat

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I registered in this forum just for saying thanks to this article
Thanks mat

Hello hmr007, welcome to Seven Forums!


It's very nice to see that people are helped, thanks for the kind words my friend.

 

[Kezzer]

Please help

Hi, I have completed all the directions, but after the restart when the command prompt box comes up I cannot type anything. The cursor flashes in the box but nothing will type. Would the fact that I am on a laptop and changed the key layout to United Kingdom make any difference? Any help appreciated.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Kezzer, welcome to Seven Forums!


I haven't heard of this issue before, it may be that the lappy K/B is not 'active' until a certain point that I have no idea about; perhaps someone will have some input for you so keep checking back.

 

[Kezzer]

Thanks for getting back

The command prompt box has just disappeared now. Took the battery out and it restarted to normal log in screen. I'm on an HP DV7 if that helps, feel gutted to have fallen at the last hurdle of changing the password.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have you had a look to see if the method of using System Restore to go back will work for you?


Password Reset : Using System Restore in Windows 7

 

[Kezzer]

It's my mum's brand new one, she had it on about 30mins, then logged out and couldn't get back on. She swears the password is right but Windows says it's wrong. Don't think there would have been a restore point created yet? We didn't make one manually.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

It's my mum's brand new one, she had it on about 30mins, then logged out and couldn't get back on. She swears the password is right but Windows says it's wrong. Don't think there would have been a restore point created yet? We didn't make one manually.

What kind / who built it? Perhaps you can do a factory restore and start over from scratch.