What to do if you forgot your password on your Windows 7 computer. How to recover or reset your Windows user password. Instructions and all methods. How to remove a forgotten Windows password using a recovery flash drive

Ways to restore access to your account Windows user 7, several can be distinguished. However, we will not delve into the theory and explore all the options for this procedure, but will look at the most logical, simple and effective method to solve the problem of how to recover the Windows 7 administrator password.

To reset (or recover) your password, you will need a bootable USB flash drive or disk. Typically, such media is used to install Windows 7, but we will use the distribution a little differently. If you have two operating systems installed, you can do without installation media, performing all the steps described below through the accessible Windows environment.

Important! Bit capacity of the system recorded on installation disk, must coincide with Windows bit depth, to which you want to restore access.

If you have already encountered the need to recover the administrator password in Windows XP, then you should know about the existence of the ERD Commander utility. In Windows 7, it also works correctly, allowing you to reset the system access code, so if you wish, you can opt to use it.

Connect the installation media to the computer and configure the BIOS correctly, setting the boot priority correctly:

If using a flash drive, the USB device should boot first.
If you have Windows disk 7, CD-ROM (DVD-ROM) must be loaded first.

After the reboot, the Windows 7 installation window will appear. The installed settings for language, time and date, and layout can not be changed, just click the “Next” button.

A search for available ones will start, after which you will be asked to select one of the found versions of Windows (if there are several of them). Select the desired OS and click Next.

Select "Command Prompt".

Enter the “regedit” command to launch the built-in registry editor.

In the menu on the left, highlight the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” section.

Expand the File menu and click Load Hive.

Go through the opened explorer to the path C:\Windows → → config. The letter may be different - indicate the partition where Windows is located, to which you want to restore access. Select the "SYSTEM" file and click "Open".

Give the new section any name and click OK.

Go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch in the registry editor → 157→ Setup. Double-click on the “CmdLine” parameter and set it to “cmd.exe”. Click "Ok" to save the changes.

Change the “SetupType” parameter in the same way, setting it to “2”.

As a result, you should have a picture like this in the editor window:

Select the created section. Expand the File menu and select Unload Hive.

Confirm your desire by clicking “Yes” in the window that appears.

Exit Registry Editor, close Command Prompt, and click Restart.

Changing your password

After the system restarts, the program will begin preparing the computer for the first launch. At this moment, a command line will appear on the screen, with which you will have to work further.

Search for "net user" to see a list of all accounts.

Having selected a user name, enter the following command: “net user login password.” Close the command prompt. You can now log into your profile using the access code you just provided.

After gaining access to your account, you can reset the password on your computer. If you don't need the security key, go to the Control Panel and in the Accounts section, remove the password so that you no longer have to regain lost access.

Passwords help protect your account in operating systems from unauthorized users. However, it also happens that they are forgotten, and it is not possible to get into the system from an administrator account, and you don’t have the installation media with you. In this case, you will have to reset the password using slightly non-standard methods.

Removing the password from Windows 7 without installation media

If you are unable to download a password reset disk for Windows 7, you can use one of the methods suggested below. Both involve solving the problem using system utilities. To do this, you do not need to download a reset disk Windows password 7 or full system image. However, it is recommended to strictly follow the instructions, since both methods involve working with the interface "Consoles".

There is no need to try to reset your Windows 7 password using third-party software, as this will lead to certain problems.

Method 1: Command Line

This is the most versatile, simple and safe way change the password on Windows 7 without knowing the old one. If necessary, you can simply remove it later New Password from the operating system. To perform this method, you will need to be able to log into the OS interface, even from a guest account. Usually this is always there by default.

Guestbook account has some limitations compared to the administrator account. By default, they apply to making any changes to the OS, for example, installing/uninstalling programs, editing some documents, downloading content from the network. Restrictions on use "Command line" no by default.

The instructions for this method are as follows:

1. Press the key combination Win+R.
2. In the line that opens, enter cmd and click Enter.

1. Will start "Command line". First, you need to find out the number of users, their powers and logins in the operating system. To do this, enter the command net user and click Enter.

1. A list of all operating system users is displayed. You need to find the administrator account login. This will be easy to do if there are only two accounts in the OS.
2. Now write the command net user administrator_login new_password. Example command: net user Admin 123456. Press Enter.

After applying the command, restart your computer and log into the administrator account with a new password.

Method 2: Recovery Menu

This method can be dangerous, as it involves disconnecting the computer from power while it is running. However, a single use should not cause much harm.

The bottom line is this:

1. Restart your computer if it was turned on or turn it on if it was turned off.
2. When will it start Windows boot turn it off abruptly. For example, press the power button or unplug the power cable.
3. Then reconnect the power and turn on the PC.
4. Instead of standard Windows startup the screen should open "Windows Error Recovery", that is, recovery from an error.
5. You will be offered several options for starting the operating system. Select "Launch Startup Repair". In the Russian version it may be called "Run boot repair".

1. The system will begin loading. You may see a window asking for permission to perform a system restore procedure ( "System Restore"). Cancel by clicking on "Cancel".

1. A recovery error message appears. Click on the item "View problem details".

1. A text file describing the problem will open. Here you need to click on the item "File" V top menu. From the drop-down list, click on the item "Open".

Will open "Conductor" Windows with access to everyone system files. You need to go to the following path: C:\Windows\System32.
Here, find and rename one of these files utilman.exe or sethc.exe, adding the postscript bak or old to the name of one of them. If these files are not displayed in Explorer, then in the column "File Type" set the value "All files".
Now find the cmd.exe file. Copy it and paste it in the same directory.
Rename the copied file to "utilman" or "sethc". No need to rename the file to "utilman", if in step 10 you added a postscript to the file "sethc" and vice versa.
You can close "Notebook" and press "Finish". After this, the system will reboot.
Wait for the starter to load Windows screen and click on the icon "Special Features", if you renamed the file to "utilman". If you renamed it to "sethc", then you will need to press the key five times Shift.

This way you will have access to « Command line» without having any access to the system. In the interface "Consoles" you will have to do the following:

1. If you do not know the exact name of the administrator account, then enter the net user command. It will display all data regarding system users, including their status.

1. Now write this command: net user Administrator account name new password. Example command, net user Admin 123456. Press Enter.

Restart your computer and try logging in with the new password you set.

The methods discussed above help you reset your password on Windows 7 without using a disk with an OS image. However, it is recommended to create a system recovery image on a flash drive (installation disk) and perform a reset through it.

Login password – good way protection important files from strangers. This article will help you set or remove a password for logging into the system, as well as completely reset it if you forgot it using a special flash drive.

Setting a password on Windows 7

Even a simple combination of numbers is a guarantee that very young family members or work colleagues will not have access to information that is important to you. Creating a password is not difficult - the OS itself will help us with this.

First you need to turn on your computer and log into your account, which you need to protect with a password. To set a password, you need:

Go to menu "Start" → click on the user icon (a window will open "User Accounts" );

Figure 1. Click on the user icon.

In the window that appears, select the item “Creating a password for your account” → install password, re-enter it in the column "Password Confirmation" , come up with and write down “Password hint” → save changes with a click of a button "Create password" ;

Figure 2. Enter a new password.

Restart your computer to make sure the steps are correct.

Ready.

These two simple steps will help protect your files.
If you want to change or remove your password, please read the next chapter. Be prepared that in order to reset your password, you may need to spend a lot of time at the computer, and you may also need special equipment.

Password reset with proper skills possible.

Therefore, if you are seriously concerned about the safety of your information, set a password on the BIOS. Instructions can be found in the chapter "".

Change or delete your account password (if you remember it)

These actions are no more complicated than those described in the previous chapter.
We will consider two situations: when you remember the password (further in the text), and when you forgot it (see chapter).

To delete or change secret code, need to:

Login "Start" → click on the icon (located on the right top corner above the current account name);
Now in the window "User Accounts" select the item you need: "Change…" or "Deleting your password" ;
Settings will open with fields that need to be filled out. You need to enter a new password, a confirmation hint for it (or the old one, if you are deleting it) → click on the button "Change password" (or "Remove password") .

Figure 3. Changing/removing the password.
Ready.

Now it is advisable to write down the new password and save it in a safe place. After reading this chapter, questions may arise if:

You have completely forgotten your password and want to view it or delete it;
Are you looking for more reliable way data protection than standard means.

Then check out the chapters that provide instructions on how to recover your password (even if you have forgotten it) and “Bonus” with installation steps.

Complete password removal on Windows 7

This chapter contains information on full reset password for absolutely any account.

For this you will need flash drive and a working (with the ability to log into the OS) computer. Attention!
All further actions must be approved by the account/computer owner.Let's begin.

Step 1. Preparing a flash drive.

First you need to clean the drive.

To do this in the folder "My computer" you need to right-click on the flash drive and select “Format...” → file system: « FAT 32" → "Begin" .

Wait for the process to complete.
Figure 4. Formatting our flash drive.
Step 2. Download the desired program to reset your password.

Everything is simple here: (archive is attached at the end of the article) → unpack to any convenient place → copy files to the root of the flash drive.

Step 3. Assign the status of the drive to boot.

It can be done regular means systems - using command line (CMD) .

To do this you need:

Open "Start" → enter the query in the search bar: “cmd” → open the corresponding item using the right mouse button (required!) → “Run as administrator” (a black command console will launch);

Figure 5. Open the command console with administrator rights.

Next you need to enter the command: "G: syslinux. exe- maG:» (instead of “G” in both cases, use the letter of your flash drive, which can be found in the window "My computer");
The operation must take place no errors. You can now close the command prompt. If errors still occur, repeat the steps starting from "Step 1".

Figure 6. We get a seemingly “zero result.”
Step 4. We start the computer with bootable flash drive. This step depends in part on the model of your motherboard/ laptop. We need to set our drive to priority in Setup Menu (BIOS) or Boot Menu→ turn off the computer on which we plan to recover the password and:

If you don't know how to enter the BIOS on your computer or laptop, then...

Go to tab « Boot » (navigation is carried out using arrows on the keyboard);
Install the bootable USB flash drive yourself first in line « Boot priority ( order )» / « Boot device priority »
Save changes to tab « Exit » (« Save & Exit ») selecting an item « Exit Saving Changes » → confirm by pressing « Yes » .

The computer should automatically boot from the flash drive

Step 5. Removing the password.

First you need to wait until the program is completely loaded (time 2 minutes if you are not sure). Enter the following commands sequentially without quotes(relevant for most users):
The following steps are also suitable for resetting the administrator password.

Click « Enter » ;
"C:\Windows\System32\config" – access to the register;
"Password Reset » – running the script complete removal password;
Enter username whose password needs to be reset;
« Clear User Password » – clearing the password from the registry
«!» – just an exclamation point;
Press a key on the keyboard "Y" .

Now you need to restart your computer if this does not happen automatically. Login password the system will be lost, and you will be able to continue using the OS. Don't forget to write down the new combination on a piece of paper to avoid similar troubles in the future. The following is information about the most reliable (standard, of course) method of keeping data on a computer practically invulnerable to hacking - installing protection in the BIOS.

Bonus. Setting a BIOS password

This password cannot be reset using a regular bootable USB flash drive. To remove this type of protection, you need to “examine” the computer hardware. Extract only CMOS can restore BIOS to factory settings (including clearing the password) if you forget the data from entering the Setup Menu of the computer. To install such protection, you need:

Go to BIOS(this is done by pressing the F1/F2/F12/Delete button);
Find by tabs (usually « Security» or « Main» ) paragraph « Set User Password » (or « Bios Setting Password» ) → select by pressing the key « Enter » ;
Enter a new password → « Enter » .

Figure 7. Create a new password.

The protection is now installed only to enter the BIOS, and you need to make sure that the password is requested every time you start the computer. To do this, you need to find the item in the menu « Password Check » → set its value to “Always”;
Save your password by selecting « Save and Exit Setup » (can be located either in the general tab or in « Exit » ).

Ready.

The most secure protection is installed. Without access to the BIOS, outsiders will be able to do literally nothing. Be sure to write down your password so you don't accidentally forget it, and put it in a safe place.

If you suddenly forgot the password for your Windows account, then you have no choice but to look for a way to reset it or set a new one operating system which in my opinion is complete madness in this case:) Nowadays you can find a lot on the Internet in various ways resetting passwords for Windows operating systems using the built-in boot tools of Windows itself, as well as using third-party special programs. Some methods are suitable for some versions of Windows, some for others, and some methods are too complicated for beginners. Previously, in one of the articles, I showed one way to reset a password using a bootable console program built on Linux, however, all actions there must be performed in the form of commands on a black screen and for beginners this may be difficult.
In this article I will show you the simplest option for resetting an account password in any Windows versions(I even tried it on Windows 10) using the Reset Windows Password boot program. The reset process takes just 4 steps!

I would like to warn you right away that if you used a Microsoft account to log in to your computer, and not a standard local one, then none of the programs will be able to reset its password, since the account password Microsoft records can only be changed on the company's website. That's why this method like all similar ones, it only works if you have forgotten the password for your standard local Windows account!

The program is bootable, that is, it cannot simply be installed on a computer as is usually done. The program will launch from a disk or flash drive when the computer boots. Those. The program will need to be written to a disk or flash drive first!

Creating a bootable disk/flash drive with the Reset Windows Password program and launching it

After the program is downloaded, you need to write it to a disk or flash drive. Instructions for recording a program in the form ISO file on the CD/DVD disc is , and by recording the program in ISO on a flash drive - .

Since modern laptops can often be found without a disk drive for reading disks, I think that the method of writing a program to a flash drive will suit most, especially since, perhaps, every computer owner has one.

After you burn the program to a disk or flash drive, you need to run it. To do this, you should restart your computer and configure your BIOS so that the computer does not boot as usual with hard drive, but from a recorded flash drive or CD/DVD disc.

In a separate article I gave instructions on BIOS setup to boot your computer from a disk or flash drive, read it if you have difficulty loading the program:

Each computer may have its own way of configuring booting from a specific device, so it is impossible to give clear recommendations... But the article at the link above should help most.

When the program starts to launch, you will see a window similar to loading regular Windows 7:

Working with the program

When boot program Reset Windows Password will launch, in the first window you will need to configure the program.

First of all, select the Russian language (1), then in the “Operation mode” section select the item “SAM - working with regular accounts” (2) and at the end under the inscription “What do you want to do?” select “Reset or change user password” (3). When everything is configured, click “Next” (4) at the bottom of the window.

The program will perform a password reset (i.e. erasing it, resetting it to zero), and not replacing the old password with a new one!

In the next window we can select the path to the “SAM” and “SYSTEM” folders to reset the password.

If you use standard Windows, where nothing has been globally changed, then the paths do not need to be changed and they will already be set correctly:

C:\Windows\System32\Config\SAM
C:\Windows\System32\Config\SYSTEM

At step No. 3, select in the window the Windows account for which we want to reset the password (1) and click “Next” (2).

At the last 4th stage, click the “Reset / Change” button:

You will be prompted to create a rollback file. Using this file, you can restore the ability of the system to work if it “breaks” after running the program.

In general, the program does not go where it is not needed and does not make any serious changes in Windows, so it is easier not to create a rollback file by clicking “No” in this window.

A notification will appear indicating that the account has been changed (the password has been reset) and you can close the program and check the changes. Just click “OK” (1) in the notification window and then “Exit” (2) in the program itself.

Now remove the disk/flash drive with the program from the computer and reboot it. Windows should boot immediately without asking for a password!

As you can see, this method for resetting your account password Windows entries is very simple and difficulties may arise, perhaps, only at the stage of loading the program from a flash drive or disk. But among all the methods for resetting a password, I did not find a single one that allows you to reset the password without booting from a special boot disk. Therefore, you still can’t do without it, and it’s easier to figure out how to reset your password than to reinstall Windows :))

Have a nice day and good mood! See you in the next articles;)

Forgotten password - typical situation when working with a computer. But if forgotten password You can recover from the site quite simply, then the forgotten password from the computer is no longer there. Modern versions of Windows allow you to recover your password using email, but Windows 7 does not have such a feature. On Windows 7 you need to reset your password.

There are many different ways to reset your password. But, in most cases, these methods are too complex for an inexperienced user to understand. We will look at an extremely simple way to reset a password on Windows 7. All you need is Windows 7 and a few minutes of time.

The principle we will use to reset the password is very simple. Windows 7 has a sticky key handler. It fires after the user presses the Shift key 5 times in a row. At the same time this handler It works even on the password entry screen. If you replace this handler with the command line, then it can be launched even before entering the password. Well, resetting the password using the command line is already a matter of technique.

Step No. 1. Boot from the Windows 7 disk.

In order to reset the password, we need a disk with Windows 7. Insert it into the disk drive and boot. After the language selection window appears, click on the “Next” button.

Step No. 2. Open “System Restore”.

After this, a prompt will appear on the screen to install Windows 7. Here you need to click on the “System Restore” link.

Step No. 3. Remember the drive letter with Windows 7.

Your operating system will then appear on the screen. Here you need to remember which letter was assigned to the disk with the operating system. Because this letter can change. Sometimes it's C and sometimes D (even though Windows 7 is installed on the C drive). Remember the letter and click on the “Next” button.

Step No. 4. Open the command line.

Step 5. Execute the commands.

Now is the crucial moment. We need to do first backup copy the sethc.exe file, and then replace it with the cmd.exe file (that is, “Command Line”). To make a backup, enter the following command:

copy d:\windows\system32\sethc.exe d:\

In this case, the drive letter D must be replaced with the letter that you remembered earlier. Otherwise, you will receive the error “the specified path cannot be found.”

In order to replace the sethc.exe file with the cmd.exe file, run the following command:

copy d:\windows\system32\cmd.exe d:\windows\system32\sethc.exe

At the same time, do not forget to use the letter that was assigned to the disk with your Windows 7 instead of the letter D. You should have remembered it earlier). After executing the command, you will be prompted to replace the file. Press the Y key (which means Yes) and press Enter.

After the sticky key handler is replaced with “Command Prompt,” you can begin resetting the password on Windows 7. To do this, close “Command Prompt” and click on the “Restart” button.

Step No. 6. Reset the password on Windows 7.

Now we come directly to the point of resetting the password on Windows 7. Boot into the operating system Windows system 7 and after the password prompt appears on the screen, press the Shift key on your keyboard 5 times. This should launch the Sticky Key Handler, but since we replaced it with “Command Prompt”, this is what will launch.

In this case, Command Prompt will be launched with administrator rights, which means that we will be able to reset the password. To do this, run the following command in the “Command Line” that appears:

net user user new_password

This command will set a new password for the user you specified.

After running this command, you will be able to log in using the new password you just set. You can later restore the sethc.exe file from the backup you made.