Windows 7 user password reset. What to do if you forgot your computer login password

In this article, I will tell you how to reset your administrator account password (or create a new one) without using additional programs. You only need installation disk Windows 7 or system recovery disc. This method should be used if using standard methods There is no way to reset the password, for example when the password for the only account is lost

Stage #1 - Setting up the command line to start before the Windows login screen

      Boot from the Windows 7 installation disc or recovery disc.

      Note. If you do not have an installation disk or recovery disk, but have a LiveCD with Windows PE or another hard section There is another Windows installed on the disk, you can use them - go to point No. 3.

    1. In the selection window language settings click Further---> [only when booting from installation disk] click System Restore ---> Further ---> Command line

(drive_letter): \Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM

Note. In some cases, the OS disk may not be visible to the recovery environment, in which case you will need to download the driver in step 2. You will need the same driver that was used when installing the OS.

  • Enter a custom name for the loading section. In the example - 888.


Stage No. 2 - Reset your password or create a new user and log in

After rebooting, continue to log into Windows 7 normally. Before logging in, you will see a command prompt window.

Password reset

To reset your password, enter the following command and confirm its execution with the key Enter

net user username new password

Important! If your username or password contains spaces, enter them in " in quotation marks " .

In the picture below for the user Adm7 password is set tL942G8dWp.

If you have forgotten your account name, enter the command net user without parameters to display all available accounts.

Create a new account

If you don't have any administrator accounts, you can easily create one. To do this, enter the commands below sequentially, pressing the key after each Enter.

For Russian(localized) Windows:


net localgroup Administrators username /add
net localgroup Users username /delete

For English Windows:

net user username password /add
net localgroup Administrators username /add
net localgroup Users username /delete

The commands sequentially perform the following actions:

  1. Creating a new user.
  2. Adding a user to a group ( Administrators).
  3. Removing a user from a group Users (Users).

If you want to set the password to never expire for all accounts, enter the following command at the end:

net accounts /maxpwage:unlimited

When you finish typing, close the Command Prompt window.

You now have an account with administrator rights and a new password. Simply select a user and sign in to Windows:

How it works?

Access to the panel is required to change user settings Windows management or command line launched with administrator rights from Windows. Since login is blocked, changes must be made before login.

To do this, at the first stage we enter the registry editor of the recovery environment and load part of the registry (hive) into it. installed Windows 7. Using parameter SetupType we indicate that before the next login to Windows, you must execute the command from the parameter CmdLine, and in CmdLine indicate command line(cmd.exe). These settings are primarily intended to perform administrative tasks during automatic installation Windows, but we use them for our own purposes. After this, the registry hive is unloaded and the computer is sent to reboot. Then everything is simple - in the command line window that appears, we perform the necessary operations with users and log into Windows.

Despite the fact that Microsoft has released a couple of reliable and high-performance operating systems over the past few years, Windows 7 still remains as the primary OS on millions of laptops and computers. It is easy to use and familiar to many people, so switching to new platforms today is very tedious. Like all versions of Windows, this one has a password protection feature for logging into your account. This data security format is really effective, but sometimes it can cause problems. certain problems. It is not uncommon for users to forget their password, after which they are unable to log into their profile and use the system as normal. This situation is fraught with complete loss of access to your own important data, but this can be corrected. Finding out the administrator password in Windows 7 is not so difficult, the main thing is to find the right approach.

How to find out the administrator password in Windows 7

For forgetful administrators who constantly forget passwords Windows developers several built-in tools for recovering or resetting passwords were provided, for example the Net User command, hints, Windows miniPE edition, ERD Commander or safe mode. In addition to these tools, advanced users/programmers/hackers have developed special software to crack passwords Windows administrator. All these tools will be discussed in detail in this article.

Important: If you forget your Windows password, there is no need to worry or worry; in any case, you will be able to regain your administrator account and change the lost password to a new one!

We hack the administrator password by guessing

The method of cracking a password by guessing is the most labor-intensive, as it takes a lot of time and nerves. Here, all success depends directly on your ingenuity, memory and luck. The matching method is that you will enter the most likely values ​​until one of them is correct. For example, you can try to enter the date of your birth or your immediate family, the day on which a memorable event occurred, and so on. It is very important to try the same value in several variations, using different key registers.

Today, on the Internet, many questions arise about how to reset the Windows administrator password, well, the command line will definitely help you with this. In the very first versions of Microsoft's OS there was no such highly developed GUI as now, all interactions with the computer were carried out through handwritten commands in a simple shell. To use this method of communicating with your computer today, you need to open Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt. If you cannot log into your account initially, then a little trick is required.

Insert any drive with in an installation manner Windows 7 into your laptop or computer and boot from it by pressing the F12 key when turning on the device (depending on BIOS version). Next, you can call up the interaction window using the Shift+F10 button combination, in which you need to enter the value “regedit”, which opens access to system registry. Here you will need the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry branch, after entering it, click on the “File” menu and select the “Load Hive” option. So, after all that has been done, go to the root directory on the disk where your operating system is installed, for example, C:\Windows\System32\config and open SYSTEM file. After entering any name (at your discretion) of the partition to be loaded, enter the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - (Partition name) - Setup branch. There will be several parameters for which you will need to change the values ​​by clicking right click mouse and selecting “Edit”. Set CmdLine to “cmd.exe” and SetupType to “2”. Having selected the name of the partition to be loaded in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry branch, unload the hive in the same way. Quit the registry and command prompt, and remove the device from Windows image 7. Continuing the download, the same command line will open in front of you. You will need to enter it net command user account name New Password for an account (example: net user Mikle 23568901). It is important to note that if your account name has spaces, please enter it in quotes. That's all.

How to reset Windows 7 administrator password in safe mode

There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to hack an administrator password, but not all of it is well filtered. If previous method seems too difficult to you, then try to do it differently. So, step-by-step instruction looks something like this:

  • Go to the boot selection menu (F8 key when turning on the device);
  • Select " Safe mode with command line support";
  • Wait for the download to complete;
  • Enter the command from the previous method: net user account name new password (example: net user Mikle 23568901);

This method is much easier and simpler to understand, so it is recommended to use it.

Resetting a password on the command line is done exclusively with the net user command, but there are some secrets here too. For example, if you have forgotten the exact name of the account, you can enter the net user command without any additional values ​​and the system will show you all the users that are available on this moment. In some situations, this will help break the deadlock and easily regain access to your account. You can also launch the command line from Windows using the Win+R key combination and entering the CMD value.

Hack the Administrator password in Windows 8

Windows 8 has a completely redesigned user interface, rather than seven, but this only made the method of cracking the administrator password easier. So, you need:

  1. Enter the system recovery section, specifically in the “Diagnostics” - “Advanced options” menu;
  2. Next, you need to go to the command line and enter the value copy from:\windows\System32\sethc.exe from:\temp (this will copy your setch.exe file to another folder, since it will need to be replaced with another);
  3. The next command is copy c:\windows\System32\cmd.exe c:\windows\System32\sethc.exe (copies the cmd.exe file to the desired partition);
  4. Restart the computer and press the Shift key to enter the CMD shell;
  5. "lusrmgr.msc" - command showing the administrator name;
  6. Enter the value net user account name new password into the command line (example: net user Mike 23568901).

As you can see, on Windows 8, cracking a password is not at all difficult, as it might initially seem.

New operating room Windows system 10 brought with it a lot of innovations not only in terms of interface, but also functions. As before, you can change your password if you lose it. Don’t be intimidated by long instructions, because once you’ve done the procedure once, next time it will be very, very easy for you.

Using hints to crack your password in Windows 10

Windows 10 has a password hint feature that is highly recommended when creating a password. For example, if you enter the name of your first teacher as the secret key in junior classes, then write so in the hint field. When you see this, you will immediately remember the information you need and regain access to your account without unnecessary headaches.

Windows miniPE edition

Bootable Windows miniPE edition will help you recover your password if it has been forgotten or lost. So, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

  1. Insert the Windows miniPE edition media into the device and boot from it;
  2. Enter the Password Renew menu;
  3. Select your Windows OS folder in Select Windows Folder;
  4. Click on Renew existing user password, selecting the desired user in a drop-down window;
  5. In the New Password field, enter your new password and click Install.
  6. Restart your computer and boot from hard drive.

This method is good because it is universal and fits many systems.

Changing the administrator password using ERD Commander

How to find out the administrator password in Windows if the above methods did not work? Try the ERD Commander rescue boot image, which is similar in principle to the previously described Windows miniPE edition. You will need:

  1. Boot from the ERD Commander disk;
  2. Select the operating system for manipulation;
  3. In System Tools, select Locksmith Wizard and click Next;
  4. Select the account for which you want to change the administrator password;
  5. In New Password, enter a new password, confirm the action and reboot the device.

Programs for hacking/resetting administrator passwords

Use software for recovering or cracking passwords - not too much good idea, since applications often do their job poorly or have a fairly high monetary cost. From very good options we can mention just a few, for example, Offline NT Password and Registry editormost powerful tool and the most relevant for today. The software even works with latest versions Windows, not to mention XP and earlier Microsoft products. Another good alternative is Windows Password Recovery Lastic. As the name suggests, the main purpose this application is to remove the administrator password. I would also like to mention an application called Active Password Changer, which can be quite effective if you have forgotten your password and are unable to log into your account.

Many users, in order to protect their information from prying eyes, set an administrator password for your Windows account. Some people various reasons forget the set security code and so that reset windows password carry out the procedure of reinstalling the entire system. And as you know, this matter takes a relatively long time.

There may also be problems with saving necessary files, because we cannot log into the system, and when installing windows, as we know, local disk on which the operating system will be installed must be formatted. Well, of course, you can always find a simpler solution to the problem, that’s exactly what it’s about. we'll talk in this article you will learn how reset password in windows 7 without resorting to reinstallation.

The only complication is that we will need an installation disk or flash drive to work on the command line. If you don't have either of these on hand, you can always use your neighbor's computer to download the image and burn it to a disk or flash drive.

How to reset windows 7 password if it is forgotten

Loophole for reset password protection Windows 7 has a sticky keys mode, which is triggered by pressing a key five times Shift, This is exactly what will help us bypass the security code we have forgotten. The essence of the procedure is that when you call the sticky mode, a command line window will open in which we will need to work. Read below on how to do this.

First you need to boot from the installation disk or flash drive. In the first window, click next.

In the next window we are interested in the system recovery item, click on it.

If you have several operating systems installed, the list will show all available ones, select the one you need and move on.

In the System Recovery Options window, open the Command Prompt.

Enter the command:

  • copy D:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe D:\ and press enter.

sethc.exe- a file that causes sticky mode by pressing the key five times shift.

This command is used to copy of this file to the root of the drive (D:\) (in the system it is drive (C:\)).

  • copy D:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe D:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe

cmd.exe- the file responsible for calling the command line.

With this command we replace the file sethc.exe with cmd.exe. Confirm changes by entering a key "y".

In the password entry window, call the command line by pressing the key five times shift.

Enter the command: net user Andrey 54321 and confirm it by pressing enter.

  • net user - user selection function.
  • Andrey - account name (enter yours).
  • 54321 is the new password.

After successfully completing the procedure, enter the changed password and rejoice.

Replace the command line back with Sticky Keys

If you are not interested in the sticky mode, then you can leave everything as is. To return a call this mode read on.

As you can see in the picture below, using the commands entered above, the file sethc.exe moved to the root of the disk. And in system folder system32, it has been replaced by the command line. Now we need to move it back. You can try just moving it to system32 and delete the false file located there. But it may not be possible to do this due to insufficient rights. Therefore, we will use the command line.

Open the start menu, enter in the search cmd and run the found file as administrator .

Enter the command:

  • copy C:\sethc.exe C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe

Press enter and confirm with the " key" y". If everything was done correctly when pressing the key five times shift again the sticking mode will open .

ABOUTGive your opinion about this article, and of course, ask your questions if something suddenly goes wrong for you.

Thank you for your attention!

Removing the password when logging into Windows 7 is quite simple. This will require a minimum amount of time and knowledge. This kind of operation usually takes no more than a couple of minutes.

It can be done different ways: via a special console, command line, or by resetting key data from SAM. Each method has both its advantages and disadvantages.

Why set a password

It often happens that some important and confidential data is stored on the PC, access to which should be limited. Microsoft Windows makes it possible to easily limit the circle of people who have access to files on the computer by installing a special key. Each person can have his own if there are several users.

An access code is also required to protect information on the PC various owners from each other. For example, this is often necessary for parents so that curious children are not able to get acquainted with some information that they are not entitled to.

Removing the password through the “Run” console

One of the most simple way disabling the entry of an access key on the OS - using the “Run” item. Accessing it is quite simple - just click on the “Start” button. Most often, the item in question is present on the right side of the window that opens.

Entering a command

To disable the function in question, you must enter a specific command. It will open a special applet that allows you to do this.

The process of entering the command is as follows:

  • open the Start button menu;
  • click on the “Run” item;
  • In the field that opens, write “control userpassword2”.

After completing these operations, a window called “ Accounts users."

It contains two tabs:

  • "Users";
  • "Additionally".

You need to focus your attention on the first tab. Since this is where all account settings are made, including changing the login, access key and other attributes. In addition, if desired, you can easily add new accounts or delete old ones.

Disabling the password

To disable Password, just open the corresponding window (“accounts” -> “users”). In it, you need to uncheck the box called “Require username and...”. In this simple way you can disable the need to enter Password.

Confirming the user

You can also completely disable the Microsoft Windows login window.

To do this, you need to do the following:

  • in the window called “Accounts”, double-click on the required line(admin, user or something else);
  • click “OK”.

A window will open containing three fields. Only the top one should be filled in; login is written there. The rest remain empty. After that, click on “OK” again. After performing these operations with Microsoft launch Windows will not need water Password. Which is quite convenient if physical access Only one person has access to a PC.

video: Password reset

Removing the password when starting Windows without programs

Also, Password in the operating system in question can be unstuck without using the “Run” item, as well as various kinds third party applications. To do this, just use a special command line. In this way, you can avoid having to enter Password when you turn on the computer, as well as when it comes out of sleep mode.

Command line setup

In order to configure the command line, you need to use the disk with Windows distribution. This way setting up and resetting the access code is suitable if it is forgotten and it is not possible to start the OS otherwise.

First of all, you need to install it through the BIOS to boot from a CD or other device containing the distribution. After this, you should reboot and start the installation.

After this, the following actions are performed:


  1. CmdLine – enter cmd.exe;
  2. SetupType – replace parameter 0 with 2;
  • select section 999 and click “Unload hive”;
  • extract the distribution package and reboot the PC.

Resetting your password and login

After loading the operating system, the user will immediately see the command line window. To implement reset password you need to enter the following command: net user username

If for some reason User has forgotten the account name, then you can simply write net user without parameters. This will allow you to display all available items and select the one you need.

If the new Password is not intended to be used, then it is sufficient to leave the field blank.

If you need to enter a new one, the command will look like this: disk name:Windowssystem32net user user_name new-key.

It is also often necessary to create a new account without an access key.

To do this you need to run the following commands in in strict order:


These commands perform the following operations in strict order:

  1. creating a new User;
  2. adding it to working group Administrator;
  3. removal from the Users group.

The reset method in question is quite complicated, but quite feasible even for not very experienced PC owners.

Method for resetting key data from SAM file

Exists great amount the most different ways resetting the login code. But all of them only change in various ways the information stored in special file called SAM. It is used by the OS to store data related to both User and Password. This abbreviation name stands for Security Account Manager.

The file in question does not have an extension, since it simply does not require one. It is a direct part of the registry, located in the directory systemrootsystem32config. There is also a copy of the file in question on disk disaster recovery, If this function for some reason it was not disabled earlier.

Editing this file to change the operating system login parameters is the most difficult way. To work with SAM you need specialized software from third party developers. All operations with SAM must be performed with the utmost care and precision.

How it works

Most popular application To change data in the SAM file, use active password changer. Before you start, you need to copy the application to some media or other HDD FAT32.

After performing this operation you must:

  1. run from folder password file "BootableDiskCreator";
  2. in the window that opens, select "Add USB...";
  3. activate the button "Start".

After completing all the above steps, a bootable flash drive.

The process of changing data using the application in question is as follows:


This method of working with accounts and their attributes is as secure as possible. Since it allows you to avoid editing the registry and other manual operations. This is sometimes difficult for not very experienced users who started working with their PC relatively recently. The likelihood of harming the operating system in in this case practically equal to zero.

Another important advantage of this program is the ability to set a schedule for PC use by individual accounts.

The disadvantages include the fact that some outdated models motherboards do not support launching from a USB drive. In such a situation, you have to look for some alternative options: floppy disk, CD or something else.

Quite often, especially with beginners, situations arise when the combination of characters required to enter the OS is forgotten or lost for other reasons. From such difficult situation

There are many outputs; reinstalling the system is not always required. Moreover, any computer owner who has minimal skills in interacting with this type of equipment can cope with resetting the OS access code. 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

, which allows you 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 installed OS , then you can do without installation media by performing all the steps described below through accessible environment

Windows. Important! The size of the system recorded on the installation disk must match the 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 installation media

  • to the computer and correctly configure the BIOS, correctly setting the boot priority:
  • 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. Installed parameters

You don’t have to change the language, time and date, layout, just click the “Next” button. A search for available ones will start, after which you will be asked to select one of the found Windows versions

(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. 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.

change 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.