Windows 7 pro forgot password free
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Windows 7 pro forgot password free.How to Recover a Windows 7 Administrator Password [5 Ways]
Windows 7 pro forgot password free
It's a simple process to reset a forgotten password to a Windows 7 computer. Aside from a password reset disk discussed in Step 14 below , Windows hasn't provided a way to reset a Windows 7 password, but there is a clever trick that anyone can try using both bit and bit versions of Windows 7.
As of January , Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 7. We recommend upgrading to Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates and technical support. Try our Step by Step Guide to Resetting a Windows 7 Password for an easy walkthrough if you prefer screenshots, otherwise follow these steps in order:.
Insert either your Windows 7 installation DVD or a Windows 7 System Repair disc into your optical drive and then restart your computer. If you have either on a flash drive , that'll work, too. It's not an issue if you don't have original Windows 7 media and never got around to making a system repair disc.
As long as you have access to any other Windows 7 computer another in your home or a friend's will work fine , you can burn a system repair disc for free. After your computer boots from the disc or flash drive, select Next on the screen with your language and keyboard choices.
Don't see this screen or do you see your typical Windows 7 login screen? Chances are good that your computer booted from your hard drive like it normally does instead of from the disc or flash drive you inserted, which is what you want. See the appropriate link in the tip from Step 1 above for help. Select Repair your computer. If you booted with a system repair disc instead of a Windows 7 installation disc or flash drive, you won't see this link.
Just move on to Step 4 below. Wait while your Windows 7 installation is located on your computer. Once your installation is found, take note of the drive letter found in the Location column.
Most Windows 7 installations will show D: but yours may be different. While in Windows, the drive that Windows 7 is installed on is probably labeled as the C: drive. However, when booting from Windows 7 install or repair media, a hidden drive is available that usually isn't. This drive is given the first available drive letter, probably C: , leaving the next available drive letter, probably D:, for the next drive—the one with Windows 7 installed on it.
Select Windows 7 from the Operating System list and then choose Next. With Command Prompt now open, execute the following two commands , in this order, pressing Enter after both:. To the Overwrite question after executing the second command, answer with Yes. If the drive that Windows 7 is installed on in your computer is not D: Step 5 , be sure to change all instances of d: in the commands above with the correct drive letter.
Remove the disc or flash drive and then restart your computer. You can close Command Prompt and select Restart but it's also okay in this situation to restart using your computer's restart button.
Once the Windows 7 login screen appears, locate the little icon on the bottom-left of the screen that looks like a pie with a square around it, and select it. If your normal Windows 7 login screen didn't show up, check to see that you removed the disc or flash drive you inserted in Step 1. Your computer may continue to boot from this device instead of your hard drive if you don't remove it. Now that Command Prompt is open, execute the net user command as shown, replacing myusername with whatever your user name is and mypassword with whatever new password you'd like to use:.
So, for example, I'd do something like this:. Close the Command Prompt window. Log in with your new password! Create a Windows 7 Password Reset Disk! This is the Microsoft-approved, proactive step you should have done a long time ago. All you need is a blank flash drive or floppy disk, and you'll never need to worry about forgetting your Windows 7 password again. While not required, it would probably be wise to undo the hack that makes this work. If you don't, you won't have access to accessibility features from the Windows 7 login screen.
To reverse the changes you've made, repeat Steps 1 through 7 above. When you have access to Command Prompt again, execute the following:. Confirm the overwrite and then restart your computer.
Undoing this hack will have no impact on your new password. Whatever password you set in Step 11 is still valid. Your password should now be reset. For a full list of ways to reset or recover a forgotten Windows 7 password, see Help!
I Forgot My Windows 7 Password! When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests.
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He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. Reviewed by Ryan Perian. Tweet Share Email. What to Know Run Repair your computer from the Windows 7 installation disc and run an overwrite command in Command Prompt. Remove the disc and restart the computer, execute the net user command with a new username and password.
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