Resetting Forgotten Windows 7 Password

Have you forgotten the password to your Windows 7 machine and don't have a Windows Recovery Disk?

In this instructable I'll teach you how to reset the password to your account in roughly 20 minutes.

It is intended for educational purposes only. I will not be held responsible for any misuse of this instructable. This instructable may or may not work on certain computers due to the start-up repair mode being locked by some administrators.

Step 1: Equipment Needed

Laptop/Desktop running Windows 7

Monitor

Mouse

Keyboard

Step 2: Entering Windows Error Recovery

Tap F8 when the Windows Splash screen begins to load. Upon entering the Advanced Boot Options, you may or may not see the "Launch Startup Repair" option, if possible click on it, if not, press control-alt-delete, and repeat the previous steps.

Step 3: Start-Up Repair

Wait until the Start-up Repair has finished checking your computer for problems, then click on the problem details, and scroll down and click the link: X:\windows\system32\en-US/erofllps.txt.

Step 4: Accessing File System Part 1

Click on file, open, then click on the computer image. After doing this, click on your main hard disk drive, it varies for different computers, in my case I click on drive "C:". If you click on the wrong drive, click on the computer icon again and try the next drive.

Step 5: File System (Continued)

Click on Windows, then change the types of files to 'All Files', after doing this click on 'system32'.

Step 6: Copying and Renaming Files

Make a copy of the 'cmd' (Command Prompt) and rename the copy 'sethc' (this will modify the system's accessibility options) and rename the other existing 'sethc' file 'sethc1'. This step essentially reassigns the accessibility of the command prompt. Now exit the window and when prompted to continue the system restore or cancel, click cancel.

Step 7: Resetting Password

Start your computer up normally. When prompted to enter your password at the login screen, tap shift key about five times, this will cause the command prompt to appear. Type in net user (your username) and your new password.