Do you have an old 128MB or 256MB USB Flash Drive in the back of your desk drawer gathering dust? If so, you can put that dusty old drive to use again as a Password Reset Disk for Microsoft Windows 7.
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Creating a password reset disk. To create a password reset disk, follow these steps: Insert a blank CD-R (or CD-RW) or DVD-R (or DVD-RW) disc into your computer’s writeable CD (or DVD) drive, or a USB flash drive into one of your computer’s USB ports. Open the Windows Control Panel, and then click User Accounts and Family Safety. A Windows password reset disk is a specially created disk or USB flash drive that can be used to gain access to Windows if you've forgotten your password. It's a useful step to take if you tend to forget your password, and it's easy to create; all you need is a USB flash drive or disk.
In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I'll show you how to create and use a Password Reset Disk in Windows 7. As I do, I'll show you how to use a USB Flash Drive rather than a CD or floppy disk.
(Keep in mind that the same procedure can be used in Windows Vista.)
This blog post is also available in PDF format in a TechRepublic download.
The USB Flash Disk
Before I show you how to create a Password Reset Disk, let's take a moment to talk about the USB Flash Drive. Now the reason that I'm spotlighting your old, small-capacity USB Flash Drive is that it is really too small to be of much use in today's world due to that fact that portable storage needs are now in the GB range. However, since the Password Reset file weighs in at only 2KB, it is the perfect use for an old USB Flash Drive.
To get started, insert your USB Flash Drive and wait for it to be initialized and assigned a drive letter. If there is any data on it, you may want to remove it. Now to make sure that the disk is in the best shape that it can be, you should format it. Right-click on the drive letter in Computer and select the Format command. When you see the Format dialog box, as shown in Figure A, just click the Start button.Figure A
You should format the USB Flash Drive before you use it as a Password Reset Disk.
Creating a Password Reset Disk
Creating a Password Reset Disk is a pretty straightforward procedure. Once the drive is ready to use, click the Start button and type User Accounts in the Start Search box. Then, press [Enter] or click User Accounts in the results panel. Either way, you'll see the User Accounts window and will need to locate and click Create a Password Reset Disk in the Tasks panel, as shown in Figure B.Figure B
When the User Accounts window appears, click Create a Password Reset Disk in the Tasks panel.
When you see the Forgotten Password Wizard's Welcome screen, take a look at the information and click Next. When you see the next screen, you'll be prompted to choose your USB Flash Drive's drive letter, as shown in Figure C. To continue, just click Next.Figure C
Choose the drive letter assigned to your USB Flash Drive.
On the next screen, you'll be prompted to type your password, as shown in Figure D. Then, click Next.Free Windows 7 Password Key
Figure D
When prompted, you'll type in your password.
As soon as you do, you'll see a progress bar that will move rapidly along to 100 percent. You'll then click Next and will see the last screen in the Forgotten Password Wizard. To complete the operation, click Finish.
You should then click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon, choose your USB Flash Drive's drive letter, and then, when prompted to do so, remove the drive. You should label the drive and put it away in a safe place.
Now, you may be tempted to label the drive 'Password Reset.' However, since anyone who happens upon this drive can use it to bypass your password and break in to your computer, I suggest a more subtle label -- something that will help you recognize the drive but that isn't so obvious.
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Using a Password Reset Disk
If you ever forget and type in an incorrect password, the login screen will change and an error message will appear like the one shown in Figure E. To continue, you will have to click OK.Figure E
At this point, the only thing you can do is click OK.
You'll then return to the login screen and will see a message appear below the Password box, as shown in Figure F. At this point, you'll insert your USB Flash Drive and wait for it to be initialized and assigned a drive letter. Then, to launch the Password Reset Wizard, you'll click the Reset Password message.Figure F
To launch the Password Reset Wizard, you'll click the Reset Password message.
When you see the Password Reset Wizard's Welcome screen, take a look at the information and click Next. In the next screen, you'll be prompted to choose your USB Flash Drive's drive letter, as shown in Figure G. To continue, just click Next.Figure G
Choose the drive letter assigned to your USB Flash Drive.
Once you select the drive, the Password Reset Wizard will open the saved file, read your saved password, and perform a few operations in the background. The wizard will then prompt you to create a new password, confirm it, as well as create a new hint, as shown in Figure H.Figure H
You'll need to create a new password, confirm it, and create a new hint.
Once you've filled in the text boxes, click Next. You'll then see the success screen and will need to click Finish to complete the operation. You can now use the new password to log on to your Windows 7 system.
Note
As soon as you use the Password Reset Wizard to change your password, the information in the password reset file on the USB Flash Drive will be outdated. Therefore, as soon as you log back in to Windows, you should run the Forgotten Password Wizard again and create a new password reset file.
What's your take?
Have you used a password reset disk in Windows before? What was your experience? Now that you can use a USB Flash Drive, do you think that the procedure will be easier?
29 April 2019 Technology Manager of Test Dept.
Summary
Lost Windows password and lock yourself out? No password reset disk? Now you can create one with Renee Passnow and reset the password back to blank in minutes!Windows 7 Password Free
You may found yourself forgot the Windows login password after a long time of no-use. Or just change the login password a few days ago, but was told that it is incorrect every time you think you enter the correct one. However, you do not create the password reset disk beforehand and urge to regain access to the data inside the account? However the methods you found online do not work at all? And now you can not create the password reset disk because you are locked out of your computer!
Do not worry! You can create the password reset disk with Renee Passnow even you are locked out. No matter the account you want to remove password for is a local account or the Microsoft account, Renee Passnow can help you remove it in 5 minutes. Preserve all the data inside the account. 100% safe!
More About Renee Passnow...
- Supports reset password for local account including administrator.
- Change Microsoft account into local one to help you access the system in minutes.
- 4 simple steps remove password in 5 minutes, regardless its length and complexity.
- 100% secure. Whole reset process will not damage the data inside the account.
- No need to reinstall Windows or any professional knowledge.
Compatible with Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP
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people have downloaded and create the reset disk successfully!
Please make the 3 tasks below to reset the login password for Windows.
* Renee Passnow is compatible with Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista
You need:Password Key Disk Windows 7 Free Download
- Renee Passnow
- Windows computer which can login and work normally (To download and install Renee Passnow).
- USB stick or CD/DVD(Need 200MB at least)
Bootable media create process:
1. Choose creation method: USB or CD/DVD
2. Connect the USB/CD/DVD to your computer and then please click “Create USB” or “Create CD” to process the creation.
Please backup your data inside the USB drive in advanced. Because all the data will be erased when creating the bootable media.
Task 3: Reset Password with the Created Bootable Media
You need: The bootable media you created in Step 2. Target PC.
Step 1: Boot the target PC from the bootable USB/CD/DVD.
1. Connect the bootable media to the PC you want to reset password for.
Please hold a Hot key to enter the BIOS menu.Please click here to find how to change the boot order of your computer brand.(Can not find your brand? Please refer to your PC manual to find out the method).
Change the boot order of the target PC in BIOS. If the bootable drive is not first in the boot order, your PC will start “normally” (i.e. boot from your hard drive) and will not check your disc drive.
☞ If your computer is UEFI environment, check boot from USB under UEFI environment.
After successfully changing the boot order in BIOS, please save the BIOS and reboot your PC.
Step 2: Select “PassNow!” function after booting from the bootable media you created.
Load in Renee Passnow and select the “PassNow!” function.
Step 4: Choose the target account then click “Clear Password” to reset its login password.
After reset successful, please restart your PC. Before restarting the computer, please disconnect the bootable USB/CD from your computer. Then your computer will boot normally.
If the account you want to reset password for is Microsoft one, Renee Passnow will create another local account which has the similar name with the Microsoft one and preserve all the data inside. After reset successfully, please select the related local account on the login page.
Also, you can click “Create new account” to make a new administrator to solve this problem with Renee Passnow.
After Renee Passnow remove the password successfully, please disconnect the bootable media and restart PC. Then you can login your computer without password.
Lost login password and Microsoft recommend you to reinstall Windows system? But do not want to lost the data inside? Do not have password reset disk? Now, you can create one even you are locked out!
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