What to Do If You Forgot Your Windows Vista Password
Forgetting your Windows Vista password can be a frustrating experience. It can make you feel trapped and helpless unless you know what to do next. Thankfully, there are several ways you can recover or reset your Windows Vista password.
Here’s what to do if you forgot your Windows Vista password:
Method 1: Use a Password Reset Disk
If you have created a password reset disk, then the task is straightforward. All you need to do is to insert the password reset disk into your locked computer, and follow the prompts to reset your password. To create a password reset disk:
1. Go to “Start” and click on “Control Panel.”
2. Click on “User Accounts” and then click on “Create a password reset disk.”
3. Follow the prompts to create the password reset disk.
Keep in mind that you must create the password reset disk before you forget your password.
Method 2: Use Another Administrator Account
If you have another administrator account on your computer, then you can use it to reset the forgotten password. Here’s how:
1. Log in to the other administrator account.
2. Go to “Start” and click on “Control Panel.”
3. Click on “User Accounts.”
4. Click on “Manage another account.”
5. Select the account for which you have forgotten the password.
6. Select “Change the password.”
7. Follow the prompts to reset your password.
Method 3: Use a Windows Vista Installation CD
If you do not have a password reset disk and do not have another administrator account, then you can use a Windows Vista installation CD to reset the forgotten password. Here’s how:
1. Insert the Windows Vista installation CD into your computer and restart the computer.
2. As soon as the computer starts, press any key to boot from the CD.
3. Select your language, time, and currency preferences, and click on “Next.”
4. Click on “Install now.”
5. Accept the license terms and click on “Next.”
6. Click on “Custom (Advanced).”
7. Select the partition on which Windows is installed, and click on “Next.”
8. Wait for Windows to install the necessary files.
9. Click on “Repair your computer.”
10. Click on “Command Prompt.”
11. In the command prompt, type “copy c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe c:\” and press “Enter.”
12. Type “copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe” and press “Enter.”
13. Restart your computer and let Windows start normally.
14. On the login screen, press the “Shift” key five times to open the command prompt.
15. In the command prompt, type “net user [your username] [new password]” and press “Enter.”
16. Type “exit” and press “Enter.”
17. Log in to your account with the new password.
Keep in mind that these methods are not illegal, but they may void your computer’s warranty or cause further damage. Use them at your own risk.