Recovery of Password for Windows 7 without Boot Disk When Computer is locked

People always behave like that, when they know something could do help to one thing; they would think of it naturally when they meet similar situation next time. For example, when we know password reset disk is an effective way for Windows admin password reset, we will think of it next time as soon as we forget Windows administrator password. But we couldn’t create available Windows password reset disk while we can access computer.

So without boot disk and after computer is locked, how to recover Windows 7 administrator password?

If you are trying password to login Windows 7, and you have ever set a password hint for this account, you would see password hint under password box after you type wrong one. Actually, it is also an effective message reminding you of forgotten administrator password. The relationship between password hint and forgotten password may be known only by you. Therefore, it would be the first and direct prompting information for you to think of Windows 7 password.

Tips: If you still could sign into Windows 7 computer now, set a related password hint for account password for remember easily. You would find its usage when you really forget or lost password to this account.

Besides, believe that you have ever heard that installation CD can used to repair Windows system. And forgotten administrator password can be removed or reset with it. Now let’s see how does it work?

Step 1: Boot Computer from Installation CD
Insert Windows 7 installation CD into locked computer. As soon as you turn on PC, press DEL or F2 to enter BIOS setting screen. Move CD-ROM option to the first place of boot disk. Save and restart your PC, it will boot from CD instantly. 

Step 2: Select Repair Windows and Get into Command Prompt

When your computer boots from the CD, you should click repair your computer option, then choose Command Prompt from various options. 

Step 3: Recover Windows 7 Password with Commands

3-1 Type: copy c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe c:\
3-2 Type: copy /y c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe
3-3 Exit installation CD, and reboot your PC. 

Step 4: Reset Windows 7 Password

While Windows login screen appears, press the Shift key 5 times to bring up the command line interface. Now type net user <user name> <new user password>.

Password is reset or removed successfully. But at the same time, sethc.exe has been covered. Now use the command c:\sethc.exe file back to c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe to restore the original sethc.exe file.

As you can see, command is necessary and important for recovering Windows 7 password with this way. So any command errors are not allowed. This may be a little difficult for computer novices.  

Therefore, third-party password recovery software is produced in the circumstances. Most of them have user-friendly interface and only few steps are needed to recover Windows 7 password. Easy-to-use and powerful are their characters.  Now see which password recovery tool could reset Windows 7 admin password.

First one: Offline NT Password and Registry Editor

Offline NT Password and Registry Editor is free password recovery tool for Windows 7/Vista/XP. You can set a new password without knowing the old one. It works offline, that is, you have to shut down your computer and boot off a CD or USB disk to do the password reset.   

    How does it work?

It mainly enters Windows registry file and edit registry to reset forgotten user or administrator password.  When you successfully see Chntpw main interactive menu, you have get half of success.

Go to read this passage learn how to reset Windows 7 password with it.

How to Reset Windows Vista Password without CD or Reset Disk

Second one: Ophcrack

Ophcrack is also free Windows password recovery tool, available for Windows 7/Vista/XP/NT etc.

It is fast and easy enough for computer newbie just with a little knowledge of Windows. If you don’t want to burn Ophcrack into CD, Ophcrack Vista free live cd will be more convenient to be used. Be able to recover forgotten Windows password without getting into Windows. 

Details about how to reset Windows 7 administrator password with Ophcrack:

How to Reset HP Windows 7 Admin Forgot Password

Third one: Windows Password Genius

Windows Password Genius will be easier to use compared to previous two free password recovery tools. It works for Windows 8/7/Vista/XP and Windows 2000/2003/2008/2012 password reset.  Trial version is provided for you to remove Windows password but if you want to create new user account, you have to possess full version one. If you just want to remove Windows 7 forgotten password, Windows 7 Password Genius is enough for you.

About how to reset Windows 7 password with Windows Password Genius, please turn to see tutorial of Windows 7 password recovery.  

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