How often do you forget your Windows login password? If this happens too often, you might want to create a password reset diskette.
In this post, you will learn how to create a password reset disk so that your system is never locked again.
What you will need
The password reset disk is stored on a USB stick. You will also need a password for the computer you want to access. That’s pretty much all you need.
You cannot create a password reset disk if you do not know the current password. You will also not be able to save the program to CD or DVD. It also won’t work on an external hard drive.
How to make a password reset disk
Windows has a built-in application called Forgotten Password Wizard. This Windows password recovery tool is what you will use to create a password reset disk.
Use search to find and then open Control Panel.
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Once opened, go to User Accounts.
On the next screen, click on User Accounts.
You will be presented with several options to protect your Windows account. This includes the ability to create a password reset disk located in the left pane.
At this point, you need to insert your USB stick to proceed.
Clicking on “Create a password reset disk” will open the Password Recovery Wizard.
The wizard will guide you through the process. Click Next to start.
You will be prompted to select the drive where you want to save the reset drive. If you only have one flash drive inserted, it will be selected by default.
Click Next to continue. On the next page, you will be prompted for your current Windows password.
The tool will continue to create the reset disk.
When the progress bar reaches 100%, click Next.
On the next page, click Finish.
At this point, you can check your USB stick. If the process was successful, it should now contain a file named USERKEY.PSW.
Disconnect the USB drive from your computer. We advise you to mark it and store it in a safe place.
Now anyone can access your computer if they have a USB port, even if you change your password. This is why it is so important to properly hide the password reset disk.
Reset disk for each account
The reset drive you created will only work for one account. If there are other users on your computer, you will not be able to access their accounts.
If you want to access all users, you will need to repeat the entire process, this time while logging into their accounts. If you do not have their passwords, you cannot create a password reset disk for them.
How to use a password reset disk
The next time your computer is locked, plug in your USB drive and click on “Reset Password”.
You will be shown a dropdown menu with your USB drive as an option. Select the drive and click Next.
You will be prompted for a new password and a password hint. When finished, click Finish.
You can now log into Windows with your new password.
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