Lost or Forgotten Password? Here’s how to reset it!

Windows passwords are meant to keep unwanted users off your computer.  And because of this, Microsoft doesn’t make it easy to reset them when they are lost or forgotten.  In the following article I would like to walk you through using a tool to reset a Windows password when there is no other way into the machine.  This step by step method shows which files to download and gives you easy links to download the right one for your needs. It’s password reset time! This method also works on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. We have an up date link for the current version of windows below.

How to Use Hirens boot CD/USB for password reset

This is an excellent utility that you can create on CD or USB. Read on to find it to enable this password reset method.

If you need to reset password in Windows 10 see this article.

See our most recent article to show how to reset a password in Windows 11. As many of you might have older systems running Windows 7, NT or XP, but would liek to ue a USB flash drive rather than CD, you will find more detailed help relating to setting up the ISO on a USB in that related article.

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So moving on, here goes.

Step 1: Choose and download CD or USB software

Download Hiren’s BootCD (button at the bottom of the page).  Once it’s finished, double-click the zip file to extract it.  You will then need to burn the ISO file to a writable CD using a program like Free ISO Burner.

Alternatively you may want to put it onto a USB, since CD drives are becoming less common. It is possible. For that you will need to download ISO2USB.exe. This will ensure you copy  the content and manage the USB drive properly.

Step 2: Boot from the CD or USB

Insert the CD into the computer that needs its password reset and boot from it.  You may have to change the computer’s boot order in the BIOS in order to boot from the CD.

When using the USB or flash drive version, you will only see USB options in the list of devices. Make sure you use a blank USB, or one you don’t mind to reformat and lose all data on it.

Step 3: Select Mini Windows XP from the menu

If you boot from the CD successfully, you should see a Hiren’s boot menu.  Choose “Mini Windows XP” and hit enter.

This is the lite version of Windows XP.

This screenshot shows the HBCD menu we’ll use to initiate Mini Windows Xp, to perform a password reset. Don’t worry if your version is different, such as 15.2.

Step 4: Select HBCD menu to Launch the Program

Once the machine boots into the Mini Windows XP interface, click on the Start menu and select the “HBCD Menu”.  This will launch the Hiren’s BootCD Program Launcher.

Select HBCD Menu as shown.

Step 5: Navigate the menu to NTPWedit

When the Hiren’s BootCD Program Launcher opens, click on the “Programs” menu, select “Passwords / Keys”, select “Windows Login” and then open “NTPWedit”.

Step 6: Change Path to the Appropriate Drive

When NTPWedit opens, you will notice that there are no user accounts listed.  Because Mini Windows XP creates a virtual C drive to boot from, you will need to change the “Path to SAM File” to the D drive instead of the C drive.  Leave the rest of the path the same, only change the drive letter.  Once you change it, click the “(Re)open” button to list the accounts.

Step 7: Hit the Change Password Button

Now select the user account that needs its password reset and click the “Change password” button.

Using Hirens to reset password – selection of user (in this case it’s me, Casey!).

Step 8: Click OK

When the “Change password” window opens, leave the password fields blank and click OK.

Step 9: Save Changes

If the account is locked, click the “Unlock” button as well.  Now click “Save changes” and then click “Exit”.

Step 10: Reboot

You are now ready to reboot the machine.  Click the Start menu, select Shut Down, and then Restart.  If the password reset was successful then you should be able to log into the computer without a password. Bam! You’ve done it; Hiren’s boot cd password reset!

Well, hopefully. You have another option if not.

If the NTPWedit password reset method is unsuccessful, Hiren’s BootCD also contains Offline NT Password Changer, another good password reset utility.  This method is more advanced though as its command line driven.  If you want to try this method, simply choose “Offline NT Password Changer” from the Hiren’s boot menu instead of Mini Windows XP and follow the steps.

It’s great you can port this utility on a USB. For more great utilities, see my article that gives you 35 Portable Applications. Extremely handy and useful for computer technicians and those who like to do it yourself.

Summary of how to use Hiren’s boot USB to reset password

Decide whether you want to use the CD or the USB version. When using the USB version make sure you use a blank USB that you don’t mind to reformat and lose any data on it. It’s a great utility that I recommend elsewhere on TheTechMentor.com. Download the appropriate file from the CD or USB link above and install. Follow the steps above that show how to perform a Hirens boot cd password reset.