How to reset a computer without admin password?
How to reset a computer without admin password?
I’m in a situation where I need to reset my computer, but I’m unable to do so because I’ve forgotten the admin password. This has become a major hurdle as I can’t access the necessary settings to initiate the reset. I’m locked out of making significant changes and can’t perform any administrative tasks. My computer, which runs on Windows, is essentially at a standstill, and I’m unsure of the steps needed to bypass this issue. Considering the security features in place, I feel stuck and am looking for guidance on how to reset my computer without the admin password.
8 Answers
Utilize a Windows Password Reset Disk created on another computer. 1. Download and install a trusted password recovery tool on another computer. 2. Follow the tool’s instructions to create a password reset disk using a USB drive. 3. Insert the disk into your locked computer and boot from it. 4. The tool will run, allowing you to reset the local user admin password. 5. Once the reset is complete, log in with the new password and proceed with the reset process via Settings > Update and Security > Recovery.
Consider using Microsoft’s DaRT: 1. Create a bootable DaRT recovery disk. 2. Insert it into your locked computer and boot from the disk. 3. Once DaRT loads, find the ‘Locksmith’ tool and select it. 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the admin password directly. 5. Remove the recovery disk and reboot your computer. 6. Log in with the new admin password and proceed with the reset.
Reset BIOS settings using the CMOS battery: 1. Open your computer’s casing. 2. Locate and remove the CMOS battery from the motherboard. 3. Wait for about 15 minutes. 4. Place the battery back and close the casing. 5. This may reset BIOS settings and remove local restrictions, possibly allowing default system account access without a password.
A possible approach is to restore your system via Safe Mode: 1. Restart your computer. 2. Press and hold the Shift key while clicking ‘Restart’ from the Start menu. 3. Select ‘Troubleshoot’ > ‘Advanced options’ > ‘System Restore.’ 4. Choose a restore point from the time when you had admin access. 5. Follow the instructions to complete the restore process.
You can gain access through the Command Prompt: 1. Restart your computer and interrupt the boot process by pressing Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt. 2. Type ‘net user [your username] *’ and press Enter. Replace ‘[your username]’ with your actual username. 3. When prompted, type a new password for the user and confirm it. 4. Restart your computer and log in using the new password. 5. Go to Settings > Update and Security > Recovery to reset your PC.
Utilize Microsoft’s built-in features if activated: 1. Start the computer and reach the login screen. 2. Click ‘I forgot my password.’ 3. Follow the steps to recover your password using your Microsoft account. 4. Once the password is reset, log in and proceed with the reset steps via Settings > Update and Security > Recovery.
You can use the Windows installation media. 1. Connect the installation media (USB/DVD) to your computer and restart it. 2. Boot from the installation media by pressing the appropriate key during startup (usually F2, F10, F12, or Esc). 3. Select your language preferences and click ‘Next.’ 4. Click on ‘Repair your computer’ on the bottom left corner of the installation screen. 5. Choose ‘Troubleshoot’ > ‘Reset this PC.’ 6. Select the option to keep your files or remove everything, and the reset process will begin. No admin password is required for this process.
Here’s what you can do: 1. Turn off your computer. 2. Turn it back on and immediately press and hold the F8 key until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears. 3. Select ‘Safe Mode with Command Prompt’ and press Enter. 4. Once the Command Prompt opens, type in ‘net user Administrator /active:yes’ and press Enter to activate the built-in Administrator account. 5. Restart your computer and log in using the built-in Administrator account, which doesn’t require a password. 6. Go to Control Panel > User Accounts and set a new password for your regular account.