Win7 forgot login password

1. User Windows7 boot disk, boot into Repair computer -> Command Prompt
2. and then use the following commands
   1. copy X:windowssystem32sethc.exe X: (back up sethc.exe)
   2. copy /y X:windowssystem32cmd.exe X:windowssystem32sethc.exe (Use the cmd.exe to replace the sethc.exe)
   3. If cannot find sethc.exe skip to the step 2.2
3. Restart the computer
4. Hit shift key 5 times, normally this will bring up sethc.exe, since we name the cmd.exe to sethc.exe, so this step will bring up the command prompt at the log in screen.
5. Enter the following commands.
   1. net user [username] [new password] (provide a new password to overwrite the old forgot password)
   2. then you can use the new password to log into the system.

Note:

• To get the user name from the system:
  • net user
  • Suggest to create a new administrator right account instead of change the existing user’s password, because it might have some files  using the old password to encrypt, if use the above steps to reset the password, those files may not be accessible.
• To get around that
  • Create new user and assign to Administrators Group commands
    • net user [new user name] [password] /ADD
    • net localgroup Administrators [new user name] /ADD
  • Remove the user from localgroup and delete user
    • net localgroup Administrators [user name] /DELETE
    • net user [user name] /DELETE
  • Once you login with the new user with Administrators Right, then you can change the password for the account you forgot and the use the new password to log in to the system.