Yes, it is possible to reset your Windows Vista password. Not only is it possible, it's not even that difficult.
A password reset disk, which you can read more about in Step 12, is the only 'approved' way to reset a Windows Vista password but the trick we've described below is relatively easy to do and works almost every time.
Aside from this trick, there are other ways to reset or recover a forgotten Windows Vista password, including using a password recovery software tool. There are a variety of other possibilities as well.
if you know your password and just want to change it there's a clear procedure that does not involve following the steps in this article.
Follow these steps to reset your Windows Vista password:
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: It usually takes around 45 minutes to reset your Windows Vista password this way
How to Reset a Windows Vista Password
Insert your Windows Vista installation DVD into your optical drive and then restart your computer. See How to Boot From a CD, DVD, or BD Disc if you need help.
If you can't find, or never had, a Windows Vista install disc, it's okay to borrow someone else's. You're not going to reinstall Windows Vista or doing anything that breaks your, or your friend's, license agreement with Microsoft.
Wait for the Install Windows screen to appear and then click the Next button.
If Windows Vista starts normally, or you don't see this screen, then your computer probably booted from your hard drive instead of from your Vista disc. Restart your computer to try again or see the booting tutorial I linked to in the first step above for more help.
Click Repair your computer, located near the bottom of the window, above the Microsoft copyright notice.
Wait while your Windows Vista installation is located on your computer.
Once your Windows Vista installation is found, look for the drive letter noted in the Location column.
Most Windows Vista installations will show C: but sometimes it'll be D:. Whatever it may be, remember it or jot it down.
From the Operating System list, of probably just one entry, highlight Windows Vista and then click Next. System Recovery Options will open.
Choose Command Prompt from the list of recovery tools.
In Command Prompt, type the following two commands, in this order, pressing Enter after each line to execute it:
Answer Yes to the Overwrite question you're asked after executing the second command.
If Windows Vista is installed on a drive other than the C: drive, something you determined in Step 4 above, change the four instances of c: in the two commands above with whatever drive letter it should be.
Remove your Windows Vista disc and restart the computer.
Wait for Windows to boot to the Vista login screen.
On the Windows Vista login screen, look at the bottom-left corner for a little pie shaped icon. Click that icon.
Now that Command Prompt is open, use the net user command as demonstrated below but replace myuser with your username and newpassword with the password you want to set:
For example, I might do something like this:
Put double quotes around your username if it includes spaces. For example: net user 'Tim Fisher' d0nth@km3.
Close the Command Prompt window and log in with your new password!
Now that you're back in, create a Windows Vista password reset disk. Once you have one of these, you'll never need to worry about forgetting your password or hacking your way back in like this again.
Lastly, we recommend reversing the changes you made to make this trick work. You don't have to, but if you don't, you will no longer have access to Vista's accessibility features at the login screen. To undo everything, except for your password - which will keep working as you've reset it in Step 10, repeat Steps 1 through 6 exactly as outlined above. From the Command Prompt, execute the following command and then restart your computer again:
Answer Yes when asked to confirm the overwriting of utilman.exe.
Not Using Windows Vista?
You can reset a Windows password using this utilman trick in other versions of Windows, too, but the process is a little different.
See How to Reset a Windows 8 Password or How to Reset a Windows 7 Password for our guides on resetting the Windows password in those versions of Windows.
Categories: Windows 7
In other languages:
Italiano: Reimpostare la Tua Password di Windows 7 Senza Disco di Reimpostazione Password, Deutsch: Ein Windows 7 Passwort ohne eine Passwort Zurücksetzen Disk oder Windows CD zurücksetzen, Español: restablecer tu contraseña de Windows 7 sin un disco para restablecer contraseña o un CD de Windows, Português: Resetar sua Senha do Windows 7 sem um Disco de Recuperação de Senha ou um CD do Windows, Français: redéfinir le mot de passe de Windows 7 sans générateur et sans cd d'installation, Русский: восстановить пароль к Windows 7 без диска для восстановления пароля или диска Windows, 中文: 在没有密码重置盘或Windows光盘的情况下重设Windows 7 密码, Bahasa Indonesia: Mereset Password Windows 7 Tanpa Disk Pereset Password atau CD Windows
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Categories: XP Instructions | Vista Instructions
Windows Vista Password Reset Without Disk Windows 10
Pokemon ash gray version. In other languages:
Español: restablecer una contraseña de Windows XP o Vista, Italiano: Reimpostare la Password in Windows XP o Windows Vista, Português: Resetar Senha no Windows XP ou Vista, Deutsch: Das Passwort von Windows XP oder Vista zurücksetzen, Nederlands: Het wachtwoord van Windows XP of Vista resetten, Русский: сменить пароль для Windows XP или Windows Vista, 中文: 重设你的Windows或Vista密码, Français: redéfinir le mot de passe de Windows XP ou Vista, Bahasa Indonesia: Mereset Password Windows XP atau Vista, हिन्दी: विंडोज़ एक्सपी या विंडोज़ विस्टा का पासवर्ड रिसेट करें, العربية: إعادة ضبط كلمة مرور Windows XP أو Windows Vista, Čeština: Jak vyresetovat heslo na Windows XP a Vista, ไทย: รีเซ็ตรหัสผ่านของ Windows XP หรือ Vista, Tiếng Việt: Đặt lại mật khẩu Windows XP hoặc Windows Vista
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'Microsoft policy about lost or forgotten passwords'
Microsoft cannot help you retrieve passwords of files and features in Microsoft products that are lost or forgotten.
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How to obtain Vista recovery Media and/or use the Vista Recovery Partition on your computer.
There is no legal free Vista download available.
Contact your Computer Manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of Vista Recovery disk/s.
They normally do that for a small $ cost.
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Also, ask them if you have a Recovery Partition on your Computer/Laptop to restore it to Factory settings.
See if a Manual came with the computer, or go to the Manufacturer's website, email or phone them for info on how to do a Recovery.
Normally, you would press F10 or F11 at Startup to commence the Recovery Process.
Another way I have seen on some models is to tap F8, and go to a list of Startup options, and start a Factory Standards Recovery from in there, by selecting the Repair computer option.
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Or borrow a proper Microsoft Vista DVD(not Dell, HP, etc).
A proper Vista DVD contains all Vista versions.
The Product Key determines which Vista version gets installed.
There are 2 Vista disks: one for 32bit Operating System, and one for 64bit Operating System.
If a clean install is required with a proper Vista DVD (not HP, Dell Recovery Disks):
Go into your Bios/Setup, or Boot Menu, at startup, and change the Boot Order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the Boot Order, then reboot with the disk in the Drive.
At startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, to go into Bios/Setup, or F12 for the Boot Menu
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/918884
MS advice on doing clean install.
http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_clean_installation.htm
A Tutorial on doing a clean install
Windows Vista Installation Super Guide
After installation > Go to your Laptop/Computer Manufacturer's website > Drivers and Downloads Section > Key in your Model number > Look for latest Vista Drivers for it > Download/install them.
Cheers.