How to reset a Windows account password using Windows Key

1.      Download and install Windows Key on any machine you have Administrative access to.

2.      Create a password reset CD/USB image on that machine and burn it on a disk.

2.1.  Run Passware Kit: on the Start Page click Reset Windows Administrator Password. The following screen appears:

2.2. Insert your Windows Setup CD. NOTE: Only Windows 32-bit Setup CDs are supported. If you do not have a Windows Setup CD, you can request a Windows Key .ISO  download.

2.2.1.      Browse for either a TXTSETUP.SIF or a BOOT.WIM file. The TXTSETUP.SIF file is usually located in the 'I386' folder of the Windows XP/2003 Setup CD. The BOOT.WIM file is usually located in the 'Sources' folder of the Windows 7/Vista/2008 Setup CD.

The “Make password reset image from” field should contain the location of the TXTSETUP.SIF or BOOT.WIM file;

2.2.2.      Check Add drivers for SCSI/RAID hard drives, if you need to reset a Windows password for a SCSI/RAID/IDE hard drive. The field “Copy drivers from” should contain the location of the additional drivers for your hard drive.

These drivers should be listed in the Pick up the drivers for your hard drive field. For example, drivers for Intel hard drives can be downloaded at the manufacturer's site.

2.3. Click Next and choose what password reset device to create:

-        Select CD/DVD if you want to make a password reset CD or DVD disk;

-        Select USB flash if you want to make a password reset USB flash drive.

2.4.  Specify the CD or USB burning drive from the pull-down list of the CD/DVD or USB flash options and click Next.

2.5. The burning process starts. Passware Kit copies the necessary files from the Windows Setup CD into the ISO image file.

2.6. After Passware Kit creates a password reset ISO image, it prompts you to insert a blank CD/DVD disk into the CD-ROM drive so that it could burn the image on this disk. Insert a blank CD/DVD disk into the CD-ROM drive. Click OK.

2.7. The password reset disk is now ready.

Now that you have created the Windows Password Reset CD or USB disk, you are ready to reset the password on the locked computer.

3.      Reset the password with the CD or USB disk.

3.1. Reboot your system with this CD or USB disk.

3.2. After all the required files are loaded from the CD or USB drive, Windows Key process starts:

3.3. Enter the protection password that you have set while creating the Windows Password Reset CD\USB disk. Click Next. If you have not set any password, go to the next step.

3.4. Select the Windows installation to be unlocked. If there are several installations, use additional information from the table to choose the one you need to unlock. Click Next.

3.5. Select the local Windows account or Active Directory Administrator account for which you want to reset the password. Click Next.

3.6. Review the list of tasks to complete. Click Next.

3.7. To reset passwords for other Windows installations or accounts, click Back To Start and repeat the process from Step 3.

3.8. Click Reboot if you are finished and want to exit.

3.9. Remove the Windows Key bootable CD or USB disk to restart your PC.

Now you are able to log into your computer without a password!