However, if you have not created a reset disk, you won’t be able to reset the password using this method. Nevertheless, you still have other available options for resetting your password.
1. Use System Image Recovery to Change Your Password
To circumvent the Windows login, you must rename cmd.exe to Utilman.exe. Utilman.exe, also known as the Ease of Access Center, facilitates login for users with disabilities.
The strategy involves renaming cmd.exe to Utilman.exe, so when you press the Ease of Access button from the login window, the Command Prompt window—running with system administrator privileges—appears instead of the Ease of Access options.
Accounts with system administrator privileges can access the highest settings level, which we can use to change or remove the password for the local account.
To rename cmd.exe, you must access the system files. Here, we will use System Image Recovery, a utility that allows users to restore the state of Windows when they have created a backup. However, our intention here is to use it solely to navigate the system files and rename cmd.exe to utilman.exe.
2. Perform a Factory Reset
If you cannot regain access to your local account via the above method, consider backing up your data onto a flash drive through System Image Recovery in the Windows Recovery Environment prior to performing a system reset.
3. Create a Password Reset Disk
After resetting your PC, it is strongly advised you create a password reset disk. Thus, if you forget the password again, you can easily reset it using the ‘forgot password’ feature. Utilizing a Microsoft account rather than a local account in Windows simplifies password reset. It is particularly beneficial for those prone to forgetting passwords and looking to avoid future complications. Resetting your Windows login password with a Microsoft account is as straightforward as resetting a Facebook account password. Hence, consider transitioning to a Microsoft account on your PC if you haven’t already.
