Change or reset Windows password from a Ubuntu Live CD

If you’ve ever exhausted all your passwords and still can’t log in to your Windows PC, or if you have received a password-protected pre-owned laptop, it might be daunting to think you’ll need a fresh install of Windows. This post will provide some different options for changing or resetting your Windows password.

Using Ubuntu Live CD

The first option is using Ubuntu. To get started, you’ll need a Ubuntu 9.10 Live CD or a bootable Ubuntu 9.10 flash drive. If you need to boot from a flash drive, insert the drive, restart your computer, and then access the Boot menu (typically by pressing F2, F12, or Delete) to select the flash drive as the boot device. Then, follow the steps below:

• First install chntpw.
  • To do so, click System on the toolbar at the top of the screen and click on Administration from the drop-down menu. Once it expands, click Synaptic Package Manager.
• Chntpw is housed in the universe repository.
  • Enable software from the universe repository by clicking Settings, then Repositories in the Synaptic window.
  • Check the box next to Community-Maintained Open-Source Software (Universe), then click Close at the bottom of the window.
• Reload the list of available software.
  • Once reloaded, the software will be downloaded.
• When Quick Search appears, type in chntpw in the text field, and the package will load in the list.
  • Check the box next to chntpw. When the new drop-down menu generates, click Mark for Installation.
• To install chntpw, you have to click Apply on the Synaptic window.
  • Click Apply when you’re prompted to accept the changes. Then click Close when the changes have been applied. Chntpw is now installed.
• You need to mount the hard drive that contains your Windows installation.
  • Click on Places at the top left of your screen, then click on your Windows drive.
  • However, if your Windows drive isn’t easily visible, click on Computer and check each hard drive until you find it.
• Write down the drive’s label that appears in the menu bar of the file browser because you’ll need it later.
• Open a terminal window by going to Applications, then Terminal.
  • Enter the following commands in the Terminal window, pressing Enter in between the lines:
    • cd /media
    • Ls
• Now, you should see one or a series of strings of text appear. One of them should be the drive’s label that was in the title bar of the file browser, detailed three steps above.
• You’ll need to change to that directory by entering this command: cd <hard drive label>
  • Typing in the first few keys and then Tab is an option as a quick shortcut
• To change or reset the administrator password, enter the command: sudo chntpw SAM
  • At the bottom, there will now be a prompt beginning with User Edit Menu:
• You can then clear the password to blank.
  • You can set a new password in Windows when you log in to Windows. Press 1 and Y to confirm doing this.
• Or, you can change  the password by entering 2, then your new password, and Y to confirm

Pre-owned device

There’s one more option we found to change your Windows password. One we recommend is if you received a laptop/computer from someone else. This option does not require software installation. Follow the steps outlined here:

• Press and hold the Shift key and click Restart.
• Once the computer restarts, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options.
• Now, you’ll click on Reset This PC.
  • This will give you two options. If you want to keep your files, you can click on the Keep My Files option.
• If you are using a PC that was once someone else’s and want to reset it to make it feel like a brand new computer, click on Remove Everything.
  • After rebooting,The next window will give you an option to download files either from the cloud or locally.
• If you’re going to give your computer away and prefer to wipe everything, you can choose Fully Clean the Drive in the next window.
• Finally, click Reset when you are ready.
  • You can click Cancel if you want to wait and follow the steps again when ready.

Conclusion

At times, it might seem scary to think you’re locked out of your computer. Following these methods can help you regain access to a Windows PC if you ever find yourself in such a situation.