Here is a detailed guide to use PassFab 4WinKey. You'll find full solutions to recover lost Windows login password for administrator, guest or Microsoft account.
- Part 1: Create Windows Password Reset CD/DVD/USB
- Part 2: Boot Windows from CD/DVD/USB
- Part 3: Recover Windows Password without Reinstalling OS
Part 1: Create Windows Password Reset CD/DVD/USB
PassFab 4WinKey enables you to create a Windows password reset disk with CD, DVD or USB flash drvie. You can burn a drive either with Quick Recovery Wizard or Advanced Recovery Wizard. Generally speaking, burning drive with Quick Recovery Wizard is recommended.
Note: The below guide is about how to use PassFab 4WinKey Ultimate. Other editions like 4WinKey Standard, 4WinKey Professional and 4WinKey Enterprise are similar with it.
Option 1. Use Quick Recovery Wizard to Create Windows Password Reset Disk
Step 1:Launch PassFab 4WinKey and select a boot media (CD/DVD or USB Flash Drive). Here we take USB as an example.
Step 2:Click "Burn" to start burning a boot disk. The software will prompt that your USB will be formatted and all data will be lost in that USB.
Step 3: Click "Yes" and 4WinKey will start to burn bootable USB.
Step 4: After a while, your USB flash drive will be burned successfully.
Now you can use this USB flash drive to recover Windows login password.
Option 2. Use Advanced Recovery Wizard to Create Windows Password Reset Disk
Step 1: In the main interface, choose "Advanced Recovery Wizard" option.
Step 2: Choose Windows version of your locked computer. If you have no idea about it, just select "Do not specify the Windows version of target computer".
Note: You can also add WinPE drivers (RAID disks) if your hard disks are not recognized. Click on "Options" next to "Do not specify the Windows version of target computer". In the pop-up window, switch to "Add WinPE Drivers", select the "Specify WinPE Version" option to add your driver
Step 3: Select your target boot media. For instance, if you choose USB Flash Drive, the process will be like this:
Step 4: Click on "Burn" button and it will pop up a window to hint your data in that USB will be lost.
Step 5: After a few seconds, you USB will be burned successfully.
Note: If you choose to boot with ISO Image, the process will be like this:
That is it. When you have created a bootable USB or CD/DVD successfully, move on and use the boot disk to recover the locked Windows password.
Part 2: Boot Windows from CD/DVD/USB
Step 1:Insert the bootable USB or CD/DVD to the password locked Windows PC/Laptop.
Step 2:Restart the computer and press "F12" or "ESC" on the keyboard to enter Boot Menu interface.
Note: The key to enter Boot Menu might be different on different motherboards. Here I gather the common keys to enter Boot Menu on popular motherboards. For other manufacturers, common keys to enter Boot Menu are F12 or ESC.
| Laptop | Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| F12 | Lenovo, Acer, ThinkPad, Dell, Hasee, Toshiba, Samsung, IBM, Fujitsu, Haier, GIGABYTE, Gateway, Emachines | Lenovo, Acer, HP, Hasee, Haier |
| ESC | ASUS, Sony | Dell |
| F9 | HP | |
| F8 | ASUS |
Step 3:When you enter the Boot Menu successfully, you will find that there is a list of boot choices, including the USB or CD/DVD drive that you have inserted. You can identify and find out your inserted disk from the USB/DVD/CD name. Using the arrow keys to highlight it and press Enter to select boot device.
Note: For UEFI BIOS, please select "UEFI: [USB/CD/DVD Name]" as the boot option.
Step 4:Once you've entered the locked Windows from boot disk successfully. Go ahead to reset or remove the Windows password.
Part 3. Recover/Reset/Remove Windows Login Password
You can use PassFab 4WinKey to reset Windows login password, reset Microsoft account password, remove Windows password, remove Windows account, or create a new Windows account for your computer.
1. Reset Windows Local or Domain Password
Step 1: Select your Windows operating system and select "Reset your password" option.
Step 2: Select a user account (Admin, Microsoft account, guest, etc.) from the list, you'll find that the account name is displayed in User Name box. A new default password is also displayed. You can either use the default password, or enter a new password in "New Password" box.
Step 3: Click Next and new password is reset successfully. Click Reboot to restart your computer. You can log into Windows system with the new password.
Now it won't request you to type a login password to enter Windows. You should remove the boot disk from computer after you click Reboot.
2. Reset Microsoft Account Password
Step 1: Choose your Windows installation and then hit "reset your password". Click "Next" buton and go ahead.
Step 2: If your account is Microsoft account, the program will mark it in the interface. At this time, choose the target Microsoft account and change its password in the "New Password" box. Click Next and continue.
Step 3: It will prompt that your password is reset successfully. Click Reboot to restart your computer. You can log into Windows system with the new password.
Note: You can't remove the password for Microsoft account.
3. Remove Windows Administrator or Guest Password
Step 1: Select Windows installation and then choose "Reset your password" option.
Step 2: All accounts under the selected Windows operating system are displayed. Please select the account that you want to remove password from and then tick "Remove the password". Click Next button to proceed.
Step 3: After a moment, your Windows login password will be removed (reset to blank) successfully.
4. Remove Windows Administrator Account
Step 1: Select a Windows operating system and click "Remove an admin account". Click Next button to continue.
Step 2: Select a user account you want to remove and click Next.
Step 3:The selected Windows account has been removed successfully. Click Reboot to restart your PC and login Windows with other accounts.
Note: You should remove the boot disk from computer after you click Reboot.
5. Create A New Windows Account
Step 1: Select a Windows operating system and choose "Create a new account". Click Next to continue.
Step 2: Give the new account a user name and password and click Next to deploy.
Step 3: You've created a new Windows account successfully. Click Reboot to restart your computer and login Windows system with the new user name and password. You should remove the boot disk from computer after you click Reboot.
Note: You can also create a password for your newly burned Windows password reset disk so that other persons couldn't damage it. In the next time, when you use this disk, you will need to type the correct password.