How to Reset Password in Windows Vista

Can't log in to your account?

You called technical support for help. But they need to reformat your computer.

Bad idea, right?

Hope these steps would help you.

NOTE: MAKE Sure that you follow all the steps properly.

1. Boot from the OS cd

2. On the language settings screen, click the appropriate language in the Language to install list, click the appropriate time and currency format in the Time and currency format list, click the appropriate keyboard layout to use in the Keyboard or input method list, and then click Next.

3. On the lower-left corner of the Install now screen, click Repair your computer.

4. If the Windows Vista Setup program detects any problems on the computer, click No when 

the program displays the following message:

Windows found problems with your computer's startup options.

Do you want to apply repairs and restart your computer?

5. In the System Recovery Options window, under Operating System, click Windows Vista (TM) Version, even if this entry is already selected, and then click Next to display the Choose a recovery tool window. Choose Command Prompt.

6. Type: c: (enter)

7. Type: cd windows\system32 (enter)

8. Type:echo ~takeown /f %1 /r /d y > TakeControlOf.cmd (enter)

9. Type: echo ~icacls %1 /grant administrators:F /t (enter)

10. Type: ren Magnify.exe Magnify.old (enter)

11. Type: ren cmd.exe Magnify.exe (enter)

12. Restart the computer

13. Click the Ease button on the lower left of the screen

14. Check the Make items on the screen larger (Magnifier) then click OK

15. Type: net user Administrator /active:yes (enter) – capital A

16. Type: exit (enter)

17. Restart the computer

18. Logon to the Administrator account

19. Access the "User Accounts" then remove the password of the user account that is blocked

20. LogOff then Access the account that was previously blocked to try if its accessible

21. Goto "c:\windows\system32"

22. Right click Magnify.exe -> properties -> Security -> Advanced -> Owner -> edit -> Administrators -> Ok

23. Edit -> Administrators -> Full Control -> Apply -> Ok

24. Rename Magnify.exe to cmd

25. Right click Magnify.old -> properties -> Security -> Advanced -> Owner -> edit -> Administrators -> Ok

26. Edit -> Administrators -> Full Control -> Apply -> Ok

27. Rename Magnify.old to Magnify.exe

28. Launch Command Line

29. Type: net user Administrator /active:no (enter)