Tech

Have you ever wonder how you can recover computer passwords without refactoring your computer? Of course, refactoring means you will lose almost all your data that is on your desktop. That will cost you since desktop data consists of all those files you access every day. However, there are several ways you can recover computer passwords without refactoring as we shall review in this article.

Windows offers you a number of tools that can help in case things go bad. Of course, we do forget, sometimes it’s just hard to recall series of strings for each and every account we use. That is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, phone unlock pin, and a computer password. Perhaps, the commonest work of the brain is to forget. So, it’s to forget your password, since it can be recovered. Below are five ways to recover a computer password without refactoring your windows 10 computer.

Password Reset Disc

The password reset disc comes in position one since it is Microsoft’s official way to recover computer passwords without refactoring. The condition however is, to make sure to have created a windows 10 password reset disk before your password was lost. If so and you did that, follow the steps below to resolve the password issue.

• Assuming you are on the login screen of Windows 10, type the password you remember (Of course it’s wrong) and try to log in.

• A reset password link will appear below the password filled when the computer detects a wrong password input from you.

• Click on the link, and Windows 10 will start the password reset wizard. Now, insert your password reset disk and click next.

• Select the disk that contains the userkey.psw files and then click Next.

• You will be prompted to type in a new password and also provide a password hint to continue.

• A confirmation message will then appear congratulating you for having successfully changed your password. Just click Finish to close the wizard and you are done.

Use other sign-in options

Windows 10 provide different login options that can help you access your data in case you lose your password. Among different alternative login options, we have, using a pin, picture passwords. You can as well use another administrator account available on your computer to open the command prompt and reset your computer password easily. Follow the steps below to complete the task.

Hold down Win + X to open the quick access menu via the login page of windows 10. Click CMD (Command prompt) as admin.

Type in this command net user [account_name] [new password] for example net user John 12345

The computer password will change. Just go back to the login page and type in your user account, then the new password you have just changed. You will be able to login successfully.

Use Microsoft online Portal.

Microsoft provides a complete guide on different ways of resetting your computer password without having to factory resetting your computer. If you have a valid Microsoft account, then resetting your password becomes easy with the online password reset tool of Microsoft.

However, to use this option, make sure you can access the email and mobile phone number that you provided while registering for this account, otherwise, Microsoft won’t be able to reset your windows 10 password successfully.

Use MSDaRT

Another option provided for password resetting without factory resetting is the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset. This is mostly used by IT system administrators in larger companies It requires you to boot your computer on DaRT recovery disk/CD, then you will need to launch the built-in Locksmith wizard tool which allows you to reset the password. The challenge in this method is, you will need to purchase DaRT since it’s now a free toolset.

Use PCUnlocker

PCUnlocker is a bootable image that you can use to recover passwords on any Windows computer. With this toolset either on a CD or a bootable flash, you can be able to see all accounts available on a target computer. Select the account whose password was forgotten and hit the Reset Password button. Below are some of the actions that you can do using PCUnlocker.

• Removes password if there’s password protection on an account

• It can switch an associated Microsoft account to a local account

• You can change any usual account into an administrator account.

• Activate a disabled account

• Unlock locked accounts