How to reset password

Hi @bobbygoda

Here’s a clear walkthrough for resetting a Windows password on a Dell laptop using your prepared Hiren’s BootCD PE USB:

1. Insert your Hiren USB stick into the laptop.
2. Power on the Dell laptop.
3. Immediately press F12 repeatedly (on most Dell models) to open the Boot Menu.
   • If F12 doesn’t work, try Esc or F2 (but F12 is standard for Dell).
4. In the Boot Menu, select your USB drive (it may show as “UEFI: [USB name]” or “Removable Device”).
5. Press Enter to boot from the USB.

1. The system will load into Windows PE environment provided by Hiren’s BootCD.
2. Wait until the desktop appears—it looks like a simplified Windows environment.

1. On the Hiren desktop, open the Start Menu.
2. Navigate to Utilities > Security > Passwords.
3. Select NT Password Edit (or “Offline NT Password & Registry Editor”).
4. In NT Password Edit:
   • Click Open to load the Windows installation (usually C:\Windows\System32\Config\SAM).
   • Choose the user account you want to reset.
   • Click Clear Password or set a new one.
   • Save changes and exit.

1. Close Hiren’s tools and restart the laptop.
2. Remove the USB stick so the system boots normally.
3. Log in with the cleared password (just press Enter) or the new one you set.

⚠️ Important Notes

• This method removes the password, it doesn’t recover the old one.
• Always use this on your own machine or with permission.
• If BitLocker is enabled, this method won’t bypass encryption—you’ll need the recovery key.