How to Reset a Windows Vista Password

Windows Vista password reset instructions

What to Know

  • Insert the installation DVD and then restart your computer.
  • Go to Repair > Vista > Next > System Recovery Options > Command Prompt. Enter two commands, then restart.
  • Use the net user command to reset your username and password.

This article explains how to reset a Windows Vista password using the installation disc, something you'll need to do if you don't remember your password and there's not another user on the computer that has the rights to change your password.

How to Reset a Windows Vista Password

If you know your password and just want to change it there's an easier procedure. You can also have another user change your password.

Otherwise, follow these steps:

  1. Insert your Windows Vista installation DVD into your optical drive and then restart your computer.

    See How to Boot From a CD, DVD, or BD Disc if you need help.

    If you can't find, or never had, a Windows Vista install disc, it's okay to borrow someone else's. You're not going to reinstall Vista or doing anything that breaks your, or your friend's, license agreement with Microsoft.

  2. Wait for the Install Windows screen to appear and then press Next.

    If Windows starts normally, or you don't see this screen, then your computer probably booted from your hard drive instead of from your Vista disc. Restart your computer to try again, or see the booting tutorial linked in the first step above for more help.

  3. Select Repair your computer, located near the bottom of the window, above the Microsoft copyright notice.

    Install Windows setup for Vista

    Wait while your Windows Vista installation is located on your computer.

  4. Once your Windows installation is found, look for the drive letter noted in the Location column.

    Most Windows Vista installations will show C: but sometimes it'll be D:. Whatever it may be, remember it or jot it down.

  5. From the Operating System list, of probably just one entry, highlight Windows Vista and then select Next. System Recovery Options will open.

    System Recovery Options Vista list
  6. Choose Command Prompt from the list of recovery tools.

    Windows Vista System Recovery Options screen
  7. In Command Prompt, type the following two commands, in this order, pressing Enter after each line to execute it:

    copy c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\
    
    copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
    

    Answer Yes to the Overwrite question you're asked after executing the second command.

    Windows Vista utilman and cmd copy commands

    If Windows is installed on a drive other than the C: drive, something you determined in Step 4 above, change the four instances of c: in the two commands above with whatever drive letter it should be.

  8. Remove your Windows Vista disc and restart the computer.

    Wait for Windows to boot to the Vista login screen.

  9. On the Windows login screen, select the little pie-shaped icon in the bottom-left corner.

    Windows Vista lock screen
  10. Now that Command Prompt is open, use the net user command as demonstrated below but replace myuser with your username and newpassword with the password you want to set:

    net user myuser newpassword
    

    For example, we might do something like this:

    net user Jon d0nth@km3
    
    Net user command for changing Vista password in Command Prompt

    Put double quotes around your username if it includes spaces. For example: net user "Jon Fisher" d0nth@km3.

  11. Once you see the "command completed successfully" message, close Command Prompt and log in with your new password!

    If you can't get in, restart your computer and try again.

  12. Now that you're logged back in, create a Windows Vista password reset disk. Once you have one of these, you'll never need to worry about forgetting your password or hacking your way back in like this again.

  13. Lastly, we recommend reversing the changes you made to make this trick work. You don't have to, but if you don't, you'll no longer have access to Vista's accessibility features at the login screen.

    To undo everything, except for your password—which will keep working as you've reset it in Step 10, repeat Steps 1 through 6 exactly as outlined above.

    From Command Prompt, execute the following command and then restart your computer again:

    copy c:\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
    
  14. Answer Yes when asked to confirm the overwriting of utilman.exe.

    copy utilman command in Vista command prompt

Not Using Windows Vista?

You can reset a Windows password using this utilman trick in other versions of Windows, too, but the process is a little different.

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