What if you forgot your Windows Login password. Coincidentally, you are the only administrator and has no way to recall what the password is. The common way is to reformatting your computer and make it just like a newly installed OS. That could be challenging for some novice users and with essential files and data stored inside the PC, that just not the best solution.

The other way to get around this problem is by using the boot disk. Here is the steps on how it works:

1. Get the machine to boot from the CD or USB drive.
2. Floppy version need to swap floppy to load drivers.
3. Load drivers (usually automatic, but possible to run manual select)
4. Disk select, tell which disk contains the Windows system. Optionally you will have to load drivers.
5. PATH select, where on the disk is the system?
6. File select, which parts of registry to load, based on what you want to do.
7. Password reset or other registry edit.
8. Write back to disk (you will be asked)

Before you start the above steps, you need to get the boot disk ready. You need another PC to make the bootdisk. First, download the drivers file (for bootdisk) from http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/. Click on the “boot disk” to download. You can either burn it into CD/USB/Floppy.

How to make an bootable USB drive

Copy all the files that is inside the usbXXXXXX.zip or on the CD onto an usb drive, directly on the drive, not inside any directory/folder.

• It is OK if there are other files on the USB drive from before, they will not be removed.
• Install bootloader on the USB drive, from command prompt in windows (start the command line with “run as administrator” if possible)
  • X:syslinux.exe -ma X:
• Replace X: with the drive letter the USB drive shows up as (DO NOT USE C:)
• If it seems like nothing happened, it is usually done.
• However, a file named ldlinux.sys may appear on the USB drive, that is normal.http://www.bentiew.com/wp-admin/post-new.php
• It should now in theory be bootable.
• Please know that getting some computers to boot from USB is worse than from CD, you may have to change settings, or some will not simply work at all.

Go back to your locked PC, enter the CMOS screen – BIOS (by pressing F10/Delete). The button may be different depending on your PC manufacturer, if unsure check their website or call their technical support find out how to access the CMOS screen. You need to set to make it boot from the CD, Floppy or USB drive.

For a clearer instructions, please view the following video by Britec. It explains step-by-step which is easy to follow for novice user.

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disclaimer : All info sharing and advices are based on the author’s personal experiences and in no way that author will be held responsible for any losses, damages, or any issues  that readers may face by using the info.