There are times when we forget the administrator or user password, or we set a folder, but want to play. Regardless of the reason, I will tell you how to crack a Windows 8 password. Oddly enough, resetting or cracking a Windows 8 password is quite simple, or no more difficult than in 7 or XP. A little background.
Surely everyone has seen the “Accessibility” icon, which helps people with any disabilities to use the system, so this is the process sethc.exe and it works with root rights (system rights, maximum rights). So we will replace it with the file cmd.exe with which we will activate the Administrator if it is not active and give it our password. But enough theory - let's start hacking Windows 8!
How to crack Windows 8 password - step by step instructions
In this simple way you can hack a password on Windows 8, and indeed on older versions of the OS from Microsoft. In addition, using this method you can change the password for any other account. By the way, I recommend not to be lazy and replace the cmd.exe file back with sethc.exe (we saved it in step 4).
Even the most avid Windows 8 fans can be confused by the situation when a user has forgotten his password to log into the system. It turns out that in order to solve this problem, it is not at all necessary to take the computer to a service center and pay money for help. You can reset Windows 8 (and at the same time remove the password) yourself using two simple methods.
Updated:
Read our new method for resetting passwords for all versions of Windows.
What to do if you forgot your Windows 8 password
Method one- only using Windows 8 itself. So, you can reset the password in Windows 8, but you should take into account the fact that when you reset the password, all personal data from the computer (documents, photos, etc.) stored on it will be deleted , including separately installed programs.
1. First of all, make sure that the computer is plugged in and do not turn it off during the reset procedure.
2. On the Windows 8 login screen, click on the power icon in the lower right corner of the screen. A pop-up menu will appear on the screen.
3. Then press and hold the Shift key while clicking the “Reboot” menu item in the drop-down menu.
4. A new menu “Select an action” will appear on the screen. Here you need to go to the “Diagnostics” section by clicking on it with the mouse
5. In the menu that opens, click “Return to original state.”
7. If the installation disk is not inserted into the computer, the system will require you to use it to complete the recovery.
8. After a few minutes, you need to click “Just delete my files” in the menu that appears.
By completing these steps, you will return the Windows 8 system to the state of completion of installation on the computer, and you will need to re-create a user on the computer, as well as personalize the desktop and necessary programs on the computer.
Method two- using a password reset program.
To reset your password, you will need to create a bootable USB flash drive and delete the password using it.
Create a bootable USB flash drive (all data on the flash drive will be destroyed), To do this, download the program and image:
Unpack the contents and run the file rufus_v1.4.1
In the open program window, click on the disk icon, select the image in the unpacked folder called BootPass and press the start button.
We are waiting for the bootable flash drive to be created.
Now we insert the USB flash drive to reset the password into the password-protected computer and select “boot from USB” when booting. ( When booting your computer, press F10, F12 Esc depending on your computer model)
After rebooting the password was gone.))
A forgotten Windows 8 password is not yet a reason to panic. Therefore, if this is your situation, do not take any action that could damage both your PC and its components. There are enough methods to reset the password in the Windows 8 operating system, but each of them is only suitable for a certain type of password.
There are two types of accounts in Windows 8 namely local And online www.live.com accounts. If you don't know what account type is used on your Windows 8 PC, then you need to find out first. To do this, turn on your computer and see Is the email address displayed? with the domain hotmail.com, live.com or some other on the screen above, next to the text field where you enter the password to enter the eight. If an e-mail with a domain is displayed, it means that the PC is accessed through it. In another embodiment, the account is local.
Replacing account password online Microsoft's records are quite fast and uncomplicated process. But to reset local accounts you will have to use third-party software or the original Windows 8 disk. Third-party software that can be used to reset the password does not always help because PCs pre-booted with Windows 8 include the new secure boot and Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) boot method. This new one safe environment downloads complicates the process of accessing third party software tools to remove the password.
In this material we will look at ways to reset both an online account and a local one. To hack a local account password, we will use not only OS tools, but also third party utilities. And for Windows 8 home users, we'll look at alternative password entry methods that are easy to remember.
Changing your online account password
If you use Windows 8 to log into your laptop or desktop computer. online Microsoft account and forgot the password for it, then don’t be upset. Microsoft account can be easily recovered using online form on the website https://account.live.com/password/reset. Using this form, you can remove the password from any PC, as well as from a smartphone or tablet. Many users who have forgotten their account password usually trying to solve this problem through Microsoft support, but when talking with support, she does not solve this problem and advises use the form which we described above.
Now let's look at an example. Let's go to the page in the browser indicated above.
On this page, select the item “ I don't remember my password" and move on to the next page.
This page requires you to enter your account name. After this you will be sent security code to the additional address that you specified during registration. Once you receive this security code, you must enter it to verify that you are the owner of the Microsoft account.
After confirming the received password, you will be taken to a page where you can create a new password for your account with the hotmail.com, live.com or other domain. Now you can easily access your Windows 8 PC.
As you can see from the example, making a reset, knowing the additional e-mail address or mobile phone number, is quite simple. But what should you do if you do not have access to an additional e-mail or mobile address?, which can be used to obtain a security code. Microsoft itself offers a solution. Therefore, on the support page http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-ru/windows-live/id-support you must select the appropriate item that will help you solve the access problem.
I would also like to note that when contacting support for a reset, you need to create new account. This account will be temporary and is only needed to reset your password with the assistance of support. To reset your account, support will ask you to fill out an online form with security-related questions. For example, any previous password entries will be taken into account, as well as addresses to which you recently sent letters to your colleagues and friends.
There is one more point that needs to be taken into account. After performing the reset, you will gain access to the PC on the eight only if if the computer has Internet access. Otherwise, eight will ask for the old password that you forgot.
Resetting the local account in eight
As described earlier, by creating a local 8 entry password, you will keep your PC secure as it includes the new Secure Boot and UEFI boot method.
To restore access to your local account, you will need installation disk or bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8. A bootable USB flash drive can be created using a utility from Microsoft " Media creation tool" In our case, we will use a boot disk.
Now is the time to warn users: you use this method at your own peril and risk, as it is not recommended by Microsoft developers.
Well, let's get started. After booting from the disk at system startup, select the installation language and move on to the next window.
In this window, click on the item “ System Restore", which will take us to the additional options menu.
Confirm this command with the Enter key and enter the following command.
And also confirm it with the Enter key.
After completing these steps, reboot your computer and instead of entering your password at the login screen, press the Shift key five times, which will open the console as an administrator. In a command prompt running as an administrator, enter the command shown below.
In the entered command, "alex" is the username and "Fg45#-fghd" is the new password.
After successfully restoring the ability to log in, boot from the installation disk and into the console put the utilman.exe file back:
From the example you can see that it is a little complicated for novice users, but users who have experience working with the command line should have no problems running as an administrator.
Creating a flash drive for reset using Windows 8
Another convenient tool for resetting a local account password is password reset flash drive. This floppy disk is a flash drive with settings for resetting the password for a local account. Before starting the floppy disk creation wizard, insert a USB flash drive into your PC. To launch the wizard, run " Search"Win + Q key combination and enter " Creating a Reset Disk" (The option is only available when logging in with a local password).
Run the found wizard.
In the wizard window, click Next, after which the “userkey.psw” file will be written to the USB drive. This file contains password reset information. You can use this flash drive to reset your password, loading to the login screen. At the login screen, enter the wrong password and a link will appear next to the password text box. Reset the password».
As can be seen from the example, this method is very simple and is suitable for novice personal computer users. But I would like to note that its main disadvantage is that you will have to create this reset floppy before you forget or lose your password. Therefore, a reset disk is advisable create immediately after installing the operating system.
Preventing Forgotten Password Issues
Once you have regained access to your account in Windows 8, you can set new alternative login methods using the operating system settings. These methods are graphic password And Pin.
For example, using a graphic password, you will reliably protect your account, while it is very easy to remember and difficult to forget. The principle of operation of a graphic password is based on gestures your favorite photos. To create one, you need to find one of your photos, for example, a photo of your cat. Following the wizard's prompts, set your photo and record three gestures on it, with which you can unlock access to your account.
Usage PIN code is the easiest way to access a home user's computer. For example, everyone has phones that use four-digit Pin. So you can create the same Pin, as in the phone and use it to enter the eight. Judge for yourself, it is very difficult to forget such a password.
Overview of reset programs
In this example, we will look at two password reset programs. The first program is called Ophcrack. This utility is distributed free of charge and can be downloaded from the official website http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net. You can download the utility as follows: ISO image and as an archive for creating a bootable USB drive. In our case, we will use the LiveCD version. After booting from a LiveCD at system startup, we will be taken to this menu.
In this menu, select the item “ Ophcrack graphic mode - automatic" This item will launch a portable OS based on Linux with a console in which you can perform operations on password reset. I would also like to note that if the passwords are very complex, then finding them can take a very long time.
The second program is called PCUnlocker. The utility can be downloaded from its official website http://www.top-password.com. PCUnlocker just like Ophcrack, it can be used as an ISO image and as an archive to create a bootable USB drive. First of all, let's download the image PCUnlocker to our PC and burn it to an optical disc. Continuing further, we will boot from this disk when the computer starts into the program window PCUnlocker.
PCUnlocker based on operating system Windows PE, so we will see a familiar interface. To remove a password on our computer running Windows 8, you need to select a user and click the Reset Password button in the utility window PCUnlocker. In our case, the administrator is the user “Alex”. After these steps, a reset will be carried out, after which you will be able to log into your account.
In addition to the utilities discussed above, there are also those that can remove your password and restore access to your local account:
- Offline NT Password & Registry Editor;
- Kon-Boot;
- Cain&Abel;
- Trinity Rescue Kit;
- John the Ripper.
Let's sum it up
In this material, we looked at all the popular methods of resetting a password for both a local and online Windows 8 account. For home PCs, the material examined methods for alternative types of passwords that are very easy to remember.
We hope our article will help you reset the password you forgot and allow you to gain access to your computer.
Video on the topic
What to do and how to remove the Windows 8 (and Windows 8.1) password if I forgot it
First, let's clarify the situation with account types. In Windows 8 and 8.1, there are two types of accounts - local and Microsoft LiveID. At the same time, logging into the system can be done using either one or the second. Resetting and deleting a password will be different in the two cases.
How to change your Microsoft account password
If you log in using a Microsoft account, i.e. Your email address is used as a login (it is displayed on the login window under your name), do the following:
Log in from an accessible computer to the page https://account.live.com/password/reset
Enter the E-mail corresponding to your account and characters in the field below, click the “Next” button.
- On the next page, select one of the items: “Email me a reset link”, if you want to receive a link to reset your password to your email address, or “Send a code to my phone”, if you want the code to be sent to the linked phone . If none of the options suits you, click the “I can’t use any of these options” link.
- If you select "Send Link by Email", the email addresses associated with that account will be displayed. After selecting the one you need, a link to reset your password will be sent to this address. Go to step 7.
- If you select “Send code to phone”, by default an SMS with a code will be sent to it, which you will need to enter below. If desired, you can select a voice call, in which case the code will be dictated by voice. The resulting code must be entered below. Go to step 7.
If you selected the “None of the methods are suitable” option, then on the next page you will need to indicate the email address of your account, the mail address where you can be contacted and provide all the information you can about yourself - name, date of birth and any other that will help confirm your ownership of the account. The support service will check the provided information and will send you a link to reset your password within 24 hours.
In the “New Password” field, enter a new password. It must consist of e of less than 8 characters. Click "Next".
That's all. Now, to log into Windows 8, you can use the password you just set. One detail: the computer must be connected to the Internet. If the computer does not have a connection immediately after turning it on, then it will still use the old password and you will have to use other methods to reset it.
How to Remove Windows 8 Local Account Password
In order to use this method, you will need an installation disk or bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. You can also use a recovery disk for these purposes, which can be created on another computer where you have access to Windows 8 (just enter “Recovery disk” in the search, and then follow the instructions). You use this method at your own risk and is not recommended by Microsoft.
- Boot from one of the above media (see how to boot from a flash drive, from a disk - similarly).
- If you need to select a language, do so.
- Click the "System Restore" link.
- Select “Diagnostics.” Restoring the computer, returning the computer to its original state, or using additional tools.”
- Select "Advanced Options".
- Launch Command Prompt.
- Enter the command copy c:\ and press Enter.
- Enter the command copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe, press Enter, confirm replacing the file.
- Remove the flash drive or disk and restart the computer.
- On the login window, click on the “Accessibility” icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Alternatively, press the Windows key + U. The Command Prompt will launch.
- Now enter the following into the command line: net user username new password and press Enter. If the above username is multiple words, use quotation marks, for example net user “Big User” newpassword.
- Close Command Prompt and log in with the new password.
Notes: If you don't know the username for the above command, then just type the command net user. A list of all usernames will be displayed. Error 8646 when executing these commands indicates that the computer is not using a local account, but the Microsoft account mentioned above.
When setting up your laptop, did you expect that Windows 8.1 would require an administrator password?
If you no longer remember the password, but Windows 8.1 requires it, then you can reset the password.
Who needs it and why did the password appear?
Let's start by defining why password protection for logging into the Windows operating system appeared.
The actions are clear - you updated Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, set up Skype and after rebooting you are not allowed into your laptop.
The reason is that during the installation of the update or configuration of windows, a Microsoft account was created.
There can be several local accounts and they do not require a password.
A Microsoft account requires a password.
Therefore, at the end of the article we will make sure that there is a password, but the operating system does not require it.
Trying to log in without a password
If you have several accounts and have an account without a password, you can log in through it.
To do this, click on the arrow next to your avatar and go to another account.
(Picture 1)
If you have a password, you will have to proceed to the next step.
We try to remove the local account password by booting from the BIOS
Our goal is to reset the password without damaging the operating system and user files.
1. Let's start with the laptop's BIOS, where we'll set it to boot from a disk drive or USB flash drive.
1.1. During loading, press F2.
1.2. Go to the boot tab and press F5 and F6 to change the settings.
We have selected boot mode - , and we will select boot mode - Legacy support.
(Figure 2)
Press F5 and get it.
(Figure 3)
There, at the bottom, in the Boot Device Priority frame, you can configure the boot order.
1.3. Press F10, select Yes and save the settings.
2. Create a bootable USB flash drive or disk with password reset software.
2.1. Such a program may be suitable:
- Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0
- Reset windows Password
- Active Password Changer Profeccional.
The advantage of these programs is that they are small in size and can be downloaded fairly quickly.
Don't waste time on the Trial version, there is always something unavailable in them.
Using the Windows Password Recovery Tool as an example, it is easy to see that you need to select settings and click on entry to create a bootable disk or flash drive.
2.1.1. After launching the program, click on the button and open all the settings.
(Figure 4)
2.1.2. Select the Windows 8.1 operating system, select the media that we will make bootable and press the button.
(Figure 5)
2.1.3. After finishing recording, we boot the laptop from the disk, pressing the spacebar from time to time until we see that the program is loading.
We will analyze further actions using Windows 8 PE as an example, starting from step 3.4.
It will take more time to download this file, since it weighs from 1GB.
This operating system is loaded into RAM and requires a disc or flash drive of more than 4GB to burn a DVD-RW.
The advantages are that by downloading the image in iso format and creating a bootable flash drive or disk, we get a ready-made operating system with programs for resetting passwords.
We use Windows PE
For example, let's take the image - Boot_USB_Sergei_Strelec_2014_v.7.2.
In addition to the image, the archive contains instructions and programs necessary for creating a bootable flash drive or disk.
3.1. We boot from under the BIOS by pressing the spacebar until the boot from the disk starts.
If the download does not proceed, then check the BIOS settings and check whether the image on the disk is unpacked.
3.2. Click “Start / Reset passwords / Active Password Changer Profeccional”
(Figure 6)
3.4. We scan the system to find operating systems - that is, click “next”.
(Figure 7)
3.5. The operating system is found - select it and click “next”.
(Figure 8)
3.6. Select the account for which we are resetting the password (in my case “Administrator”) and click next.
(Figure 9)
3.7. Check the box next to “Clear user password” and click “Apply changes” and “Finish”.
Select - clear user password
(Figure 10)
Click - change parameters
(Figure 11)
How to make Windows not require a password
Having entered the laptop operating system, we can already restore access to the Microsoft account by recovering the password.
To avoid any problems with input in the future, we will set up automatic authorization.
Enter netplwiz into the search and launch the found application.
Launch the accounts window - netplwiz
(Figure 12)
Uncheck the box next to “Require username and password” and click OK.
Uncheck the box - require a password
(Figure 13)
Good luck. If you have any questions, please ask.
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