Question:  I have an inherited Windows 7 machine which Ihave tried to reset the password on- without success. I have tried creating aCD, but when it boots, an alarm-ish type of bell-tone sounds until I hit thepower button. Then it boots normally, but no luck. I tried the recovery cd,then command prompt but it returned "The system cannot find the pathspecified" when I tried to create the copy of "sethc.exe". Uponexamining the directory, turns out there is no file name sethc.exe. I'm at animpasse and hoping someone can help- thanks loads! Fred.

Answer: Method 1: Use Password Reset Disk

A password resetdisk could really come in handy if you ever forgot Windows 7 password. Theproblem with this method is that you have to create the password reset diskbefore the password is lost. Assuming that you have created it in advance, thenyou can use this method to unlockWindows 7 password easily.

1.Once you'vetyped the wrong password, Windows 7 will show a Reset password link below thelogin box.
2. Click on thelink. Make sure that password reset disk is plugged into the computer at thispoint.
3. When thePassword Reset Wizard appears, click Next to continue.
4. Select theright password reset disk. Click Next.
5. Type in a newpassword and a hint for the password. Click Next.
6. Click Finish.Now you can log in to your PC with the new password.

Method 2: UsingOther Available Administrative Account

But unlike WindowsXP, the built-in Administrator account in Windows 7 is disabled or hidden bydefault. If you are able to log in your computer with other availableadministrative account, it's quite easy for you to unlockWindows 7 administrator password as follows:
1. Typelusrmgr.msc in the Start search box and hit Enter to pop up the Local Users andGroups window.
2. Expand Usersfolder to display all the user accounts in the Windows 7 machine.
3. Right-clickthe account whose password you forgot and select Set Password.
4. Click Proceedto go on your operation. Type and confirm your new password and click Ok.

Method 3: ResetWindows 7 Password by Windows7 Password Unlocker

1. Download theself-extracting Zip file of SmartKey Windows Password Recovery package.
2. Uncompress the package,there is a ISO image. Burn it onto a CD/DVD or USB flash drive.
3. Boot yourlocked computer from the newly burned CD/DVD or USB flash drive.
4. Wait until theboot process is finished. When a window pops up with all your Windows accounts,select the target one to remove your forgotten password.

Re-installingWindows 7 is always an option, but we consider that a last resort. Installationwill help you remove forgotten Windows password, but also erase your importantdata on computer. So don't try this method unless you don't have othersolutions.