Note: This trick is only intended for experienced users who forgot Windows 8 password. For average computer users, please use the easy-to-use software PCUnlocker to reset lost or forgotten Windows 8 password.

How to Change Forgotten Windows 8 Password with Installation Disc?

1. Boot your Windows 8 computer from Windows 8 installation disc. Once the message “Press any key to boot from CD…..” appears, press the Enter key to continue.
2. As soon as you get to the Windows Setup screen, press the SHIFT + F10 key combination to bring up the Command Prompt.

   

3. Type the following command (replace “d:” with the correct drive letter if Windows is not located on D:):
   copy d:\windows\system32\sethc.exe d:\
   This creates a copy of sethc.exe to restore later.
4. Type this command to replace sethc.exe with cmd.exe:
   copy /y c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe

   

5. Now close the Command Prompt, and cancel the Windows Setup application. Eject Windows 8 installation disc and reboot your computer.

   

6. When you reach to the Windows 8 login screen. Press the SHIFT key 5 times in a row, the Command Prompt will then open.
7. Enter the following command to change your forgotten Windows 8 password:
   net user top-password.com 123456

   

   Replace top-password.com with your account’s name, and change the password 123456 with whatever you want.

8. Congratulation! Now exit the Command Prompt and you can then log on your Windows 8 system with your new password.

   

Remember to copy the c:\sethc.exe file back to c:\windows\system32\sethc.exe to restore the original sethc.exe file. This trick works with Windows 8, Windows 8 Professional, Windows 8 Enterprise and Windows 8.1.