Overview

Have you ever forgot the computer password, and want to reset it? Typically, you just need to boot into Windows installer ISO, open cmd and rename the utilman.exe. However, you can’t do that if the bitlocker is enabled on that computer. You will need to disable the bitlocker first. On this article, I want to share how to disable the bitlocker and reset the forgotten password. This require either the Bitlocker Password or Bitlocker Recovery Key

Notice: Resetting a password with this command doesn’t work with a Microsoft account

Mount Windows Partition

In recent windows version, the C:\ drive is hidden by default when you’re booting up using the ISO windows installation. Mount the disk using Diskpart if needed.

  1. Run Diskpart on command line.
  2. Run list disk to show all disk.
  3. Run select Disk 0 or disk where the Windows is installed.
  4. Run list part to view all partition.
  5. Run select part 3 or Partition where the Windows is installed
  6. Run assign letter=C to assign the partition as C:\ drive.

Disable Bitlocker

  1. Booting with ISO, and shift+10
  2. Check bitlocker lock status on the drive.
manage-bde -status
  1. If Lock status: Locked, then the drive is being locked.
  2. You can use one of the following command to temporarily unlock the bitlocker on D drive.
  • Using password.
manage-bde -unlock D: -Password [bitlocker-password]
  • Using recovery key.
manage-bde -unlock D: -RecoveryPassword [bitLocker_recover_key] 
  1. If you want to Disable/Turnoff Bitlocker. This process might take times depend on Drive size.
manage-bde off D
Decryption is now in progress
  1. To Check the decryption progress, use the same command as follows:
manage-bde -status
  1. Once the decryption progress is done, you will see Conversion Status: Fully Decrypted.

Reset Password

After the bitlocker is disabled, you can continue to reset the password with the following:

  1. Create a new directory for backup on C:\ drive.
mkdir C:\TempInstall
  1. Move the utilman app to the backup directory.
move C:\windows\system32\Utilman.exe C:\TempInstall
  1. Copy cmd as utilman.
copy C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe C:\windows\system32\Utilman.exe

Reboot the computer

  1. After you replaced the utilman, you can proceed to remove the ISO windows installation DVD, and restart the computer.
wpeutil reboot
  1. Once the computer is UP, you will see Utility Manager icon called Ease of Access. Click the icon button to show the cmd.
  2. Reset the Administrator password, and type the new password.
Net user administrator *
  1. Done.