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.
- Run
Diskpart
on command line. - Run
list disk
to show all disk. - Run
select Disk 0
or disk where the Windows is installed. - Run
list part
to view all partition. - Run
select part 3
or Partition where the Windows is installed - Run
assign letter=C
to assign the partition as C:\ drive.
Disable Bitlocker
- Booting with ISO, and
shift+10
- Check bitlocker lock status on the drive.
manage-bde -status
- If
Lock status: Locked
, then the drive is being locked. - 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]
- 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
- To Check the decryption progress, use the same command as follows:
manage-bde -status
- 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:
- Create a new directory for backup on C:\ drive.
mkdir C:\TempInstall
- Move the
utilman
app to the backup directory.
move C:\windows\system32\Utilman.exe C:\TempInstall
- Copy
cmd
asutilman
.
copy C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe C:\windows\system32\Utilman.exe
Reboot the computer
- After you replaced the
utilman
, you can proceed to remove the ISO windows installation DVD, and restart the computer.
wpeutil reboot
- Once the computer is UP, you will see
Utility Manager icon
calledEase of Access
. Click the icon button to show thecmd
. - Reset the
Administrator
password, and type the new password.
Net user administrator *
- Done.