If you have locked yourself out of your computer and are unable to login, and do not wish to lose all of your files by formatting your PC, with a bit of work you can change the password and log back in.
- Boot your PC into Hiren’s BootCD PE. Click that link to view a guide on how to set up a USB flash drive with this. Once you have set up the BootCD, restart your computer and boot into the flash drive.
- Go to Start Menu -> Security -> Passwords -> NT Password Edit
- Open SAM file (C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM)
- Click the account username and then ‘Change password’
