HOW-TO RESET WINDOWS PASSWORD | Hirens-BootCD

I think this the easiest method to reset password in Windows 10/11.


You need to know the shortcut to go to Boot Menu to choose the CD or USB with Hirens-BootCD created with.

To reset a forgotten Windows 11 password using Hiren’s BootCD PE, follow these steps. This method works for both local and Microsoft accounts.

Instructions How-To create bootable media see further below at the end.


  • Boot your computer with Hiren’s BootCD PE — DVD/Optical Disk or USB
  • Go to Start Menu -> Security -> Passwords -> NT Password Edit
  • Open your SAM file (It is usually located in C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM)
  • Click your username and the click ‘Change password’. To set a password, type your password both ‘New password’ and ‘Verify’ fields and then click to ‘OK’. To remove the password, leave both ‘New password’ and ‘Verify’ fields blank and then click to ‘OK’.


🔧 What You’ll Need

  • A USB flash drive (at least 8 GB)​ or a DVD-R/-RW/DL
  • Access to another working PC to create the bootable USB​
  • The latest Hiren’s BootCD PE ISO file​
  • Rufus (a tool to create bootable USB drives) ​ Or DVD Burner Software & DVD Burner Drive – e.g. Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE

🛠️ Step-by-Step Guide

1. Download Hiren’s BootCD PE

  • Visit the official site: hirensbootcd.org
  • Download the latest ISO file (e.g., HBCD_PE_x64.iso)​

2. Create a Bootable USB with Rufus

  • Download Rufus from rufus.ie
  • Insert your USB drive into the working PC​
  • Open Rufus and select your USB under “Device”​
  • Under “Boot selection,” choose the Hiren’s ISO file​
  • Click “Start” and wait for the process to complete​

3. Create a Bootable DVD DISK with Ashampoo Burning Studio

  • Download Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE from https://www.ashampoo.com
  • Insert your DVD Disk in the DVD RW drive into the working PC​
  • Open Ashampoo and select your Disk Image > ​Burn Image
  • Under “Disc Image Path” choose the Hiren’s ISO file​
  • Click “Next” after choose your Burner DVD-RW/-R Drive and “Write” and wait for the process to complete​

4. To boot to the Boot Menu

(also known as the One-Time Boot Menu) — without entering BIOS Setup or changing permanent boot order — you need to press a specific key at startup for your PC brand. Here’s a list of common brands and their Boot Menu keys:

Boot Menu Keys by Manufacturer (for one-time boot device selection)

Brand Boot Menu Key Notes
Dell F12 Tap during POST (when Dell logo shows).
Lenovo F12 or Fn + F12 Some models use the Novo Button (small pinhole button).
HP Esc → F9 First press Esc, then F9 for Boot Menu.
ASUS F8 Sometimes Esc is used instead.
Acer F12 May require enabling F12 Boot Menu in BIOS first.
MSI F11 Tap at splash screen.
Gigabyte F12 Standard across motherboards.
ASRock F11 Tap during splash screen.
Microsoft Surface Volume Down + Power Hold Volume Down, press Power, release when logo appears.
Samsung Esc or F12 Depends on model.
Toshiba F12 Tap at startup.
Sony VAIO Assist or F11 Newer models have a physical “Assist” button.

💡 Tips:

  • Press the Boot Menu key immediately after turning on the PC — start tapping it every second.
  • If you see the OS loading, you missed the timing — restart and try again.
  • On laptops with Fn Lock, you may need to hold Fn along with the function key (e.g., Fn + F12).

===

Windows 11 Pro for Workstations Unsupported Upgrade 22H2 ->23H2


For Windows 24H2 go here. For 23H2 Continue.

SOLVED PROBLEMS BY READING THIS ARTICLE:

  1. Download Windows-11-Pro.iso [All versions & Workstations] from Microsoft
  2. My PC from eBay.com a hp z640 – default language: de-de, change to us-en
  3. Bypass Restrictions of Win-11 Pro for WS: upgrade 22H2 to 23H2 *
  4. After upgrading from 22H2 to 23H2, Win-11 Pro for Workstations, some minor updates may be needed
  5. Buy Cheap Software keys – Windows 11/10 Pro for Workstations, Windows 11 Pro, Home, etc. **

* Instructions given – This method DOES NOT USE 3rd Party Tools. It does use the Official Windows11.iso from the Microsoft website – download, and some CLI commands – All Safe === All Microsoft…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

** Windows 11/10 Pro for Workstations can be installed on any PC, but to make use of all of its functions and power needed Workstation PC, eg. Intel XEON processor, ECC RAM, Professional Graphics card…etc.


1- Download Windows-11-Pro.iso [All versions & Workstations] from Microsoft

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download

Please go to:

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

After in the 3rd section of:

Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices

Choose in the drop-down menu: Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices)

Press the button “Download now”

And after in the appeared Section: Select the product language:

English (United States)

Press the button “Confirm”

The Section “Download – Windows 11 English” appears

Press the button “64-bit Download”

Save the file in the prompt as: Win11_23H2_English_x64v2.iso

Repeat the Process but this time – we do this because the eBay PC has a base language of German so needs German ISO to upgrade:

And after in the appeared Section: Select the product language:

German

The Section “Download – Windows 11 German” appears

Press the button “64-bit Download”

Save the file in the prompt as: Win11_23H2_German_x64v2.iso

Note-1: these downloads e.g. Win11_23H2_German_x64v2.iso can be used for installing or upgrading any flavor of Windows 11 like:

Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Pro for Workstations,…

Note-2: Verify your download always to be sure indeed download is from the origin of Microsoft:

Press Verify your download

As described go to the CLI CMD PROMPT or PowerShell and type as shown in the pictures below:

Windows PowerShell
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Install the latest PowerShell for new features and improvements! https://aka.ms/PSWindows

PS D:\Downloads\ISOs\2023 ISOs> date

22 April 2024 18:44:15

PS D:\Downloads\ISOs\2023 ISOs> pwd

Path

D:\Downloads\ISOs\2023 ISOs

PS D:\Downloads\ISOs\2023 ISOs> Get-FileHash Win11_23H2_English_USA_x64v2.iso

Algorithm Hash Path
——— —- —-
SHA256 36DE5ECB7A0DAA58DCE68C03B9465A543ED0F5498AA8AE60AB45FB7C8C4AE402 D:…

PS D:\Downloads\ISOs\2023 ISOs> Get-FileHash Win11_23H2_German_x64v2.iso

Algorithm Hash Path
——— —- —-
SHA256 9BD27FD71714D7458D88B537DB74DE115CE7585FCD78783ED38D96A544017B68 D:\Downlo…

PS D:\Downloads\ISOs\2023 ISOs>

====

Now compare the SHA256 CHECKSUM with Microsoft web site at

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 .

If they match you are good to proceed.

====


2- My PC from eBay.com a hp z640 – default language: de-de, change to us-en

If proceed with Upgrade from 22H2 to 23H2:

Normally will run the file setup.exe in the root file structure of the ISO. BEFORE DO THIS the ISO file gets burned on DVD, mounted to a drive, or extracted from ISO to a USB Stick location. You have to do this for both ISOs

Win11_23H2_German_x64v2.iso and Win11_23H2_English_USA_x64v2.iso

There are 2 problems Language should be de-de/German and hardware restrictions.

To bypass the language in the Win11_23H2_German_x64v2.iso extraction replace the folder:

G:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\sources\de-de

with

Win11_23H2_English_USA_x64v2\sources\en-us\

We proceed as follows: copy the Win11_23H2_English_USA_x64v2\sources\en-us\ to G:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\sources\

Rename the:

G:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\sources\de-de\

to

G:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\sources\de-de_2\

and the H:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\sources\en-us\ to G:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\sources\de-de\ .

This way I can follow in ENGLISH during the upgrade as I do not know German, see screenshots:


3- Bypass Restrictions of Win-11 Pro for WS: upgrade 22H2 to 23H2 *

The last step is to start the Upgrade process from 22H2 to 23H3. If the hardware supports Windows 11, we proceed to run the:

“G:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\setup.exe”

But the hardware is unsupported:

So, we proceed as follows:

Open CLI as Administrator and go to the folder:

G:\Win11_23H2_German_x64v2-en\sources\

THEN WE GIVE THE COMMAND:

setupprep.exe /product server

This will start the upgrade process ignoring the Hardware Restrictions of Windows 11.

Please ignore the “Install Windows Server” – It does not matter – it is upgrading the OS in which you run it, in our case Windows 11 Pro for Workstations – but, can also be Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, if e.g. Home or Pro, Windows 11.

Press “Next”

Press “Accept”

Press “Next”

Press “Install”.
[If you use a PC I recommend a UPS or if you use Laptop Plug-in the power cord]


4- After upgrading from 22H2 to 23H2, Win-11 Pro for Workstations, some minor updates may be needed

You proceed normally for minor updates – there is no check for unsupported hardware. See below shots:

here are some German words involved, for unknown reason:

You can search in Settings for “lang”, normally if you log out, re-login, or restart the PC, when prompted – some of the screen words may be in German but you will understand the RESTART Button is self-explanatory.

====

Thank you!

Please share this article with your friends on Social Media!


5- Buy Cheap Software keys – Windows 11/10 Pro for Workstations, Windows 11 Pro, Home, etc. **

Windows 11 Pro for Workstations – $13.99 just

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations – $13.41 just

Windows 11 Pro

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 11 Home

Windows 10 Home

Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Pro Plus

Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Pro Plus


List of 64-bit Single Board Computers (SBC) with 32GB RAM – Purchase Links to Amazon

List of 64-bit Single Board Computers (SBC) with 32GB RAM

All Purchase Links to Amazon.com or where indicated to Amazon Germany

This Article Coming Soon! But the Amazon.com links are working …!


1

Orange Pi 5 Plus 32GB with 256GB eMMC Rockchip RK3588 8 Core 64 Bit Single Board Computer, 2.4GHz Frequency WiFi Bluetooth Run Orange Pi OS, Android, Debian, Ubuntu (Pi 5 Plus 32G+Case+eMMC+R6+Supply)

https://amzn.to/3UiUElN

https://amzn.to/4aBeoqH [cheaper without case]


2

MeLE Overclock4C N95 (up to 3.4GHz) 32GB 512GB Slim Mini PC Windows 11 Pro Dual HDMI + USB Type C 4K Triple Display WiFi 6 BT5.2 Gigabit Ethernet, Support Linux OS, Mini Computer with VESA Mount

https://amzn.to/3vTuUD8 — Amazon Germany Link

https://amzn.to/3xFmfF1 (newest model by MeLE) USA Link

MeLE Mini PC Windows 11 Pro 32GB Ram 512GB N5095 Small Desktop Computer Overclock3C 2x HDMI 4K USB-C Triple Display 2.4G/5G WiFi 6 BT5.2 GbE Support Linux Micro PC on Industrial IoT MES WMS NAS Office

https://amzn.to/3Ul6Dzv


3

NOTE: This is a Mini-PC and Not a SBC – RAM can be replaced – max 64GB

GMKtec Nucbox K6 Gaming Mini PC – AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS Windoms11pro Mini Computers, 32GB DDR5 5600MHz, 1TB PCIe4.0 SSD, 2×2.5G LAN RJ45, Triple Display, 45-65W TDP, Radeon 780M, Micro PC with ZEN4 and RONA3

https://amzn.to/4aUxUht


4

NOTE: This is a Mini-PC and Not a SBC – RAM can be replaced – max 64GB

Mini PC AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Up to 4.3GHz 8C/16T, 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Graphics 8 Cores 1900 MHz, M.2 SSD NVME Mini Computer WiFi 6/BT5.2/HDMI/TYPE-C/USB * 4, Gaming/Office, HTPC, Workstation, Media Server

https://amzn.to/4cWowMd


5

NOTE: This is a Mini-PC and Not a SBC – RAM can be replaced – max 64GB

MINIS FORUM NPB6 Mini PC, Intel Core i7-13620H 10 Cores 16 Threads CPU 32 GB DDR5/1 TB SSD Mini Desktop Computer, Intel UHD Graphics, HDMI/USB4 Port, WiFi, BT, USB 3.2 × 2

https://amzn.to/3WjpJrd — Amazon Germany Link