How to create a password recovery disk/USB

This is especially important if you have a finger print reader to sign into your computer and you never have to type in your password.  What if something happens where you can’t swipe your finger anymore because of a malfunction on the fingerprint reader, or your finger has a Band-Aid on it, etc.?  Normally you would be able to just type in your password, but what if you forgot your password?  Keep reading below screen shot…

In Windows 7 there is a convenient option to create a password recovery disk.  Ofcourse the catch is you have to do this before you need it. 🙂  Great news is you only have to create this disk once; no matter how many times you change your password afterwards.  One reason I decided to write on this is because of the funny message in the screen shot.  I had a client tell me they went to the store and said they needed a floppy disk to create a system restore disk and they thought he was nuts.  Although the message does say you can also use a USB, it very clearly states that you need either a Floppy disk or USB.  As of Windows 7 I’m pretty sure Floppy disks were long extinct.  But there it is in black and white.  Way to go Microsoft!

How to create a password recovery disk:
Password ResetStep 1: Plug in a USB flash drive that you will use exclusively for password recovery.
Step 2: Open the Control Panel. (Click Start and type “Control panel”, then press enter
Step 3: Click User Accounts
Step 4: Click “Create a password reset disk” (You will get the message like in the screen shot above if you don’t already have a USB connected)
Step 5: As long as you have the USB plugged in first, you should get this screen instead of the error message shown earlier.  Following the prompts clicking next all the way through is all you need.  Click Next.

Step 6: Select the USB drive you want to use.  If you only have one plugged in, it will only show that one by default. The name maybe deceiving, depending on the brand if you haven’t put a custom label on it like I do mine.

Step 7: Type in your current password.  This is a great option because it stops anyone else from creating a password restore disk on your computer when you’re not looking so they can get in later.

Step 8: It quickly runs to 100% and waits for you to click Next.

Click Next

Step 9: You’re done!  Remove the USB drive, label it, and put it in your safe or somewhere you can lock it up and have it for just incase, along with your disaster plan material.

If the time comes you need to restore your password, it will give you an option at the login screen to click to use a password recovery disk.  Pop in your disk, follow those prompts and you’re done.