# How can I reset the Windows 7 password on a netbook? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-reset-the-windows-7-password-on-a-netbook/521803 "2009-12-18T23:01:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-reset-the-windows-7-password-on-a-netbook/521803/1 "2009-12-18T23:01:51Z")
Picked up [one of these this](http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/computers/notebooks/mini110_series/rts/3/computer_store/VM139UA%2523ABA)afternoon at the local thrift. Unit is in more or less new condition and and it seems the last user loaded a password into Windows 7. Windows 7 will not allow me access unless I use a password reset disk, but it seems that this needs to be something I would have created previously when setting up the machine. [Windows says there is no workaround other than a full re-install](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/What-to-do-if-you-forget-your-Windows-password). Is this true? Am I boned? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-reset-the-windows-7-password-on-a-netbook/521803/2 "2009-12-19T01:20:56Z")
It’s not easy, but it’s doable. [This](http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/) will get you started. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-reset-the-windows-7-password-on-a-netbook/521803/3 "2009-12-19T01:21:50Z")
I assume that you don’t care about the re-install, but you don’t have the disks. You should have gotten them with the system, but we’ll also assume that bird has flown. Many HP systems have the “recovery” disks on the hard drive, it’s usually F11 at startup (hold it down while the computer boots). If that works, you’re golden. If not, you’ll need to order new recovery disks from here: [http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00810334&tmp\_track\_link=ot\_faqs/top\_issues/en\_us/c00810334/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4041534](http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00810334&tmp_track_link=ot_faqs/top_issues/en_us/c00810334/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4041534) You shouldn’t need anything other than the serial number of the system and the product code for Windows (which should be on a sticker on the laptop somewhere). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-reset-the-windows-7-password-on-a-netbook/521803/4 "2009-12-19T04:55:16Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > I assume that you don’t care about the re-install, but you don’t have the disks. You should have gotten them with the system, but we’ll also assume that bird has flown. > > Many HP systems have the “recovery” disks on the hard drive, it’s usually F11 at startup (hold it down while the computer boots). If that works, you’re golden. If not, you’ll need to order new recovery disks from here: > > [http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00810334&tmp\_track\_link=ot\_faqs/top\_issues/en\_us/c00810334/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4041534](http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00810334&tmp_track_link=ot_faqs/top_issues/en_us/c00810334/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4041534) > > You shouldn’t need anything other than the serial number of the system and the product code for Windows (which should be on a sticker on the laptop somewhere). Worked perfectly - Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-reset-the-windows-7-password-on-a-netbook/521803/5 "2009-12-19T04:57:17Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > I assume that you don’t care about the re-install, but you don’t have the disks. You should have gotten them with the system, but we’ll also assume that bird has flown. > > Many HP systems have the “recovery” disks on the hard drive, it’s usually F11 at startup (hold it down while the computer boots). If that works, you’re golden. If not, you’ll need to order new recovery disks from here: > > [http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00810334&tmp\_track\_link=ot\_faqs/top\_issues/en\_us/c00810334/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4041534](http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00810334&tmp_track_link=ot_faqs/top_issues/en_us/c00810334/loc:1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4041534) > > You shouldn’t need anything other than the serial number of the system and the product code for Windows (which should be on a sticker on the laptop somewhere). Tried that and it’s a perfect solution, but it got a bit confused by the registry path for Win 7. Looks like it would be the bomb for everything else. Nice to know there is product like that. Thanks.