Technical Questions

If your system became inoperable after you use Active@ Password Changer you can roll back all changes to the square one. To do this you have to:

1. Boot your computer with our Active@ Boot Disk (with Password Changer).

2. Find the folder "C:\WINDOWS\System32\config".

3. Move file "SAM" from this folder to any temporary folder - "C:\Temp" for example.

4. Copy your backup file from the flash drive (or other storage where you have it) to folder "C:\WINDOWS\System32\config"

5. Rename backup Registry file to SAM (just remove numbers at the end of the file name).

6. Reboot your computer.

Active@ Password Changer can reset the local Administrator Password. It is very important to log in to your server immediately after you reset a password, so boot your server with our boot disk, reset the Administrator’s password (Note: leave all checkboxes as they set by default, just press “Apply” button to reset the password), instantly after that reboot your server in Directory Services Repair Mode (press F8 while boot up and choose this option) and when the login screen appears, log on as Local Administrator. You now have full access to the computer resources, but you cannot make any changes to Active Directory.

This procedure may be used to reset a Windows 8 type login account if you know some information about the user (running Password Changer is not required). We recommend using Active@ Password Changer Pro to reset the Windows 8 local Administrator's account to have proper access to the system.

Boot with Active@ Boot Disk.
Mark the checkbox to Initialize network interface:

Run the included Internet browser ("Start" > "Internet" > "QtWeb Internet Browser") and type https://account.live.com/resetpassword.aspx in the browser's address bar and press Enter. Enter your Windows live account e-mail address and type in the verification characters you see in the corresponding field just above the "Next" button, then press the "Next" button to continue.

Select the method for resetting the password which is most suitable to your situation. If you can't remember your account's secret question and details, click on "I can't use any of these options".

Enter your account's e-mail and contact e-mail address which Microsoft will use to send you information about your account, then press "Next" again.

Fill out the requested fields and press the "Submit" button.

Remove Active@ Boot Disk and turn off your computer.

Access to your second e-mail (contact e-mail) account from any other computer via an email client or online e-mail program. For example: Mail program on a Mac, and following the instructions by clicking on the provided link to reset your password:


Enter your account's new password and press "Next".

Turn on your computer and log in with your Windows Live account and new password.
P.S. Your computer has to be connected to Internet to make these changes.

Hot keys for BootMenu / BIOS Settings

How to get to your Boot Menu or your BIOS settings? Every PC has different hot-keys that go to these settings. This is a list of PC brands with their corresponding hot-keys.

Operating System Windows XP (Home and Professional Editions) when booting suggests only names of regular users on Welcome Screen by default. Administrator's account is hidden. Press key combination Ctrl+Alt+Del two times to display Login Dialog Window and you will be able to type both user name and password. Type Administrator and use empty password.

Active@ Password Changer is a very small DOS based program (only 65KB) but Windows based installation package contains Active@ Password Changer DOS executable file as well as its User manual, Bootable floppy creator and ISO image for bootable CD-ROM creation. If you do not have administrative rights on your PC, you can start this installation package on ANY computer you have and use it for creation of a Bootable floppy or CD.

Most likely local Administrator account has been renamed due to security reasons. Active@ Password Changer always displays built-in Administrator's account on top (even it was renamed). Write down this account name to be able to type it in later on, after its password has been reset.

User Profile depends on User Name and Security ID (SID) so changing the user's password won't have any effect on it.

File and folder security settings are based on User Security ID (SID) that is produced during user account creation and does not depend on user password. You can change your password as often as you wish without files/folders security settings changes.

You do not need any software to remove local user passwords in Windows 95(98) operating system(s). Just find and delete the USERNAME.PWL file (where USERNAME is the name of a user account) and the user will have an empty password.

Local Security Account Policy affects the new passwords setting process in Windows environment, but not existing passwords, even absolutely empty ones. So you can reset the password for this account with Active@ Password Changer then logon with this user account name with the empty password.

It is possible that the "Administrator" account in your localized version is renamed (for example "Administrateur" in French version), or has national (non English) symbols. Try to start Active@ Password Changer and find out the real username for "Administrator" account. It has to be first in the user's list with RID = 000001f4. Write down this username and use it for login.