Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

1.Windows 7 or windows Vista

To do this, click Start, type Command Prompt or cmd in the Search box, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

2.At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

                              sfc /scannow

The sfc /scannow command will scan all protected system files, and replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache. 
The %WinDir% placeholder represents the Windows operating system folder. For example, C:\Windows.

Note Do not close this Command Prompt window until the verification is 100% complete. The scan results will be shown after this process is finished.

3.After the process is finished, you may receive one of the following messages:

• Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  
  This means that you do not have any missing or corrupted system files.
• Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
  
  To resolve this problem, perform the System File Checker scan in safe mode, and make sure that the PendingDeletes and PendingRenames folders exist under %WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp.
• Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.
  
  To view the detail information about the system file scan and restoration, go to How to view details of the System File Checker process.
• Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.
  
  To repair the corrupted files manually, view details of the System File Checker process to find the corrupted file, and then manually replace the corrupted file with a known good copy of the file.

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How To Reset a Windows 7 Password

If you need to reset the password to Windows 7 on your computer, likely because you've forgotten it, let me first assure you that not only is this very possible, it's not even that difficult.

Unfortunately, aside from a password reset disk (discussed in Step 14 below) there is no Windows-provided way to reset a Windows 7 password. Luckily, there is the clever password reset trick I've outlined below that's easy enough for anyone to try.

Prefer screen shots? Try my Step by Step Guide to Resetting a Windows 7 Password for an easy walk-through!

Note: There are several additional ways to reset or recover a forgotten Windows 7 password, including password recovery software. For a full list of options, see my Help! I Forgot My Windows 7 Password!.

If you do know your password and just want to change it, see How To Change Your Windows 7 Password for help with that.

Follow these easy steps to reset your Windows 7 password:

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Due to the several steps involved, it could take 30 to 60 minutes to reset your Windows 7 password

Applies To: Any edition of Windows 7, including both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

How To Reset a Windows 7 Password

1. Insert either your Windows 7 installation DVD, or a Windows 7 System Repair disc, into your optical drive and then restart your computer. If you have either on aflash drive, that'll work too.
   
   Tip: See How to Boot From a CD, DVD, or BD Disc or How to Boot From a USB Device if you've never booted from portable media before or if you're having trouble doing so.
   
   Note: If you don't have original Windows 7 media and never got around to making a system repair disc, don't worry. As long as you have access to any other Windows 7 computer (another in your home or a friend's will work fine), you can burn a system repair disc for free. See How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc for a tutorial.
    
2. After your computer boots from the disc or flash drive, click Next on the screen with your language and keyboard choices.
   
   Tip: Don't see this screen or do you see your typical Windows 7 logon screen? Chances are good that your computer booted from your hard drive (like it normally does) instead of from the disc or flash drive you inserted, which is what you want. See the appropriate link in the tip from Step 1 above for help.
    
3. Click on the Repair your computer link.
   
   Note: If you booted with a system repair disc instead of a Windows 7 installation disc or flash drive, you won't see this link. Just move on to Step 4 below.
    
4. Wait while your Windows 7 installation is located on your computer.
    
5. Once your installation is found, take note of the drive letter found in the Locationcolumn. Most Windows 7 installations will show D: but yours may be different.
   
   Note: While in Windows, the drive that Windows 7 is installed on is probably labeled as the C: drive. However, when booting from Windows 7 install or repair media, a hidden drive is available that usually isn't. This drive is given the first available drive letter, probably C:, leaving the next available drive letter, probablyD:, for the next drive - the one with Windows 7 installed on it.
    
6. Select Windows 7 from the Operating System list and then click the Next button.
    
7. From System Recovery Options, choose Command Prompt.
    
8. With Command Prompt now open, execute the following two commands, in this order:

   copy d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe d:\ 

   copy d:\windows\system32\cmd.exed:\windows\system32\utilman.exe 

   To the Overwrite question after executing the second command, answer with Yes.
   
   Important: If the drive that Windows 7 is installed on in your computer is not D:(Step 5), be sure to change all instances of d: in the commands above with the correct drive letter.
    
9. Remove the disc or flash drive and then restart your computer.
   
   You can close the Command Prompt window and click Restart but it's also okay in this situation to restart using your computer's restart button.
    
10. Once the Windows 7 logon screen appears, locate the little icon on the bottom-left of the screen that looks like a pie with a square around it and then click it!
    
    Tip: If your normal Windows 7 logon screen did not show up, check to see that you removed the disc or flash drive you inserted in Step 1. Your computer may continue to boot from this device instead of your hard drive if you don't remove it.
     
11. Now that Command Prompt is open, execute the net user command as shown, replacing myusername with whatever your user name is and mypassword with whatever new password you'd like to use:

    net user myusername mypassword 

    So, for example, I would do something like this:

    net user Tim 1lov3blueberrie$ 

    Tip: If your username has spaces, put double quotes around it when executing net user, as in net user "Tim Fisher" 1lov3blueberrie$.
     
12. Close the Command Prompt window.
     
13. Login with your new password!
     
14. Create a Windows 7 Password Reset Disk! This is the Microsoft-approved, proactive step you should have done a long time ago. All you need is a blank flash drive or floppy disk and you'll never need to worry about forgetting your Windows 7 password again.
     
15. While not required, it would probably be wise to undo the hack that makes this work. If you don't, you won't have access to accessibiily features from the Windows 7 login screen.
    
    To reverse the changes you've made, repeat Steps 1 through 7 above. When you have access to Command Prompt again, execute the following:

    copy d:\utilman.exe d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe 

    Confirm the overwrite and then restart your computer.
    
    Important: Undoing this hack will have no impact on your new password. Whatever password you set in Step 11 is still valid.

Tips & More Information

1. Having trouble resetting your Windows 7 password? See Get More Help for information about contacting me on social networks or via email, posting on tech support forums, and more.

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How To Find Your Windows 7 Product Key

If you're preparing to reinstallWindows 7 you will need to locate your unique Windows 7product key - also known as the Windows 7 serial key,activation key, or CD key.

Normally this product key is on a sticker on your computer or located with the manual that came with Windows 7.

However, if you've lost your product key, all hope is not lost - your Windows 7 key is stored in the registry but is encrypted and not readable, making finding it difficult. Luckily there are several free programs that can help.

Follow the steps below to locate your Windows 7 product key code:

Important: Please read my Windows Product Keys FAQ for more information.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Finding your Windows 7 product key should take less than 15 minutes

How To Find Your Windows 7 Product Key

1. Manually locating the Windows 7 product key from the registry is nearly impossible due to the fact that it's encrypted.
   
   Note: The manual techniques used to locate the product key for operating systems like Windows 95 and Windows 98 will not work in Windows 7. Those manual procedures will only locate the product ID number, not the actual product key used for installation. Lucky for us, several free programs exist to help find product keys.
    
2. Choose a free product key finder program that supports Windows 7.
   
   Note: Any product key finder that locates Windows 7 product keys will locate the product keys for any version of Windows 7: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional,Home Premium, Home Basic, and Starter.
    
3. Download and run the key finder program. Follow any instructions provided by the software.
    
4. The numbers and letters displayed by the program represent the Windows 7 product key. The product key should be formatted like xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx - five sets of five letters and numbers.
    
5. Write this key code down exactly as the program displays it to you for use whenreinstalling Windows 7.
   
   Note: If even one character is written down incorrectly, the installation of Windows 7 that you attempt with this product key will fail. Be sure to transcribe the key exactly.

Tips & More Information

If you need to install Windows 7 but you still can't find your Windows 7 product key, even with a product key finder, you have two choices.

You can either:

1. Request a replacement product key from Microsoft, which should cost you around $10 USD.
2. Purchase a brand new copy of Windows 7 from TigerDirect, NewEgg, or some other retailer.

Requesting a replacement Windows 7 product key is going to be cheaper but if that doesn't work out, you may in fact have to buy a new copy of Windows.

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