[Fix] Windows 8 and 8.1: Easy fix for when you have forgotten your password.

Question

Don't worry, It happens to everyone at some point. ;-)
If you are running Windows 8 or 8.1 you may be able to reset your password from another PC on the Microsoft website. This only works if you use a live account. If you do, you can access the password reset here: Microsoft Password Reset.
If you use a local account you can reset the password in the Command Prompt by following these steps:
Shut down the computer.
Turn on the PC and start repeatedly tapping F11 right away until it prompts you for your keyboard layout.
Select your keyboard layout.
Select Troubleshoot.
Select Advanced Options.
Select Command Prompt.
Type the following into command prompt: copy c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe c:\
Press enter and it should confirm that 1 file was copied.
Type the following into command prompt: copy c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Confirm by pressing Y and hitting enter.
Close the command prompt and select Turn off your PC.
Turn on the PC.
Click the Ease of Access icon in the bottom left hand corner of the login screen. You will now notice that the icon will now open the command prompt instead of Ease of Access options.
In this command prompt window type: net user "yourusername" "yournewpassword" (without the quotes). NOTE: The username should show on the login screen, and is typically your name. If you're having trouble type net user and hit enter to see a list of users on the PC. For example, for me the actual command I would type would be: net user greatdekutree password123
Close the command prompt.
Log in with the password you chose for step 13. VOILA!
Now that you're back in we should get your Ease of Access settings back. It's pretty much the same few steps we did before but switch the commands:
Shut down the computer.
Turn on the PC and start repeatedly tapping F11 right away until it prompts you for your keyboard layout.
Select your keyboard layout.
Select Troubleshoot.
Select Advanced Options.
Select Command Prompt.
Type the following into command prompt: copy c:\utilman.exe c:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Confirm by pressing Y and hitting enter.
Close the command prompt and select Turn off your PC.
I would also suggest that you create a password backup reset disc or USB drive now that you're back in Windows. See here for help with this: How to Create a Password Reset Disk on a USB Flash Drive in Windows 8 and 8.1.
Thanks!
Please click the "Kudos, Thumbs Up" at the bottom of this post if you want to say "Thanks" for helping!
Please click "Accept as Solution" if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
The Great Deku Tree
I work on behalf of HP.

Answer 1

Thank you both for your help...I have two questions related to this problem.  The first one is do I lose any functionality by moving to the basic setting?  That question is more out curiousity than anything.  I also was reading that sometimes this problem in Windows 8 can be caused by video card drivers not being up to date.  Do you all think updating my drivers maybe a good idea before trying the basic fix?  I had assumed (bad idea) that because it was a new computer the drives would be up to date but from reading, I learned that is not always the case. Thanks again.  Kirsten