Have you forgotten Windows 8 password?

Forgot your Windows 8 password? Relax! There is nothing to worry. There are several ways through which you can reset or even remove the password. The methods of resetting the password differ between local Windows accounts and Microsoft. In order to find out which account you have, turn on the system and see if an email address is displayed above where in order to enter password has to be provided. If there is no email, it’s a local account. If yes, then an MS account.   

It is easy to reset the passwords for MS accounts. However in order to reset an account, external help is required. As PCs have inbuilt secure boot and Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), a third party tool would complicate the process. 

Resetting Microsoft account password

If you have Microsoft-based Windows 8 account, then use the online form to reset password. This can be done from a tablet or another PC or a smartphone or tablet. The resetting would be easier if the current email ID or cell phone number is saved to your Microsoft account. You would have to confirm the proper address or phone number as well as choose the one you want them to send reset code to.

In case you do not remember these details, you would get a questionnaire which would also be inclusive of account security questions. After resetting the password with the help of online form, you would be capable to login with new password. Your PC must be connected to the net in order to be updated with fresh password.

Removing local account password

There are many ways to reset the password without the administrative access or even passing security checks from the online form. These methods include bootable DVD, CD or USB. There are several other bootable password recovery as well as rescue tools which work with the latest versions. The boot settings nevertheless have to be changed. 

If you have a genuine Windows 8 disc or flash drive, you should be able to boot from it without changing the boot settings. 

Windows 8 Advanced Startup Options (ASO) screen

The Windows 8 Advanced Startup Options (ASO) screen replaces Advanced Boot Options screen from previous Windows versions. If there is no genuine disc or flash drive then use an external utility or tool. You would have to disable new secure boot as well as UEFI features.

Before you can boot up a third-party tool on a computer that came pre-loaded with Windows 8 or later, you must temporarily disable the new Secure Boot and UEFI features. Hold the shift key while you restart Windows 8.

As it boots into Advanced Startup Options menu, click Troubleshoot, Advanced Options, and UEFI Firmware Settings. The settings however differ between PC manufacturers. You would have to disable the Secure Boot and UEFI features. As and when you run bootable third-party tool and clear your Windows password, re-enable Secure Boot and UEFI.  

With PC settings app you can set up new alternative login methods. Now you can also set some alternative login methods which can be used if the password is forgotten. 

Even MS accounts do have a similar password reset function. Generate Microsoft recovery code so that you can save and enter it later if it has been forgotten and even if the password has been changed. Recovery code can be generated on the Microsoft security settings webpage.

You can visit this page for getting technical support for all windows related problem. 

Add useful toolbars to Windows taskbar

Windows desktop can be a lovely pace to work provided it has been set up properly. Native toolbars would make it more efficient by placing details and shortcuts at your fingertips. If you are located in Windows taskbar then you would not have to close windows or open folders and files through Windows Explorer to access them. We can see how these toolbars can be useful:

How to add Toolbar

Just right click Windows taskbar, choose Toolbars from menu and either choose an existing toolbar, or click on new toolbar. When adding new toolbar, choose a folder on your computer which contains the apt content. Create a new folder as you would pick the location and later add the content. 

Useful toolbars from Windows: 

Address: Open the latest used folders type the application names, files, folders as well as launch websites in default browser. If you want to go to the address toolbar with the help of keyboard shortcuts, click Windows + B, followed by Shift + Tab.

Links: Add the favorite websites and make them the default browser. This is same as Internet Explorer Favorites Bar. You can search as well as edit the content of the folder in the Windows user folder under Favorites.

Tablet PC Input Panel of Windows 7 or Touch Keyboard of Windows 8: This button launches a keyboard which would respond to touch input on the touch screen. It works with mouse too.

Desktop: View the desktop items in a single long list. This maintains easy access to shortcuts when the desktop icons are hidden to make it look clean.   

Quick Launch Bar: This is a list of icons which are embedded in taskbar. It is no more featured as a toolbar anymore but is an important component of Windows OS even in Windows 8. If you want to launch programs quickly it’s great. Files can also be added by launching your most used programs, but you can also add files you need to access frequently.

If you want to customize it, right-click and unlock Taskbar. Now right click Quick launch and remove checkmarks for Show text and title.  Taskbar is not locked they, Quick Launch can be dragged to a different location. 

Short Notes & Lists  

If you keep looking at bits of information repeatedly then keep it organized and accessible through toolbar located in the taskbar. If you want to find your things quickly then this is the best solution.   

Custom Toolbar  

In order to create this list, form a new toolbar and then fill it with files. Since note is title of the shortcut file, the characters and its length are limited. Notepad files can be used which can also be saved as.LNK files. You can choose custom icon: right-click on file, choose Properties, and click Change Icon… button.

Start Menu Toolbar

Those who are using Windows 7 OS, you can use as well as customize existing Start Menu. If you are using Windows 8, install a third party Start Menu.  Make use of toolbar to re-create Start Menu. Just create a new toolbar, take it to folder which contains content of the substitute Start Menu. Add the desired content to respective folder, and finally move toolbar to local Start Menu location which is on the far left of taskbar.

Start Menu    

You can use the combination of Win+X Power User Menu. This open as you click Windows + X keys; then right-click Windows 8 Start button.

For any technical support for windows you could contact protectandaccess.com. 

Does your PC Require an Outbound Firewall?

Windows has an in built firewall that blocks inbound connections. If the program acts as a server then Windows would prompt you. This firewall allows you to connect without your permission. Windows firewall shows a single application related firewall prompt. When the application wants to function as a web server, prompt appears informing this. If you allow, then applications can receive incoming connections from the net or even local network. You would have to forward the ports on router if application is not supportive of UPnP forwarding it automatically.

These are not frequent and not easy to deal with. Whenever an application wants to connect Internet or local network you get to see a prompt. If connection is declined, the firewall would prevent application from connecting.

Outbound firewalls are not that useful for an average user. These prevent applications on computer from connecting online. If you get to see a malware which is connecting then you are in trouble as it is running on the computer. The malware does lot of damage. 

If the program was running on the system and had access then it would open loopholes in firewall program. Malware could ally with other programs in order to communicate over net. It is not easy to isolate any particular application from the net. 

Outbound firewall is quite effective against any type of malware. Focus is mainly on effective antivirus program thereby keeping it updated and ensuring that Java is not installed. This would keep PC more secure compared to an antivirus which would not be that effective. If for once the system has been compromised then it cannot be undone.   

However geeks feel that this application would block apps which cannot be trusted blindly. However no unreliable application should be allowed to run on the system. Outbound firewalls cannot be totally discarded. In case you have some particular need and want to prevent the application from connecting to net then this can be valuable. However not many require this. 

You can also make use of Windows Firewall in order to create a rule to block the application from connecting to net. If you are configuring any server then this can be done to arrange outbound firewall rules thereby locking the machine.  

You can surely install an external firewall on Windows PC and avail benefits of the software. Sure, you could install a third-party firewall on your Windows PC and get outbound firewall capabilities. You should be able to control applications which connect with net.   

However every application would be connecting to the net for updates. Most programs on computer connect for some reason or the other. 

While outbound firewalls are not harmful they do not come with many disadvantages. It would take up more system resources and irritate you to upgrade. In case it is part of internet security suite it adds up to other programs which are not required in the system. 

The firewall adds complexity. You have to determine which applications should or must not connect. You would not surely like to deal with prompts always. On the other hand if you want to manage programs on the system which can connect easily, then install an external firewall.