Forgotten Windows 8.1 Password.

Hi,

You do not need a Product Key to create installation Media for 8.1.

And you can create the Media on any Windows 7 or above machine.

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You can download and create your own Windows 8.1 Installation Media to reinstall the Operating System with..

"Create installation media for Windows 8.1"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

A similar Tutorial which may also assist you

"Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1"

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/create-installation-media-windows-81

In the first screen of this very simple wizard, you need to choose the following:

Language. English – en-us if you're in the United States.

Edition. Windows 8.1 (Core), Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro N, or Windows 8.1 Single Language.

Architecture. 64-bit (x64 ) or 32-bit (x86).

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"How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html

   Warning

This will not work to install Windows 8 or 8.1 for UEFI. For that, see this tutorial below instead.

UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

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With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

When you reinstall it will pick up the Product Key and activate the system automatically.

If it does not, follow these steps:

"How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24636-activate-windows-8-phone.html

"Get help with activation errors"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/activation-errors

"How to activate a Microsoft product by using Microsoft Product Activation Center"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us

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This information may interest you if you do wish to keep a record of it after you reinstall:

"Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool"

https://neosmart.net/blog/2014/windows-10-embedded-product-key-tool/

"We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, our embedded product key tool will retrieve and display the Windows setup product key embedded in the BIOS or EFI, allowing you to store it for safe-keeping or use it to reinstall Windows with an official Windows setup image."

Cheers.

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

It is unfortunate that you are unable to get in to your computer with a lot of data in it and I can sure understand this situation.

• Had you configured your user account with Microsoft Account or a local account?

If you used to log-in to your computer using Microsoft Account, there is possibility that you can reset the password and get back to your computer. However, since you are getting the error to repair your PC, let's try the following steps and check.

Step 1: Create installation media for Windows 8.1

You may follow the steps below to re-download Windows 8 and also you can create installation media as well.

1. Run the **Create installation media for**Windows 8.1 program.
2. When prompted to run or save the file, choose Run
3. When prompted to enter a product key, enter the 25-digit product key you received when you bought Windows 8.1.
4. When prompted to install Windows 8.1, select Install by creating media, and then click Next.
5. Select the type of media you want to use: either a USB flash drive or a DVD.

Note: You may require the product key for Windows 8.1 in order to create installation media.

To create a USB flash drive

1. Click USB flash drive.
2. Plug the USB flash drive into a USB port on your PC.
3. When prompted, select the USB drive you want to use and then click Next. If you have files on the USB flash drive, they'll be deleted.

To create a DVD

1. Click ISO file and then select the location to save the ISO file.
2. Insert a blank, recordable DVD into your DVD drive.
3. Burn the ISO file to the DVD using Windows Disc Image Burner, or another DVD burning program.

Step 2: Once, you have successfully created  Windows 8.1 bootable DVD or USB drive then using the same perform a startup repair and check if that helps.

a) Insert the installation DVD or USB and boot Windows 8.1 from it.

b) In the ‘Windows setup’ page select the language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and the ‘keyboard or input method’ and click on ‘next’.

c) Click on ‘Repair your computer’ and select **‘Troubleshoot’.**d) Click on ‘Advanced options’ and select ‘Automatic Repair’ and select the operating system.

Step 3: To reset/recover your Microsoft Account password, I would request you to refer to the suggestions provided by **Cliff\_N replied on December 7, 2012**.

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.