How to Reset Lost Windows Password for KVM Virtual Machine

Forgot Windows administrator password to a KVM virtual machine? KVM (for kernel-based virtual machine) is a full virtualization solution that can run both Windows and Linux in virtual machines. If you forgot a KVM VM password, it seems that there is no other way but to rebuild a new virtual machine.

PCUnlocker can be a lifesaver for helping you reset lost admin password for any Windows virtual machine running in KVM. Follow the simple steps below to reset KVM Windows password instantly.

1Change KVM Setting

1. Click here to download and save the PCUnlocker self-extracting Zip file to your host OS, then extract the ISO image file: pcunlocker.iso from it.
2. Launch Virt-Manager (also known as Virtual Machine Manager), double-click on the Windows guest OS that you want to reset password for.
3. Click the i-shaped toolbar icon at the top of the window to view virtual hardware details.

4. select the IDE CDROM 1 tab on the left panel. Disconnect the virtual CD from any existing ISO image, and then click Connect to select the pcunlocker.iso file.

   

5. Click on the Boot Options tab. Tick Enable boot menu. Check the CDROM item and put the CDROM item on top of the boot device list.

2Reset KVM Windows Password

1. Now start the virtual machine. The computer will temporarily load the WinPE OS from the virtual CD and start the PCUnlocker program after a while.

2. Simply select your Windows SAM registry hive, the program will display a list of Windows user accounts. Select an account and click the Reset Password button.

   

3. This program will unlock / remove your forgotten Windows VM password instantly. Restart your VM and disconnect the CD drive, you can then log back into your Windows VM without entering a password!

PCUnlocker allows you to easily reset lost administrator and user password for all versions of Windows, including Windows 11. If you need to reset forgotten password for a KVM virtual machine, please use the Enterprise edition of PCUnlocker which includes VirtIO SCSI drivers.