Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 bring several changes compared to its predecessors, in the configuration of the password to access the computer . By default, on a new PC or with a new installation of Windows 10 and 8, you log in with the password of the Microsoft account which is the same as that to enter Windows Live, Hotmail, Outlook.com and Skype.
This integration is a nice improvement over the past, it adds security to Windows and makes the computer more protected against external access attempts.
With the Microsoft account it is also possible to use the same settings on any computer with Windows 10 or Windows 8 that is accessed, even those not proper (although I would be careful)
Furthermore, since the password is that of the Microsoft online services, it is possible to reset the password online, in case you forget it (READ: How to recover the password of an Outlook.com account ).
Windows 10 and 8, in addition to the classic password, also allow you to set authorized access with an image, an ideal feature especially for touchscreen tablets.
Let's examine what options Windows 8 offers to manage access and permissions on your computer.
First of all, to create a user account in Windows 10, press the Windows-I keys together or open the Start menu to open the Settings .
Go to the Account section, then to Family and other users and right click on Add another user to this PC or add a family member, which is like a protected account.
When creating a new normal user, you can choose to create a Microsoft or a local normal user.
Creating the Microsoft account is the automatic and insistent setting of Windows 10, but you can still choose the local account, go to the last option at the bottom of the page and, without putting the Email address, press on Local account .
However, the new Windows account will not be an administrator.
To set it go to Control Panel> User Account Management and, in Manage another account and change the option change account type by choosing administrator .
Keep in mind that using a Microsoft account has some advantages.
As for user passwords, we have several possibilities.
1) Automatic login without password
If the computer is a desktop PC used only by the owner, the password must be the same but you can easily set up automatic access.
This bypasses not only the login password request screen but also the lock screen, somewhat useless on a normal computer.
Windows startup also becomes faster and more consecutive, without the need for user intervention.
To set up automatic login in Windows you can follow the guide to disable the password request on Windows.
In summary: press the Windows-R keys, open the Run dialog, write the Netplwiz command and press Enter
Uncheck the option " Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" click OK.
2) Change password
To change the password of Windows 10 and 8, open the settings (press the Windows + I keys) and in the PC settings, go to the Account> Access options section
You will then be able to find the Change password button or to add other authentication methods.
3) Reset the password of a Microsoft account
If you use a Microsoft account to enter Windows 10 and 8 you can reset your password online in case you forget it.
To do this, just visit the password reset web page on the Microsoft website where you can enter your email address and CAPTCHA code to confirm that you are a human and not a robot.
A code will be sent to your email or via SMS to the mobile phone that has been associated with the account.
4) Reset your Windows password
If you use a local user account, not tied to a Windows Live account, to reset the password or recover it in case you forget it there are traditional methods.
Like Windows 7, Windows 10 and Win8 also include a tool to create a password reset disk that is recommended to be created immediately.
Go to the Start screen write "password" and, in the Settings section, start the tool to create a password reset disk .
To use the tool, before launching it, connect a USB stick to the computer.
If a password recovery tool was not in place, there is a fantastic trick that allows you to log in to your computer and reset your password without having to reinstall Windows from scratch.
We explained the trick step by step in the guide on how to create a new Windows administrator user to log in without password .
Using external programs like Ophcrack to crack the Windows password or Konboot to access Windows without a password.
5) Create a graphic password
Windows 10 and 8 also allow you to log in with gestures on the screen.
This feature was designed for touchscreen tablets, for quick access, without wasting time typing letters on the touch keyboard.
To create an image password, always press Windows-I, go to the PC settings and then in the Account> Access options section to create the click or tap the Create a graphic password button and follow the wizard.
Basically, it's about logging in with finger or mouse movements on a photo.
For example, a simple graphic password could be a family photo in which people 'faces are touched in a certain order.
To make it more difficult you can draw lines or circles.
The graphical password is not a substitute for the normal password that can always be used.
6) Create a password with PIN
If you want to secure your Microsoft account, you set up a strong and complicated password.
At the same time, to access the computer it is possible to write a 4 number PIN, easy to remember and faster to write, without changing the main password of the Microsoft account.
The PIN is always configured from the Login Options tab of the account settings.
READ ALSO: How User Account Control works in Windows (UAC)
