Why This Step Matters
Sometimes, when you shut down a computer, Windows doesn’t actually turn all the way off. Instead, it “freezes” everything exactly as it was and saves it to a file, so it can pick up right where it left off next time. This is called hibernation.
If hibernation is turned on, and you start the computer with the PC-DNA USB before doing a real, full shutdown, Windows can later “wake up” and undo the password reset. That’s why we ask you to shut down the right way first, before using PC-DNA.
Don’t worry — none of this deletes your files or damages your computer. It just makes sure the password reset actually stays after you restart.
Step 1 — Turn On the Computer Normally
Turn on the computer the way you always do — without the PC-DNA USB drive plugged in. Let it start up normally, all the way to the desktop or the lock screen.
Step 2 — Shut Down the Right Way
This is the important part. Just clicking “Shut down” is often not enough — many computers use a “quick shutdown” by default, which is really just hibernation in disguise.
To force a full, proper shutdown:
- Click the Start button (the Windows logo — usually in the bottom-left corner of the screen).
- Click the Power button icon.
- On your keyboard, find the Shift key and press and hold it down — don’t let go yet.
- While still holding Shift, click Shut down with your mouse.
- Keep holding Shift for about one second after clicking, then let go.
If you did it correctly, the computer may take a little longer than usual to turn off. That’s a good sign — it means Windows is doing a real, full shutdown this time.
Step 3 — Turn Hibernation Off for Good (Recommended)
The Shift trick above works for one shutdown, but hibernation can quietly turn itself back on later. If you’d like to switch it off completely, follow these steps once — it only takes a minute, and you don’t need to understand any of it to do it correctly.
- Click the Start button.
- Type cmd on your keyboard. Don’t click anywhere first — just start typing, and a search result will appear on its own.
- You’ll see Command Prompt appear in the results. Right-click on it (click with the right mouse button).
- In the menu that appears, click Run as administrator.
- If a window pops up asking for permission, click Yes.
[Photo placeholder — right-click menu showing “Run as administrator” on Command Prompt]
A black window will open. This is called the Command Prompt — it’s just a place where you type instructions instead of clicking buttons. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you exactly what to type.
- Type exactly the following, using your keyboard:
powercfg /hibernate off - Press Enter on your keyboard.
- Close the black window by clicking the X in its top-right corner.
[Photo placeholder — Command Prompt window after typing the command]
Nothing seems to happen after you press Enter — the cursor just moves down to a new empty line. That’s completely normal. It means it worked.
Step 4 — Continue With PC-DNA
Once the computer is fully shut down, plug in the PC-DNA USB drive and turn the computer back on as usual. You can now continue with the password reset.