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Alex
Asked: 2010-06-24 05:08:01 +0800 CST

Obtaining administrator access to Windows XP (lost password)

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I have a number of Windows XP boxes left in my orgamization from a former system administrator. So I have no administrator passwords. How do I get administrator access to these boxes without reinstalling Windows?

P.S.: There's a neat solution "chroot with live cd" for linux, maybe there's something similar for Windows XP?

windows password

5 Answers

  1. If these PCs are joined to a domain and their computer accounts are still valid, you can login using a domain admin account and reset any local passwords that way.

    If they aren't on a domain, or their computer accounts have expired, been delete, etc. then you can try ntpasswd, a bootable utility for resetting passwords. It's Linux-based and has no fancy GUI, but it does work like a charm.

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  2. We've used UBCD 4 for Windows. There's an option once booted to reset the local administrator password. I have provided the link below;

    http://www.ubcd4win.com/

    The program onced booted is called Sala Password Renew.

    -D

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  3. I use Rescue Is Possible (RIP) Linux to boot the system. Create a directory under /mnt if one isn't already there, and mount the partition with Windows in it.

    Change directory to /mnt//WINDOWS/system32/config (I think that's the directory, working from memory). It's the directory with a file called SAM.

    Then run ntpasswd. The defaults should work to blank out the password (don't change it). Save changes, reboot to Windows, log in as local adminstrator with blank password.

    Don't do this if it involves encryption on the system...

    Then add a new password once you're in.

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  4. You could download the OPH Crack Live CD. It will actually let you recover the password so you don't have to use a boot CD on every single machine.

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  5. Try the KON-boot LiveCD.

    It modifies the kernel on the fly when booting and allows you to log in with a master password to the current system on the hard drive.

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