Windows password recovery

[fumble]

Windows User Account :

The situation is fairly standard a workstation or server, Windows NT4, 2000, XP or 2003, is to reconfigure (e.g. IP address change), but the regular user has insufficient rights to do so. It just happens the day the director is absent, and the user must be able to use their PC in an emergency.
Two cases are distinguished, depending on whether the local account (server or workstation) or domain account (domain server).

Local Account :

If you have lost your windows password. No panic, before the windows screen press [F8] boot into Safe Mode and then click Administrator and not on your account. Normally there is no word or password so the password you set during installation system. A second solution is to boot from the cdrom to install windows and enter the Recovery Console. It should get better, watch this is a reset of the registry, it is therefore your own risk and the system may have trouble privileges.

The passwords for local accounts of all users are stored in encrypted form in a " beehive "Base Registers, namely the SAM file (Security Account M ANAGER), specifically the branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SAM \ SAM \ Domains \ Account \ Users

It must therefore be able to access the SAM file (% systemroot% \ system32 \ config), but in the case of NTFS, it's impossible in DOS (unless you use specialized tools pay, such as those provided by Winternals ). We can eventually reach an NTFS partition by installing another copy of NT, which is quite heavy and requires the free disk space.

It will suffice to start the PC version (reduced) LINUX (yes!), Containing a program (chntpwd) who can access the SAM database (Security Account Manager) located in the NT system partition, and allow to set a new password for the administrator (or any other user).

You can use either the floppy version, or the CDROM version, according to available devices on the PC, since the CD-ROM version is more convenient to use.

Steps to Change User Password From Remote Computer :

It is possible to change the Windows User Account password with the help of a Remote Computer. That means if you have a Remove access to any system then you can change the User Account Password. This is best suitable for Administrators or users who manages WorkStation, Stand-Alone Server or Windows Domain Controller. And the second thing I want to tell you that there is also difference while changing the password. This is possible in NT 4.0, W2K, XP Pro and Windows Server 2003 computer.

For that you also does not need to login in the User Account Database. So that removes the problem of checking the database of the Username. The procedure for that is very simple and it is quiet very useful for that also. From there you will not need to do anything in the User Account Database and also the security of the security accounts manager (SAM). This is the place where your default user account and password is saved on the default logon domain.

[fumble]

Here are the steps for the same for changing the password of User.

• First from your system press Ctrl + Alt + Del. By this you will get a Windows Security dialog box. Do this when your system reboots and you came on the login screen of Windows.
• After that click on Change Password Button.

• Now put the user name and the new password which you want to change. The user name refers to the name of the person who’s password you want to change.
• Now form this box you will need to click on the computer name below or the domain name if that is available there. Choose the appropriate computer or the domain name which contains the User Account Database or else you might get the error.
• After that put the proper password in the old one and then add the new one. Then confirm the same again and give ok.
• After that you will get message on the screen saying that Your password has been changed. Then restart one then check back the new password.
• This procedure for the same might ask you for the User Right to get Access to this computer from network. This stays usually disabled for everyone. So you can put the same for your profile.

Windows XP :

Windows XP Professional Edition, it is possible to develop strategies on passwords:

• Click on Start > Run, then type: gpedit.msc.
• In the Group Policy editor, open the tree - Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies > Password Policy.

You will have access to these strategies:

• Preserve the history of passwords: determines the number of unique new passwords that must be associated with a user account before an old password can be reused. To summarize, it is not possible for your user to use the same password or a password before you use the word count that you establish.
• Lifetime Minimum password: Determines the time (in days) during which a password must be used before the user can modify.
• Lifetime maximum password: Determines the time (in days) during which a password can be used before the system asks the user to edit.
• Minimum length of password: Specifies the number of characters minimum that must contain a password.
• Set the number of days before the user having to change his password :
• The default is 14 days.
• This strategy determines how long in advance (in days) users are warned that their password will expire.

If you are directly editing the registry, follow these steps:

1. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon.
2. Edit DWORD value named passwordexpirywarning and enter as value data, the number of days.
3. For example, enter the hexadecimal value is to define a period equal to 10 days.

This strategy is available from the Group Policy editor by opening Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Local Policies / Security Options: Interactive logon: Prompt user to change their password before it expires.

The password must meet complexity requirements: If this policy is enabled, passwords must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Do not contain all or part of the name of the user's account
• Have a length of at least 6 characters
• Contain characters from three of the four following categories:
• Uppercase characters of the alphabet
• Characteristics of the alphabet lowercase
• Counts 0-9
• Non-alphanumeric characters such as: ", $, #,%

In case of lost administrator password :

There are several methods depending on whether or not you have access to the operating system:

• How to Reset a forgotten password :
• Windows XP Professional Edition, click Start / Run, then type this command: control userpasswords2.
• Click OK, then in the User Name column, select the name of the intended user.
• Click Reset Password.
• Otherwise, click Start > Run and type cmd. In command prompt, type:
• net user account name abc ( Hit enter after that and password will be deleted )

[fumble]

Reset the Administrator Password:

Here is a method requiring no additional program:

• Do a repair of Windows XP .
• After the first reboot and when detecting devices simultaneously press the Shift key. + F10.
• This will launch a Command Prompt window during the installation of Windows XP .
• Now enter this command: control userpasswords2
• Uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.
• You can also select the Administrator account and then click Reset Password. It is also a quick way to repair a user account when a repair of Windows XP does not solve anything.

Reset the Administrator password or access the system while it restarts repeatedly when you open a user session :

The precondition is that the screen saver is activated for the logon screen. The idea is then simply to replace the file by the program running Logon.scr Shell own the Command Prompt (Cmd. exe).

• Browsing in the registry HKEY_USERS \. DEFAULT \ Control Panel \ Desktop.
• Change a string value named ScreenSaveActive as data indicating the value of the number 1.
• Change a string value named ScreenSaveTimeOut as data indicating the value of the number of seconds before the screen saver goes off. You can indicate a value of 10 seconds.

There are many ways to edit the Windows registry without booting a system session (see paragraphs below) otherwise you will wait until the screen saver starts. Another method is to use a CD bootable type PE Builder then replace the cmd.exe file Logon.scr by typing these commands:

• copy c: \ windows \ system32 \ logon.scr c: \ windows \ system32 \ logon.old
• del c: \ windows \ system32 \ logon.scr
• copy c: \ windows \ system32 \ cmd.exe c: \ windows \ system32 \ cmd.old
• ren c: \ windows \ system32 \ cmd.exe c: \ windows \ system32 \ logon.scr

• Finally, note that you can always put the failed hard disk as slave on another computer then do the same manipulation from the hard drive healthy :
• Once it started you log into the account SYSTEM. You just have to reset the administrator password by typing this command:
• net user administrator new_password
• It'll just make the inverse manipulation by renaming the extensions and correct files Logon.scr Cmd.exe.
• Continuing this logic you can start the Explorer shell by running this command: explorer.exe. From there, since you have access to most programs on your disk, you can move files whose release quarantine prevented the normal Windows startup or perform the extraction of a clean version of the file userinit.exe.

Note that the Programs menu is empty and therefore you must run directly from Windows Explorer executable files corresponding to each program. Be careful not to close the Command Prompt window or you will return to the logon screen.

Note: This method is also valid if you need to reset an administrator account overall. After you delete the local Administrator password activate the boot menu to select Directory Services Restore Mode. Then make the necessary changes in the registry and then reboot. Once launched Command Prompt enter the command dsa.mmc to access the Active Directory account management and then reset the account Domain Administrator.

Windows Vista

First, try typing the password that you thought you had used in capital letters - indeed, it is possible that the capital has been activated when you enter the password for the first time. In some cases, the keyboard of a computer may be configured differently for the opening session. As some keyboard keys are not placed in the same place, try different variations - for example the U.S. keyboard is QWERTY.

Administrator Account

• An account Administrator is created during installation of Windows.
• This account, by default, the rights to reset the password for all other Windows users.
• At the Windows login, try entering "admin" as username, no password.
• In some cases, you cannot get in as Administrator from Safe Mode. (To get into Safe Mode, tap the F8 function key to start your computer)
• If you can open Windows with this account, type the command control userpasswords2, which gives you access to an interface to reset the passwords of all Windows users.
• Attention, resetting a password with this method, there is a risk of losing data encrypted by the user.
• For a method without risk of data loss, see Chapter CD-ROM boot lower (which does not reset, but then returns your original password).

[fumble]

Windows 7

Yes, but that does not mean it is not vulnerable. The truth is that Microsoft made a great effort to make Windows 7 is more secure than its predecessors, but there is an impregnable fortress. Microsoft has made great efforts to help simplify user control over the system. Windows 7 with respect to earlier releases Action Center. This is an enhancement of the Security Center that debuted with Service Pack 2 for Windows XP (which still exists in Windows Vista ). The Action Center provides direct access to security tools, maintenance and backup of Windows 7. It is also responsible for issuing alerts whenever there is something that is not correct. For example, if you need an updated antivirus.

Windows 7 also includes a parental control which helps to set limits on the use of some applications. However, do not set any filters for the Web or on the control of user activities. Once again, Microsoft has to take precautions to avoid problems with companies that have products that perform these functions.

Another security-related feature is Windows Filtering Platform, a tool that is based on the idea that third parties can take advantage of features of Windows Firewall in their own products, which may also enable or disable certain parts of the Firewall, so other products can coexist. Other interesting features are in improving processes related to biometrics, improvements include simplified configuration of readers, allowing users to manage the fingerprint data stored on the computer, and also determine the configuration of login to Windows 7 using these devices.

Today I called a friend who was anxious about traveling and when he could not remember the password for your Windows 7, said that searched the Internet and found the live-cd distribution Ophcrack based on SLAX, but this could not retrieve the password of Windows Vista displayed an error all LM hashes are empty please use NTHash Remaining tables to crack the hashes and all accounts.

User Ophcrack and then boot from the same. Since you cannot remember the password we will exchange it for another, we lower the Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows (although these steps can also be done from a distribution GNU / Linux (installed on the computer or live cd) that allow you to write about NTFS and has the WINE.

• Start the system Ultimate Boot CD for Windows and select the Launch The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows.
• Once loaded the open UBCD4WIN Password Renew Tool, Start > Programs > Password > Tools > Password Renew as illustrated below.
• Open the application and click on Select a target.
• And we select the directory where Windows is installed (as usually C: Windows depending on what partition you installed it).
• As in this case we want to change the password to an account specified use the Renew Existing user password.

Depending on your needs you can make use of different options, here I give a description of each :

• Renew Existing user password: Allows you to overwrite the password of an account by a new one (is the option used in this tutorial).
• Create new Administrator user: Create a new user with rights of administrator .
• Administrator to Turn Existing user: It can give administrator rights to an existing account.
• Advanced tasks: You can cancel the password managed by modifying the SAM directly
• We choose the Renew Existing user password
• We choose the account you wish to change the password
• And put the small password for our account simply click on Install

Easy Way

Unlike other versions of Microsoft operating system (at least I did not know), Windows 7 lets you create a disc which, in the case of losing our home password, so we can reset and re-enter the system without problems .

To do this the only requirements are:

• Windows 7 installed, and started in your session.
• A USB storage device
• In the Start menu writing, User Accounts (User accounts), but from the control panel
• Accessing User Accounts
• In the window that opens to us we will see actions in the left sidebar. At first glance, and you must have realized that taking no action? Insert the USB drive and go to "Create a password reset disk"
• From now are quick steps. Select USB drive, enter the user's current password and Ready, the wizard will create the file to reset the password if forgotten.
• The file created is userkey.psw

Some Recommended Password Recovery Tools :

Ophcrack : The procedure is simple, just download the CD, burn it, then boot from the boot. Once the live CD booted, a list of accounts of the machine is displayed, then simply select one and start the search. If the password is simple (alphanumeric) it should be discovered in minutes. If it contains special characters, and its length is large enough, then it may be that the tool does not find anything. You know what you have to do to choose a new password now.

Offline NT Password and Registry Editor : The Offline NT Password and Registry Editor is a new version yesterday in front of (more recent kernel + disk drivers), it also provides the tool has been moved to another domain. So if you still had the old URL in the bookmarks, which should absorb the current. So people: Password know well or this software. Alternative: Syskey.exe or use TrueCrypt to encrypt.

PC Login Now : It should be people who simply forget their Windows password or enter in the installation of the Administrator anyone what they may have little memory (want to). Too bad if it is then used times. Fortunately, there are now freeware PC Login Now , which you download and then burn to CD. Now you only have to boot the PC with it and now you can reset the password or make a standard user to administrator.

This procedure works with:

• Windows NT4 (Workstation and Server)
• Windows 2000 (Professional and Server)
• Windows XP (Home Edition and Professional)
• Windows 2003
• Windows Vista
• Windows 7

In the case of servers running Windows 2000 and Windows 2003, the procedure applies:

• With standalone servers (not domain) or single members of a domain (not domain controllers)
• The domain servers, but only started in recovery mode Active Directory

[buaini]

Wow,fumble,great post.

There are many people who seems quite easy to lose their password,but many ways are waiting for them before formatting.From your post,we can learn more about it.

I have used Ophcrack before,doesn't help me as the password is a bit complicated.If your password consisting of num and letter,you can use Windows Password Key to recover the password,it is a power windows password recovery

There is no need to worry about when you have lost windows password,nothing is difficult as we are human

[nahanjo]

I’ll give you 3 top solutions to reset Windows password if you forget or lost your Vista password.?

Solution 1: Create a password hint to recall Vista password

As a Windows vista user, you are sure to know the new password hint function of Vista. When you create a password to log on to Windows, you can create a hint to help you remember your lost or forgotten Window Vista password with this new function. Of course, the password hint will not appear until you input a wrong Vista password. And at that time, you can try to recall our forgotten Windows Vista password through the password hint.

Solution 2: Create a password reset disk with a USB flash drive

Although the password hint can help you to remember forgotten Windows Vista password again, it doesn’t can reset Vista password for you at all. When you still cannot recall the forgotten password with password hint, what should you do? For this, Microsoft provides another method for you – create a Windows password reset disk to reset Windows Vista password. Just follow the below steps to create a password reset disk.

* Step 1: Insert a USB flash drive in computer.
* Step 2: Click the Start button →Control Panel→User Accounts and Family Safety→User Accounts.
* Step 3: In the left pane, click Create a password reset disk, and then follow the instructions to complete your operation.

* After the operation above, you can find a file named userkey.psw on your USB drive, which can help you reset Windows Vista password. Once you delete it, you can never reset Vista password with the USB flash drive.
* Note:
Make sure you store the Windows password reset disk with the userkey.psw file in a safe place. As the password reset disk can be used for numerous times, unauthorized users can also access to your computer if he have the password reset disk in hand.

Solution 3: Reset Windows Vista password with Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0

The above 2 ways to reset Vista password are provided by Microsoft. If you cannot recall the password with password hint, and also forget to create a password reset disk in advance, what should do? Reinstall your computer? No, you’ll forever lose your precious photos and other files on computer. In that case, you’ll need the help of a third party – Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0

Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 is professional Windows password recovery software for you to reset Windows password including administrator password and user password with ease. It provides you a fast and secure solution to reset Windows vista password by burning a bootable CD/ DVD.It is very easy to use, jut taking you 3 steps to perform Windows password recovery.

The 3 solutions in this passage are easy, effective and reliable in resetting Vista password. Just select one according to your actual needs. In fact, the easiest and safest way to reset Windows vista password is to write the password on a paper and keep it in a safe place.

[thecommentator]

I am just new to using a computer in general, I am relatively new to excel and word 2007. I want to protect some of my word and excel documents; but I can’t see how the password is a protection, if someone can just use a “recovery password unlocker”. Why are password “unlockers” so freely available? Is there a way of totally protecting a document for being read by another person? Thanks

[JAMES_911]

Well, most of the password unlockers are not free. Apart from using a password unlocker software, you can directly password protect Word and Excel to individual documents, and it's easier than you might think. Here's the procedure.

1. With the desired document open, click File, Save As.
2. Click the Tools button, then Security Options (or General Options if you're using Word 2007 or Excel).
3. Enter a password, keeping in mind that it will be required every time you want to open the document. Thus, make sure it's something you can remember! If you're concerned about forgetting, write the password down somewhere.
4. Click OK and you're done.

[Shala]

Nice.Keep on