• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Friend doesn't know password...

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Originally posted by: modedepe
I've been able to recover passwords for win2k this way before.. First I boot into dos. If the partition is ntfs you have to load ntfs dos or something else to mount the ntfs drive. Then copy the sam file onto a floppy disk. You can then use l0phtcrack or some other password cracking tool to try to get the password. Keep in mind this only works if syskey is not installed.
Click to expand...

I have syskey enabled, and just for kicks I just ran l0phtcrack. It is able to crack my password using brute force (I didn't even extract the SAM file, this was done in Windows).
 
if none of this works can't u just take the disk out and use it as slave in another computer to grab the stuff off it then format anyways
 
Originally posted by: KraziKid
Originally posted by: modedepe
I've been able to recover passwords for win2k this way before.. First I boot into dos. If the partition is ntfs you have to load ntfs dos or something else to mount the ntfs drive. Then copy the sam file onto a floppy disk. You can then use l0phtcrack or some other password cracking tool to try to get the password. Keep in mind this only works if syskey is not installed.
Click to expand...

I have syskey enabled, and just for kicks I just ran l0phtcrack. It is able to crack my password using brute force (I didn't even extract the SAM file, this was done in Windows).
Click to expand...

If you're logged into the admin account in windows, then I don't think it matters if syskey is enabled or not. You can extract the hashes without them being encrypted. But I believe if you've booted into dos instead, the sam file will be encrypted if syskey is enabled.
 
How many times has this thread showed up ? Too many. *Insert shameless plug for writing down pw's in a safe location here*

Really though, sorry to hear. Being locked out by a PW really sucks, especially in any system past Win2k Pro. If you read a lot of the other threads, youll notice most people say dont even try. Hopefuly one of the links provided will be of more use.

Good luck.
 
i'm telling you man....look into system diagnostic utilities that have this capability....as i mentioned before, winternals admin pack has a tool designed specifically for this......they are not the only one out there, but the admin pack has alot of other cool tools that you be able to use in some way.....there is software out there that is made to fix this type of problem from an administration standpoint (not a hacking)......you'll just have to look
 
I might be getting cynical in my old age but I am still reluctant to help people defeat security. We have no idea what they might be up to other than some highly improbable stories. A possible explanation for which would be that they are up to anything from theft to mischief to terrorism. It's nice to be a good guy but it is stupid to give a helping hand to a crime in progress. On top of that I hate to be played for a sap by a con artist.
 
Try going into safe mode and accessing the normally hidden Administrator account, assuming she didn't password that also. Otherwise I think you might be stuck.

-Por
 
You can use this Linux bootdisk to reset NT/2K/XP passwords.
Click to expand...


his link

like he said

lets give him the benefit of the doubt, some people actually forget there passwords.

I have 4 user names and password that I have to remeber at work (hospital)
 
Originally posted by: JBTele
if none of this works can't u just take the disk out and use it as slave in another computer to grab the stuff off it then format anyways
Click to expand...

This is what I did with a friends machine. I tried that LC4 program and just about everything else mentioned here and nothing worked.
 
If all you want is to recover files... you can...

1. take out the hard drive and insert it into a machine with a different hard drive with an OS you can actually log into... then just access the files you need like it's any other second hard drive

2. Do a dual boot with the same operating system and then access the files using the second Installed OS
 
Like Bobby said, slave the problem drive in another machine or put a different master in hers. Then get the files she wants to save off her drive since you'll be able to access it just like any other drive. Format, re-install, and don't enter an Administrator password. That way next time this happens, you'll just be able to go in under Admin and fix it. No hacking/illegality involved and the problem is still solved. We're not helping you, ya terrorist!
 
In win2k you can delete the SAM file and then re-boot as admin and enter new password - might be same on winxp
 
Originally posted by: VansTheMan
Like Bobby said, slave the problem drive in another machine or put a different master in hers. Then get the files she wants to save off her drive since you'll be able to access it just like any other drive. Format, re-install, and don't enter an Administrator password. That way next time this happens, you'll just be able to go in under Admin and fix it. No hacking/illegality involved and the problem is still solved. We're not helping you, ya terrorist!
Click to expand...


I used a method above...it worked.....consider me a terrorist....lol j/k
 
I don't know if it has been answered yet because I don't want to read all the replies, but try without a pw, try with Administrator in username, try with Administrator in username and pw. If none of those works, check if it is an NTFS setup or FAT32. Go to Google.com and search around, and you'll find some sites teling you to boot up from a floppy disk, by putting a certain file on it. This will reset the password, atleast it did with the one I tried.

I said FAT32 or NTFS because using the method you find is much easier with FAT32, although it can be done with NTFS, but may take more time.
 
So you spent hours backing up data, and reloading windows when you could have poped in a boot disk and reset the password in under 2 minutes. Good choice
rolleye.gif
 
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
So you spent hours backing up data, and reloading windows when you could have poped in a boot disk and reset the password in under 2 minutes. Good choice
rolleye.gif
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking, this guy is smart listen to him!
 
If you hit alt-ctrl-del 2 times at the "cartoony friendly login" it take you to the real login and there you can type in 'administrator' with no password like M4H said, most likely there will be no password set, then go in and change the users password
 
i used lc4 at work.. brute force in 1 day on a dual xeon cracked every single password including ones with alpha + numeric passwords, longest was like 13 character long.. was funny but all 50 users were cracked
 
Originally posted by: stuman19
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
So you spent hours backing up data, and reloading windows when you could have poped in a boot disk and reset the password in under 2 minutes. Good choice
rolleye.gif
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking, this guy is smart listen to him!
Click to expand...

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top