How does one get passed Windows 2000 password??

[ryno267]

With a lost password and one pissed off friend - I need to find out how to get passed the windows 2000 bootup password.
Can anybody help me with this??? thanx in advance
ryno267

 

[Richard98]

Has your friend tried logging in as "Administrator"? Maybe he simply deleted the user name that he's accustomed to using - I've been there.

When I thought that I had lost mine, I searched google.com and did find software that would reset the password for you, but IMO it was expensive - $60-$70.

 

[bigshooter]

reinstall, all his data will be there, they'll just have to put their programs back on.

 

[ryno267]

I'm going to try and do the software thing first - cause i know some people who can get it for me - and if that route doesn't work then I'll tell him to reinstall. I don't think he can log in as administrator because i believe that is the password he cannot remember anymore... lol
thanx guys...

ryno267 out

 

[Saltin]

Cracking a forgoten password requires you to weigh the pro's and cons. You could use l0pht crack to attempt this, but if the password isnt a simple dictionary word it could take days to brute force it. You should go into it expecting the cracking process to take at least 72 hours.
Now, if the data is very valuable ( say a production file server ) then 72 hours is no big deal. The data is worth the effort.
If the data is just a bunch of apps you could re-install anyhow, then you may be better off just re-installing.

Decide which is the bettert route for you.

 

[fastman]

This might help?

 

[grumm3t]

Hrmm, is it an acuall boot up password (before it loads kernel) or is in a windows User?

 

[grumm3t]

Sorry, I just checked that link posted right above me... that's is what I used to change my administrator password on my W2K box from my dad's office... it's pretty simple... unless your an idiot and screw things up.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Thanks for that link fastman, could have some fun at work w/ that one

 

[igiveup]

Does your friend know the original password for administrator when he originally installed windows 2000? If so there is something you or he can do from recovery console. Have to know how to move around in a DOS like environment though. Lemme know if you want to give it a shot. I have done it and I know it works.

 

[imgod2u]

I think all the NT machines have a backdoor or something. Before, when my dad lost his password to the win2k machine at the lab, I downloaded this small program called winntkey or something. All it does is reboot the password to nothing. I think the trial version only works on workstations or some other kind of limitation, but it's available. Search google.

 

[Thor86]

Try the demo version of this.

Lostpassword.com

Always keep a record of these things, just in case incidents like these happen.

 

[dsparks]

Just be careful how you use things like this. A friend of mine got fired for legit use of things like this!

In other words... C. Y. A!

dsparks