Windows 7 Password recovery (Is there an easy way out?)

[ComputerWizKid]

I have a computer that I am working on for a friend of a friend and they forgot the password (Long Story) I booted it up to a live USB Linux
I found a guide that would of worked but it seems the user accounts are changed or missing (The welcome screen has 2 names which don't match the only name in C:\Users) Is there a way to fix this? short of copying 333GB of data and then starting over? I am thinking the only good news is the files are not locked

 

[smakme7757]

I've used those "Password reset boot cds" before, they work fine. We had one at work which we purchased, i believe it was elcomsoft. But there are hundreds of really cheap or free alternatives available.

It's as simple as booting from the CD. Clicking the Windows install you want to alter. Choosing the account and clicking the big button named "Reset Password".

I can't vouch for this software as I've never used it, but it's free.

http://www.pcloginnow.com/

 

[ComputerWizKid]

Thanks just tried ophcrack and I got the password right away (Well in under 5 Minutes)

 

[smakme7757]

Thanks just tried ophcrack and I got the password right away (Well in under 5 Minutes)

Must have been a very short password .

But great you got it sorted out

 

[ComputerWizKid]

Yeah the password was all lower case + 2 of the same numbers for a total of 7 characters

 

[Zodiark1593]

Yeah the password was all lower case + 2 of the same numbers for a total of 7 characters

No real point using a long password for a Windows login screen. In both Win 7, and Win 8, it's quite easy to reset or change the password without having logged in.

 

[mikeymikec]

ntpasswd hasn't been updated for Win8 yet, which makes me sad.

 

[ViRGE]

No real point using a long password for a Windows login screen. In both Win 7, and Win 8, it's quite easy to reset or change the password without having logged in.

Eh, it's still useful if you use the password elsewhere (e.g. file server passwords). And of course if Bitlocker or other encryption is in play, then the drive can't be decrypted in the first place to modify the password.

 

[JoeBleed]

No real point using a long password for a Windows login screen. In both Win 7, and Win 8, it's quite easy to reset or change the password without having logged in.

How can you do this if you haven't setup the reset info or password hint?

 

[ViRGE]

How can you do this if you haven't setup the reset info or password hint?

Windows password hashes are stored in the Registry. Unless the disk is encrypted you can simply mount the registry and change the password hash to whatever you'd like it to be.

 

[AMDBOY]

Hastily changing my own win 7 user account password, when I found out someone I dont trust would have access to my pc while I was at work, I screwed myself out of user access. Ive tried ophcrack but it just hangs after a while and then pc shuts off. My password is 20 characters I thought.that might be holding ophcrack up. The windows recovery tool booted but didn't reveal the pass for free. I'll try the program mentioned in this thread. Any other easy , free apps suggested? TIA.

 

[JoeBleed]

UBCD has tools that will work. just read the on screen instructions carefully and make sure you understand them. Blanking the password is the better option i've read.

this old necro thread reminded me i forgot to respond.

I thought Zodiark1593 was talking about bypassing the login screen or doing it with the os booted and running. I've read about utilities that are supposed to log you into a windows machine with out having their password or changing it. I've yet to get one to work.