[Win2000] Password recovery app?

[redeemed]

I've got a friend who's lost his password for his Win 2k installation. He says he can't install or uninstall programs or delete certain files and can only log in a guest. The Windows install is on an old IBM laptop (8 GB HDD etc.) . It was previously a company laptop.

I heard about a live-CD Linux distro (forgot it's name) that can change the admin password for a Windows account. Anyone tried that? I was thinking about a password changing program but he obviously can't install anything, as well as the aspect of that program might change system files etc etc.

Ideas are appreciated. Thanks. :)

[koftheworld]

http://lifehacker.com/software/password-re...e-cd-232963.php

[SacrificialSoldier]

  koftheworld said:

http://lifehacker.com/software/password-re...e-cd-232963.php

1+ I also ue ERD Commander to do it.

Edit: WOW I just noticed, post 2000!

[Lexcyn]

  koftheworld said:

http://lifehacker.com/software/password-re...e-cd-232963.php

ERD Commander works. You can reset any local account password to whatever you want. However, you do have to purchase it I believe.

Edit: ^ Beat me to it. :p

[SacrificialSoldier]

  Lexcyn said:

ERD Commander works. You can reset any local account password to whatever you want. However, you do have to purchase it I believe.

Edit: ^ Beat me to it. :p

yeah but you took the time to post a link!

[TurboTuna]

Another one for ERD Commander. Expensive if all you want to use it for is change a password though

[s3pHiX]

This is probably one of the easiest and best Password Reset tools I've ever had a friend find for me. It's written on a Linux Kernel, and believe me it works wonders for lost or forgotten passwords.

Link to Password Reset: Password Reset

1st -- just create a bootable CD Image from the files

2nd -- once the app launches you'll get a couple of options. They are as follows...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1st -- probe for SCSI devices -- answer NO

2nd -- select device -- which is normally /dev/hda1 or hda2 -- whichever has the NTFS file system

3rd -- select location of HIVE Files -- windows/system32/config

4rth -- just press enter once you see the HIVE files --- which are Security, Default, SAM, etc...

5th --- you'll see where it ask what you would like to do, then type ! to list the users, select the account you would like, type the account name and then type * -- which blanks the password, or you also have the option to reset it to your specific needs. I usually just blank them, lot easier to access windows that way, then I reset it there.

If you have trouble or issues running this, let me know.

Thanks,

Edited April 5, 2007 by s3pHiX

[slickice11]

You can do it with systemrescuecd, just type ntpass at the boot prompt, it also does a million other things that make it worth downloading and burning just to keep around.

[redeemed]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I'll d/l all the tools and see which works best. Much appreciated!!

Happy Easter :)