Forgot your Windows NT/2k/XP/Vista admin password?

NT stores its user information, including crypted versions of the passwords, in a file called ’sam’, usually found in \windows\system32\config. This file is a part of the registry, in a binary format previously undocumented, and not easily accessible. But thanks to a German(?) named B.D, I’ve now made a program that understands the registry.

This site provides CD and floppy images for end users to easily edit their forgotten passwords. But it also provides full source code and binary builds of the tools to allow others to use as they like for other purposes. Registry format documentation also available.

• This is a utility to (re)set the password of any user that has a valid (local)
  
• account on your Windows NT/2k/XP/Vista etc system.
• You do not need to know the old password to set a new one.
• It works offline, that is, you have to shutdown your computer and boot off a floppydisk or CD or another system.
• Will detect and offer to unlock locked or disabled out user accounts!
• There is also a registry editor and other registry utilities that works under linux/unix, and can be used for other things than password editing.

Latest release is 080526 (2008-05-26)

The following is available for download and information:

• Password reset CD/bootdisk: Instructions & image to download.
• Utility/library update information, documentation, source code
• Frequently asked questions - Please read before asking questions about the passoword reset CD/floppy.

THIS SOFTWARE COMES WITH NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER. THE AUTHOR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE (MIS)USE OF THIS SOFTWARE!

• cd080526.zip (~3MB) - Bootable CD image. (md5sum:1c6f5af7c682b7ee5d01935bc11f37f6)

Full Instructions and Original source website:

http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

OR MORE INFO ON WORKGROUPS and DOMAINS:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305

BIOS STUFF:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.shtml

I used this software and finished the process on my sons computer in 5 minutes after I burned the iso to cd and it worked extremely well! There are alternative ways but this is the best cause its FREE!

Ive not tested this one but seems to work for many people!

If you forgot your password there is a much simpler way to reset it. while booting up you’re PC usually it will tell you that if you want to change settings then pres the F8 button (this my very by computer type I.E different F buttons) this will usually give you a prompt asking where you would like to boot from, you should select HDD-1 or wherever windows resides. next it should give you a prompt asking if you would like to boot in “safe mode” or a host of other “modes” (you can also get here by doing hard resets while booting up windows, though this is not recommended) once safe mode is selected hit enter. it will boot up but everything will look but ugly however you now have an administrator account called “Administrator” in which you have complete access to all windows files and accounts including the ability to change passwords, YAY!! now when all is done and taken care of, restart you’re computer and boot it up normally.