Introduction

First off let me just say that I DO NOT promote hacking.

This guide points you in the right direction to learn how to reset an administrative accounts password without knowing the original password.

This should only be a last resort to gaining access to an administrative account.

IMPORTANT: If you reset the password using the tool below and that account has files protected with EFS encryption those files will be locked because the encryption is associated with the forgotten password. You can’t unlock them unless you know the password when they were locked.

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor, Bootdisk / CD

Download the [1] Offline NT Password & Registry Editor, Bootdisk / CD. Click the bootdisk button, and then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and download the bootable CD image under Download.

This tool is made using Linux so it might be difficult for a non-Linux user to use. Just follow the directions on the site.

Don’t ask me any questions about this tool because I don’t know the answers. Please direct your questions to the site providing the tool.

Ophcrack

[2] Ophcrack is a free Windows password cracker based on rainbow tables. It is a very efficient implementation of rainbow tables done by the inventors of the method. It comes with a Graphical User Interface and runs on multiple platforms.

This is a little easier to use and can but installed or run from a live CD.

Petri IT Knowledgebase

The [3] Petri IT Knowledgebase has a great page on how to crack Windows passwords.

MAXIMUMpcguides.com and the webmaster are NOT responsible for any damage or lost data caused from using these tools.