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Computer help forum: Recover Windows 7 password by plugging HD into other comp

by: funk-doc January 9, 2013 10:19 AM PST

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Recover Windows 7 password by plugging HD into other comp

by funk-doc - 1/9/13 10:19 AM

I am reopening this thread to see if anyone does know the answer to this question. I am having a major problem with one of my clients. This is a brand new computer I built for them a month ago. They allowed remote access to one of their clients and the login screen password got changed somehow. After talking with the client they changed the isp for a program within the system to allow the original client to access them.

The Windows 7 login screen now will not accept the original password or anything. I have tried all the pass reset discs and nothing works. I have taken out the HD and plugged it into my computer and all the files etc are there and I can access them.

Is there a way to be able to see and/or reset the admin password for that HD through my computer so I can plug it back into the original computer and login.
Any Ideas?


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I've done this many times (too many)

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 1/9/13 10:26 AM

In Reply to: Recover Windows 7 password by plugging HD into other comp by funk-doc

I can put the HDD into another PC and reset the password. But recovery of the password is rarely done since there is no direct decoding or app for that. Such recovery would use a brute force attack. You can read more about that if you want.

There is NTPASSWD and it appears to be open source if you want to dissect what it does.

I think there was a similar request a day or so ago but recovery of the password is, again, not something you see being done.
Bob


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PS. Could they have used the same password on other things?

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 1/9/13 10:30 AM

In Reply to: I've done this many times (too many) by R. Proffitt Moderator

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/pspv.html is a rather interesting tool that does indeed recover passwords. It's not the Windows Logon Password but worth knowing about.
Bob


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I would be happy with just resetting it!

by funk-doc - 1/9/13 11:04 AM

In Reply to: I've done this many times (too many) by R. Proffitt Moderator

Yeah I would be happy with just resetting it. As long as I would be able to login to the other computer once it's finished. I figure it has to be in the HDD somewhere. Wherever the registry is stored


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I've seen folk try that.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 1/9/13 11:09 AM

In Reply to: I would be happy with just resetting it! by funk-doc

And if you've made the call to Microsoft you know it's not that simple. If you touch those files the usual result is a dead OS. That's by design.

I don't want to upset you but you seem to think it's in some file. It is, but it's not readable or decodeable. Just resetable.

I've used both ntpasswd and lostpassword.com for years and the only time it fails is if the user has been fiddling with the files. Or there's a root kit or other issue going on.
Bob


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But is it only resetable using ntpassword or loastpassword?

by funk-doc - 1/9/13 11:18 AM

In Reply to: I've seen folk try that. by R. Proffitt Moderator

But is it only resetable using ntpassword or loastpassword?


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No.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 1/9/13 11:21 AM

In Reply to: But is it only resetable using ntpassword or loastpassword? by funk-doc

I bet your top gear programmer could read what ntpassword is doing (source is over at http://code.google.com/p/ntpasswd-userfriendly/source/checkout ) and then using some sector/file hex editor do this manually but most programmers will just use the tool.

If the tool fails, there's usually a reason such as a rootkit, encrypted drive, incorrect setup, etc.
Bob


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PS. Your posts do write recovery.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 1/9/13 11:23 AM

In Reply to: I would be happy with just resetting it! by funk-doc

I've added a password recovery tool for other than log in.


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