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Stan_Lite
07-12-2006, 21:35
Right. I'm in a bit of a pickle.

As most of you know, I have several PCs. I gave them all the same Windows password for easiness but one of them isn't playing ball - I must have made an error when setting it up.

There isn't anything on that rig I particularly need to keep so a reinstall wouldn't be a problem. I was just wondering if anyone knew any way of retrieving the password to save the hassle of a reinstall.

Stan :)
Daz
07-12-2006, 21:37
Recover? No. Reset? sure (http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/) :)

There are lots of utils which will do the job, that's one of them.
Dr. Z
07-12-2006, 21:42
Indeed - there are many linux liveCDs that will do the job in seconds!
Feek
07-12-2006, 22:16
Aye, many of them. I keep a handy floppy disk in my drawer at work for just these situations.
Stan_Lite
07-12-2006, 22:52
Recover? No. Reset? sure (http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/) :)

There are lots of utils which will do the job, that's one of them.

Hasn't worked :( Tried several times and seemed to work every time but when I try to log in, it still asks me if I've forgotten the password.

Can someone suggest another one please?

Stan :)
Daz
07-12-2006, 22:58
Strange, a lot of sites refer to that :/ This one was cited on Experts Exchange:

http://www.pc-pipeline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=getit&lid=6

Should spit out a boot disk.
Dr. Z
07-12-2006, 23:10
Instead of resetting the password, enter a * instead of whatever string you were trying before - do that with administrator only. Then save, reboot and press enter when you get the login prompt (with administrator as the username, obviously).

99 times out of 100, it will work!

EDIT: Using the first LiveCD - its the same tool ultimately (ntpasswd) but its the best packaged version.
Will
08-12-2006, 01:29
Recover? No. Reset? sure (http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/) :)

There are lots of utils which will do the job, that's one of them.

Great tool. Make sure you reset the administrator password and reset it to blank, don't try and change it to something else.
Stan_Lite
08-12-2006, 08:23
Instead of resetting the password, enter a * instead of whatever string you were trying before - do that with administrator only. Then save, reboot and press enter when you get the login prompt (with administrator as the username, obviously).

99 times out of 100, it will work!

EDIT: Using the first LiveCD - its the same tool ultimately (ntpasswd) but its the best packaged version.

Great tool. Make sure you reset the administrator password and reset it to blank, don't try and change it to something else.

Tried that - still wouldn't work. Haven't tried the second one yet - damn PC refuses to boot from floppy :rolleyes: No time just now, will have a bash when I get back from Glasgow on Sunday.

Stan :)