Windows password - D'oh

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

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

Stan_Lite · 07-12-2006, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daz

Recover? No. Reset? sure

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

Will · 08-12-2006, 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daz

Recover? No. Reset? sure

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Hoff

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

No time just now, will have a bash when I get back from Glasgow on Sunday.

Stan

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.

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.p...eq=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.

07-12-2006, 21:35	#1
Stan_Lite Stan, Stan the FLASHER MAN! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In bed with your sister Posts: 5,483	Windows password - D'oh 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 __________________ Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean I...

07-12-2006, 21:37	#2
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Recover? No. Reset? sure There are lots of utils which will do the job, that's one of them. __________________ apt-get moo

07-12-2006, 21:42	#6
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	Indeed - there are many linux liveCDs that will do the job in seconds! __________________

07-12-2006, 22:16	#7
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Aye, many of them. I keep a handy floppy disk in my drawer at work for just these situations. __________________

07-12-2006, 22:58	#8
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Strange, a lot of sites refer to that :/ This one was cited on Experts Exchange: http://www.pc-pipeline.com/modules.p...eq=getit&lid=6 Should spit out a boot disk. __________________ apt-get moo

07-12-2006, 23:10	#9
Dr. Z I'm going for a scuttle... Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,021	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. __________________