Forgot Windows Administrator Password? Ways to Recover and Reset Password in Vista/XP/2003/2K/NT
What should you do when you forgot the password to login to Windows system? Ask an administrator to reset the log on password for you. If you yourself are administrator, and you can’t remember the administrator password, the problem get a little tricky, and probably hard to recover the ‘forgotten password’ again. Before you search for recovery CD or Windows DVD to format and reinstall Windows onto the computer, here a few ways you can try to unlock the Windows to gain access to the system again, at least by resetting the password.
Method 1: Take a rest, and try hard to remember the forgotten password
Sometimes, human being is a little weird. You won’t get the thing that you urgently need. So have a coffee, take a snap or even come back after a few days, you may found that you suddenly ‘remember’ your Windows password.
Method 2: Try No Password Administrator Login Backdoor
In Windows XP (not Windows Vista as Administrator account is not enabled by default), there is built-in Administrator user account, that has administrative credentials, enabled by default, and without any password to protect the account from been access. If you didn’t change this Administrator’s password, then try to sign in to Windows XP without password.
Method 3: Reset password from another user account with administrator credentials
If you cannot log on to Windows by using a particular user account, but you can log on to another account that has administrative credentials, follow these steps on how to do the trick:
- Log on to Windows by using an administrator account that has a password that you remember. You may need to start WinXP in safe mode.
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type “control userpasswords2″, and then click OK.
- Click the user account that you forgot the password for, and then click Reset Password.
- Type a new password in both the New password and the Confirm new password boxes, and then click OK.
Method 4: LOGON.SCR password reset trick
LOGON.SCR changing administrator or domain admin password hack works on Windows NT 4.0 and some versions of Windows 2000. The simple trick uses Cmd.exe as screen saver that triggered by system when idle, allowing users to access to command prompt to change password.
Method 5: Do-It-Yourself (DIY) third party recovery tool
There are a lot of tools and utilities that can be downloaded and used to recover, reset, retrieve or reveal existing password. These password reset or retrieval utilities, free or paid, are usually a Linux boot disk or CD that able to comes with NT file system (NTFS) drivers and software that will read the registry and rewrite the password hashes, or can brute force crack the password for any user account including the Administrators. The advantage is that there is no fear of leaking your password to outsiders, while the process requires physical access to the console and a floppy or CD drive, depending on which tool you choose. And it’s not easy, although it always work!
Offline NT Password & Registry Editor – Available as bootdisk or bootable CD, Offline NT Password and Registry Editor works to change or reset password of any users on Windows NT 3.51, NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Vindows Vista 32 and 64 bit. It can also detect and offer to unlock locked or disabled user accounts.
Download Links:
cd080802.zip (~3MB) – Bootable CD image and can be used to make bootable USB drive.
bd080526.zip (~1.1MB) – Bootdisk image for floppy disk
drivers1-080526.zip (~310K) – Disk drivers (mostly PATA/SATA).
drivers2-080526.zip – Disk drivers (mostly SCSI).
John the Ripper password cracker – John the Ripper is a fast password cracker based on dictionary attack with a wordlist currently available for many flavors of Unix (11 are officially supported, not counting different architectures), Windows, DOS, BeOS, and OpenVMS. Its primary purpose is to detect weak Unix passwords. Besides several crypt(3) password hash types most commonly found on various Unix flavors, supported out of the box are Kerberos AFS and Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 LM hashes, plus several more with contributed patches.
Download link:
John the Ripper 1.7.0.1 for Windows
EBCD – Emergency Boot CD – EBCD is a bootable CD, intended for system recovery in the case of software or hardware faults. It is able to create backup copies of normally working system and restore system to saved state. It contains the best system software ever created, properly compiled and configured for the maximum efficient use. Features are such as copy files from unbootable volume, recover master boot record of HDD, recover deleted file, recover data from accidently formatted disk and floppy disk. EBCD also includes function to change password of any user, including administator of Windows NT/2000/XP OS without the need to know the old password.
Download link:
EBCD Lite 0.6.1
EBCD Pro 0.6.1
Both contains necessary NT password recovery feature.
Ophcrack – Windows password cracker using time-memory trade-off on LM and NTLM hashes based on rainbow tables and supports Windows Vista, XP, 2003 and NT. This tool allows you to retrieve existing password.
RainbowCrack – Crack Windows password using time-memory trade-off cryptanalysis based on rainbow tables. Unless you already has dumped the hash for your Windows password, else this utility is for hacker as it provides no way to retrieve the password hashes when you unable to access to your computer.
L0phtCrack (LC5) – L0phtCrack (now known as LC5) is a password auditing and recovery application by using dictionary, brute-force, and hybrid attacks. originally produced by Mudge from L0pht Heavy Industries, and was produced by @stake after the L0pht merged with @stake in 2000. Support and sales has been discontinued by Symantec from end of 2006, after it acquered @stake in 2004. So you probably need a crack that lists below. If you unable to sign on to your computer, you probably can’t use this.
Download link:
lc5-setup.exe (14 days trial) Link 1 Link 2
Key Generator for LC5: Link 1 Link 2
Cain & Abel – Cain & Abel is a password recovery tool for Microsoft Operating Systems. It allows easy recovery of various kind of passwords by sniffing the network, cracking encrypted passwords using Dictionary, Brute-Force and Cryptanalysis attacks, recording VoIP conversations, decoding scrambled passwords, recovering wireless network keys, revealing password boxes, uncovering cached passwords and analyzing routing protocols. The program does not exploit any software vulnerabilities or bugs that could not be fixed with little effort. It covers some security aspects/weakness present in protocol’s standards, authentication methods and caching mechanisms; its main purpose is the simplified recovery of passwords and credentials from various sources, however it also ships some “non standard” utilities for Microsoft Windows users.
This tool needs to be installed, so you must have another working computer to recover your password remotely. Thus it’s likely to be useful for system administrator only. Supports Windows Vista.
Download links:
Cain & Abel v4.9.2 for Windows NT/2000/XP
Cain & Abel v2.0 for Windows 9x
PCLoginNow – Bootable live CD with tool to reset local administrator and other user accounts passwords or change security settings on Windows system.
Method 6: Third party password recovery service
Login Recovery – Login Recovery is a service to reveal user names and recover passwords for Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista. Free service is available by waiting up to 48 hours and only one free request every three months. For privacy matter people, there may be some uncomfortability as service provider actually ‘know’ your password before sending it back to you.
Method 7: Bypass Windows log on password with DreamPackPL
DreamPackPL allows users to skip or bypass Windows login security in Windows XP or Windows 2000, and log on to a password protected Windows user account without a valid password or the need to change the existing password.
Warning: If you change or reset password by using any method above, all EFS encrypted files in Windows Vista or Windows XP will be unreadable and no longer recoverable unless you remember the old password that used to encrypt the files. So if you have any encrypted files, it’s best that you try to crack the password first in order to retrieve and get back the existing password first, before you attempt to reset the password to a new one.
Related posts:
- Reveal and Recover Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and Longhorn Login (including Administrator) Username and Password with Login Recovery
- Hack and Reset Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Administrator or Domain Admin Password with LOGON.SCR Trick
- Easily Login to Windows XP with No Password Administrator Account Backdoor Trick
- Enable or Disable Built-in Administrator Account in Windows Vista
- Unhide the Administrator Account in Windows XP
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[...] Sometimes, human being is a little weird. You won’t get the thing that you urgently need. So have a coffee, take a snap or even come back after a few days, you may found that you suddenly ‘remember’ your Windows password. [...]
I want to add a problem:when we lost our Windows domain password what can we do?
Recently,I read some article tell about a method to recover Windows domain password is to use a recovery tool.It said that forgot/lost windows domain password now is not so troublesome to people.See this article, it tells you how to reset Windows domain password with a special method.I think Windows Password Rescuer maybe a useful tool for that I offen hear that most of people use it.People also can use Windows Password Rescuer to add a new user with administrator privilege to your Windows. With this New user account you can logon your locked computer directly.
Here I collect some tools people used to.
1. If you have an [Ubuntu live CD][2],you can reset it using chntpw application
2. You can use [Bart's PE + Password Renew][3] to reset the password
3. You can use [Offline NT Password Editor][4] to reset the password.
4. You can use [Windows Password Rescuer][5] tool to reset/remove the password
Thank you so much! I can’t believe it was this easy, I have forgotten my password for months now. Such a life saver
Hello,
I am only replying to your thread on this site because I wanted to see which one worked for you. I recently acquired a second hand computer with Windows Vista. The computer did belong to a friends brother and when mine went out, my friend sent it to me. There are some basic things it needs and I cannot do any of them because neither one of them can remember what the administrator password was.
Hi ,
i just got my new hp and in my hurry to get online i didn’t really get a chance to process my password ( i’m pretty sure i know what it is but i think i messed up the spelling) I only made one account, so im assuming that one (the one i am locked out of) is the admin. the safe mode thing doesn’t work and i am completely locked out. I have Windows7 and i have no problem losing everything since its only 10 minutes old. So please could you direct me to some reboot cd thing.
I am not computer savvy so any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thank you
If you forgot Windows password, you can download a software and create a Windows password reset bootable CD/DVD or USB flash drive to reset your lost or forgotten Windows password, I have created a bootable CD with the tool Windows Password Reset 9.0 and reset my administrator password successfully.
PCWin Recovery is unique in that it includes an easy to use Windows password reset, but also includes a Free Windows and Office product key recovery program and other helpful utilities.
Forgot Windows Password, you can remove or reset it. For removing Windows Passwords in safety, I highly recommend windows password reset tools. Last week, and then I downloaded windows password seeker and used it to remove the lost password successfully.
I just use Password Resetter, you put it on a USB stick and it makes it bootable.
reset pasword thanks
I creat the Password for my Laptop but, I forgot the password what should I do som that I can open my Loptap please?
Iam looking forward for your Assistant in this matter.
Thanks
Sabir Isaac Khamis
1. Download and install Windows Login Recovery
2. Burn a Windows password recovery CD/DVD.
3. Set CD/DVD as the first boot device in BIOS.
4. Windows password reset with the CD/DVD/USB flash Drive
Note: This solution can also be used when Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000 password is forgotten and unknown.
i forgot both my admin password and account password. there is no guest or other account.
my computer does not support boot from usb. my cd rom is faulty.
is there any miraculus way to get out of it and access system or remove password.?
please help. my computer and data are on the line
Five days ago, I just got such windows password recovery tool, Windows Password Seeker, to reset windows password, and it can be burned onto a CD/DVD as recovery disk. I believe it is the best windows password recovery tool ,and is your best choice.
thanks for your neat notes… very good article with spending more time….
Remember…
RESETTING ADMIN PASSES WILL MOST LIKELY CORRUPT EFS-ENCRYPED FILES,PASSWORDS AND ADMIN DATA, so…THINK TWICE!!!
Before you try these last resorts, try password recovery software(google) or apparently changing BIOS settings.
Pass recovery may seem unsafe, since sites can access your pass before sending it to you, but i am currently looking for a trusted site so hold on before you reset and admin kicks your behind!!
Hi, You have listed so many useful ways to reset the lost Windows password. I also know a way that is to make use of the password reset disk. Windows Login Recovery can be used to create a bootable password disk with a CD/DVD or USB flash drive. Simple and Efficient.
Somebody said if all else fails unplug the CPU open the case and pull the mother board battery for 15 seconds. will this work ?
Hi,
Removing of the battery will not remove the password.
How ever, resetting the jumper next to the BIOS chip or the bios batter will reset the BIOS password.
To reset the admin password you use the tools recomended in the website!!
can someone give me the steps in resetting my admin password , by using Windows Password Key Please !
I have changed my administrators password and do not know how to change it? It has said that it has expired, but the thing is I cannot download any links as I need the password and also that is the only administrator account I have! What can I do? Please help? x
Just download Windows Password Key
and burn it on a disk and then boot your computer from this cd, it will clear the password of your
account without knowing the current password.
Thank you. Method 3 worked for me.
Great! Pity to read the thread late!
Thanks!!! It worked!!
great, surprised to see your trick.
many many thanks
I happen to know about other free tools about windows password recovery. I have tried a free windows password recovery tool, it has graphic wizard GUI interface, named Lazesoft Recover My Password Home Edition. It is easy to use. http://www.lazesoft.com
I downloaded ophcrack and I tried first in my laptop (asus – Win 7) wich I know the password just to test the program and …it worked !! , then I tried it in the locked laptop (Also with WIN 7 o/s) but it a HP and it did not worked…any help ??
As long you as you get Windows Password Unlocker, you can easily make a CD/DVD or USB to reset your lost Windows password without knowing it.
evry good thank you
My case is forgotten Dell Windows password. Fortunately, I used the Ainorsoft Windows Password Recovery tool to get me out of problem!
It helped me DIY my own password reset disk!
For me, a green hand on PC also can recover my admin password with it in minutes! It does not require any technique and professional knowledge!
So easy!
I ever used Windows Password Breaker to reset password for my Windows 7, it also works well.
Really helpful!! I used Method 3.
Forgot Windows password? it is your better choice to use windows password recovery 6.0, an efficient and highly appreciated software on Windows password reset. GO TO its official site for more info
I would use Windows Password Key,It has solved 100000 users of that problem in one year.
None of these worked for me. It's such a pity.
Perfect! this solved our issue at work! I can't wait to browse more =D
I have tried all these methods but no use
[...] [...]
sorry ,forgot to say lost admin password was windows vista
Just had the same problem, my kid had changed the only admin profile password, i was about to re-install windows but she thought she could remember it. After 30 tries of differing permutations and about to give up, a window popped up saying password had expired, the old password box was already filled and all i had to do was input new password and confirm. How mad is that!! hope it works for you guys.
Make sure that you do the following on your computer or another computer with the owners permission only.
If you don't want to change the password:
1 > Get a program called Ophcrack(very large. 496Mb)
2 >> Download the liveCD (ISO)
3 >> Burn the ISO to a CD using an ISO burner
4 >> The Live CD's come with the free rainbow tables, so you might need to download other tables (cost money)
4 >> Bootup from the CD
5 >> Crack the SAM and System file
If you want to remove Windows password(the fastest way):
freeware:Offline NT Password & Registry Editor
Thanks for your tips!
I have locked out of my computer for a while,and have tried everything i could do but failed.Until I found this great tool – "Windows Password Reset Kit" as recommend .It works great.
Try this!
for XP:
1 >> Log into safe mode
2 >> Log in as the computer Administrator, "Administrator" for the username
3 >> Leave the password blank
4 >> Control panel and change the password for your account
If you don't want to change the password:
1 > Get a program called Ophcrack
2 >> Download the liveCD (ISO)
3 >> Burn the ISO to a CD using an ISO burner
4 >> The Live CD's come with the free rainbow tables, so you might need to download other tables (cost money)
4 >> Bootup from the CD
5 >> Crack the SAM and System file
As a system administrator,I've tried a couple of these utilities through the years and my favorite is the windows password key 8.0.This utility is used to reset password of any windows versions.
burn an ophcrack cd which uses rainbow tools to crack the passwords very quickly.
Forgot Administrator password (Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, SONY laptop, model: VGN-CR36G-R)
It was the only admin account on my laptop and I had no other way other than resetting my SONY laptop to original factory settings, below are the steps:
Take a backup of your files (using an account where you have a password)
1) Boot/switch on the laptop
2) Press F8 function key to enter the "Advanced Boot Options" menu
3) Select "Repair your computer"
System Recovery Options Menu
****************************
4) Select a keyboard layout
5) Click "Next"
6) To assess recovery options, log on as a local user. Select a user from the drop-down menu and type in password.
7) Click "Ok"
Choose a recovery tool
**********************
Select "Restore C: Drive"
this option will restore C: Drive to its original factory conditions including default applications which come installed with the laptop.
The whole process takes about 2 hours.
1.you can go into safe mode (F8 at logo when booting up) and enter as administrator and then go to accounts and change windows password and that's with XP. I haven't forgotten password for a pc before but can enter any XP pc in safe if the owner hasn't gone into safe mode and designated a password for "administrator" and usually only have a password for the user account but never have tried on Vista or Win7.
2.if that does not work,you can use software to reset the windows password,my favorite is windows password Recovery Tool 3.0
after i write administrator in the user name what should i write in the password??
i can't unlock my computer!!!
from where I can get softwares or some kind of metrial to hack Windows XP… I want to learn how these things works.. any advice plz
You may also use a boot cd of
Winternals ERD Commander 200x ISO file
which is a great software
I tryed it twice and it worked
google this software and find instructions
very easy and handfull
recomended