Are there ways round Administrator User settings?

Fuzz · 27 Sep 2012 at 19:32

Someone asking me if I can "clear" a laptop that has been given to a mate but is not very useful when logged in a "guest" user.
Original owner has for whatever reason refused to give the administrator password. (Personal stuff on it I guess)

Easiest option for me would be to nuke it and start a fresh but wanted to see if there was a way to essentially "hack in" as an Admin so it can be used properly (i.e access the internet)
If it's a branded laptop with it's "recovery partition" still intact I guess I won't need any discs to wipe it clean??

CaptainCrash · 27 Sep 2012 at 20:03

You'd probably be best off doing a clean format/reinstall anyway, but otherwise just clear the administrator password: http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Fuzz · 27 Sep 2012 at 20:24

Ahh cheers for the link.

Will try that first, sounds easier and I don't want to be round hers all night.

CaptainCrash · 27 Sep 2012 at 20:55

Fuzz said:
Ahh cheers for the link.
Will try that first, sounds easier and I don't want to be round hers all night.

"manfully avoids the obvious response"

Lunawolfy · 27 Sep 2012 at 21:10

CaptainCrash said:
"manfully avoids the obvious response"

Pasty smash?

EDIT: We use this at work when machines go rogue and lose their trust relationship. Just PLEASE clear the password... "Setting a new one" doesn't always goto plan...

Chaos · 27 Sep 2012 at 21:18

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

j.col · 27 Sep 2012 at 21:29

Chaos said:
http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

+1 for this, nice and easy to use

CaptainCrash · 27 Sep 2012 at 21:32

Chaos said:
http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

It's another option, but a bit pointless in this case as there's no need to retain the original password, and cracking it will take *much* longer than just clearing it, unless it's a very simple one. It may not even be possible at all, at least in a realistic timeframe, depending on the length and complexity.

Fuzz · 27 Sep 2012 at 22:02

Would be nice to tell the bloke who refused to give the password up what it is though

KIA · 28 Sep 2012 at 13:41

Why bother attempting to crack the pw when he can change/clear it?

bignev72 · 28 Sep 2012 at 16:21

You can use Hirens disk to change the password. But the person will obviously know you have changed it because the old password won't work.

Deleted member 77746 · 28 Sep 2012 at 17:00

CaptainCrash said:
You'd probably be best off doing a clean format/reinstall anyway, but otherwise just clear the administrator password: http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

This 100% works a treat, just 'unlock' the administrator account

lurkio · 28 Sep 2012 at 17:09

Chaos said:
http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

Works ... only if they use simple low number of chars that are not complex

Clearing the password will be far easier

apatia77 · 3 Oct 2012 at 12:09

As long as you can boot from optical drive you can reset administrator's password, just use one of the free tools you can find online as linked above. I have used it successfully few times already.

Fuzz · 3 Oct 2012 at 13:20

Couldn't boot from a USB stick with one of the above programs on it. Nuked it the other night and reinstalled from scratch.
Mistakenly I left alone the various partitions that were set up and only formatted and installed on C:

Now I have finished updating everything it's said I have a virus on a hidden partition.
Alureon.E :rolleyes:

I could mess about "removing it" but I think I might delete all partitions, format and reinstall on a fresh "unpartitioned space"

Only issue I have now is jealousy from the boyfriend of the woman I'm doing it for, because she spent a few hours round at mine the other night while I was doing it. :rolleyes: