Lost password Win XP Pro

neoboy · 4 Mar 2008 at 18:02

Hi ladies and gents,

We currently have a machine at work that no one seems to know the password for and I can score some kudos points if I can get it to work

It has Win XP Pro installed on it currently and the only account on it seems to be administrator. Unfortunately that has a password on it which only the ex IT guy knows, however, I don't think he left in the best of circumstances. What's even more unfortunate is that it didn't come with any discs so can't just do a recovery and reinstall like that. So the question is, at this point what would be the easiest way of accessing the machine?

Thanks in advance.

AS_Platinum · 4 Mar 2008 at 18:07

You'll have to do some googling but I'm pretty sure there are some floppy disk iso's around that default the admin password to blank, don't quote me on this though, i've never had to do this, but swear I've seen a similar topic elsewhere.

HTH's

swinnie · 4 Mar 2008 at 18:07

OPHCrack seems to be popular on here.

Sp!ke · 4 Mar 2008 at 19:55

There is also the NTFS Password Reset Tool.

http://www.funtimebliss.com/index.php?name=Downloads&req=getit&lid=115

Disclaimer: I've only used the version from the "Ultimate Boot CD" and this download has not been virus scanned.

Mercurial · 4 Mar 2008 at 21:47

Google for Winternals ERD Commander 2005 - use the locksmith tool.

Excellent bit of kit.

bledd · 4 Mar 2008 at 22:00

swinnie said:
OPHCrack seems to be popular on here.

this is what you should use

the ophcrack livecd

it doesn't reset the password, it just tels you what it is (resetting it messes file permissions)