removing a password

MaXxBoulton · 13 Jun 2019 at 06:41

A friend of as asked if i can remove a password off a PC and keep the file system in place?

what the best way to remove a windows 10 password please

jsmoke · 13 Jun 2019 at 06:51

You mean an account password, why can't he do it from within windows?

Glanza · 13 Jun 2019 at 10:50

Depends if he's logging in with a local or Microsoft account.

MaXxBoulton · 13 Jun 2019 at 11:01

Glanza said:
Depends if he's logging in with a local or Microsoft account.

It's just a local account

jsmoke said:
You mean an account password, why can't he do it from within windows?

It's his 15year olds son's who killed himself 4 weeks ago.

maj · 13 Jun 2019 at 11:24

You could try doing it via a local admin account. You need Windows install media (usb boot for example) and at install screen you press Shift + F10 to enter command prompt and run a command to replace cmd with utilman. You then can add a new local admin account and should be able to reset the son's password via users and groups in Control Panel.

Have a read of https://4sysops.com/archives/reset-a-windows-10-password/

Deleted member 77746 · 13 Jun 2019 at 11:40

If it's been updated to any windows 10 1803 you can't remove the password through normal means, the loops have been patched. Get the drive out of that PC and put it into a usb caddy and view the files on another pc.

Semple · 13 Jun 2019 at 12:08

If the drives not been encrypted, you should be able to just plug it in as an external drive and have access to the files.

If it's encrypted, then it's very unlikely to be possible. Has he had a good guess of potential passwords?

MaXxBoulton · 13 Jun 2019 at 15:45

I will try with the boot usb if no luck I will stick the drive in a caddy thanks guys.

We are not expecting anything bad on the pc there just wanting to recover photos and videos he made when on holiday.

jsmoke · 14 Jun 2019 at 08:23

We used to use a live Linux cd. https://opensource.com/article/18/3/how-reset-windows-password-linux

Just burn to a cd or USB stick and boot and choose right option.

Scort · 14 Jun 2019 at 09:01

A kali Linux bootable USB stick does W7, 8 and 10. Plenty of easy guides out there.

Best of luck.

labcoattech · 14 Jun 2019 at 14:11

Were you able to gain access to the files?

Deleted member 77746 · 14 Jun 2019 at 14:59

The thing is what I'm coming across now is people signing into online Microsoft accounts on Windows 10 not local accounts. You have no chance getting into a system like that with these kinds of tools. It's going to only get harder.

labcoattech · 14 Jun 2019 at 15:30

Does signing in via a Microsoft account encrypt your data? if not then you should still be able to plug the hard drive into another PC and get access to files.

MaXxBoulton · 14 Jun 2019 at 16:34

labcoattech said:
Were you able to gain access to the files?

i ended up putting the drive into a caddy, i managed to pull off the photos and videos.
There as happy as can be. its a sad situation, i didn't really like routing around in his file's but thought it best to remove all the photos or boob and ass's first

MaXxBoulton · 14 Jun 2019 at 16:35

labcoattech said:
Does signing in via a Microsoft account encrypt your data? if not then you should still be able to plug the hard drive into another PC and get access to files.

i dont think you can, i thought if it was an online account you was prompted for a password ever time you try of open any files

PiKe · 14 Jun 2019 at 16:42

MaXxBoulton said:
i dont think you can, i thought if it was an online account you was prompted for a password ever time you try of open any files

Wrong.

Deleted member 77746 · 14 Jun 2019 at 16:50

MaXxBoulton said:
i ended up putting the drive into a caddy, i managed to pull off the photos and videos.
There as happy as can be. its a sad situation, i didn't really like routing around in his file's but thought it best to remove all the photos or boob and ass's first

Should have just left raw files, very hard subject though. At least you got what you needed.

Deleted member 77746 · 14 Jun 2019 at 16:54

EDIT: OcUK decided to double post for some reason, post above.

Vince · 14 Jun 2019 at 20:20

MaXxBoulton said:
i ended up putting the drive into a caddy, i managed to pull off the photos and videos.
There as happy as can be. its a sad situation, i didn't really like routing around in his file's but thought it best to remove all the photos or boob and ass's first

You did the right thing dude. Removing anything that could cast any bad shadows at this point was absolutely the right thing to do.

wedrum · 14 Jun 2019 at 20:40

Pull the drive connect to a another pc then enable inheritance

I see you done it.