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How To Reset A Windows Password With Ubuntu

This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions for resetting a forgotten Windows password using Ubuntu Linux. It begins with booting from a Ubuntu live CD or USB, then installing password resetting software called chntpw. The Windows drive is then mounted in Ubuntu. Using the terminal, the chntpw program is run to clear the password for the administrator account. The user can then reboot into Windows and set a new password. The tutorial includes explanations for Ubuntu and terminal newcomers.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
478 views17 pages

How To Reset A Windows Password With Ubuntu

This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions for resetting a forgotten Windows password using Ubuntu Linux. It begins with booting from a Ubuntu live CD or USB, then installing password resetting software called chntpw. The Windows drive is then mounted in Ubuntu. Using the terminal, the chntpw program is run to clear the password for the administrator account. The user can then reboot into Windows and set a new password. The tutorial includes explanations for Ubuntu and terminal newcomers.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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You are on page 1/ 17

Ubuntucat

RandommusingsfromtheradicalfeministChristianantiracistleftsomehavingtodowithUbuntu

HowtoresetaWindowspasswordwithUbuntu
July28th,2010
IfyouhaveforgottenyouradministratorpasswordforWindows,youcanuseaUbuntuLinuxliveCDorliveUSBtoresetthepassword.
Thistutorialwillshowyouhowtodothat,stepbystep.
TherearemanywaystogetUbuntuLinux.Youcanfindmoredetailsaboutthathere.
Ifyourunintoanyproblemsorhaveanyquestions,thefolksattheUbuntuForumsareveryhelpfulandfriendly.
Iwillnotbeansweringanysupportquestionspostedascommentshere.

Step1:BootupUbuntu
WiththeUbuntuCDinyouropticaldriveorwiththeUbuntuUSBpluggedintoyourcomputer,makesureyourBIOSissettobootfrom
CDorUSBbeforeyourharddrive.YoucanusuallyenteryourBIOSsettingsbypressingF1,F2,F9,F10,F12,Esc,orDelduring
bootup,dependingonthekindofcomputeryouhave.

AfterUbuntubootsup,youllbeaskedifyouwanttotryUbuntuorinstallit.Youdefinitelywanttojusttryitatthispoint.

Step2:Installthepasswordresetsoftware
InstallingsoftwareonUbuntuisabitdifferentfrominstallingsoftwareonWindows.Insteadofgoingtoawebsitetodownloadsetup
files,youjusttellthesoftwarepackagemanagerwhatyouwantinstalled,anditfetchesitforyouoffsomeservers.Itsalotlikethe
iTunesAppStoreorAndroidMarket.
Thisdoesassumethatyouhaveaworkinginternetconnection(wiredpreferred,butwirelesscanwork,too).If,forsomereason,your
internetconnectionisntworkingonthecomputeryouwanttoresetthepasswordfor,youcanalsodownloadthechntpw.debusing
anothercomputer,transferitoverviaUSB,andthendoubleclickittoinstallit.

Firstwewanttomakesurewehavethepropersoftwaresourcesenabledtoinstallchntpw.

GotoSystem>Administration>SoftwareSources

MakesureboththeUniverseandMultiverserepositoriesarechecked(orticked,ifyourenotAmerican).ClickCloseandthen,when
prompted,clickReload.

Waitfortheinformationaboutavailablesoftwaretoreload.

GotoSystem>Administration>SynapticPackageManager
(Note:tothoseofyouwhohaveinstalledsoftwareinUbuntubefore,youactuallydoatleastasofUbuntu10.04havetogoto
Synaptictoinstallchntpw.YoucantinstallitthroughUbuntuSoftwareCenter).

PressControlForclickontheSearchbuttontogetthesearchdialogueup.Thensearchforchntpw.
(Note:youmaybetemptedtotypechntpwintothesearchfilterbutitwontshowupthere,sinceSynaptichasnthadtimetorebuildthe
searchindexforquickfiltering.)

Oncechntpwpopsupinthesearchresults,rightclickitandselectMarkforInstallation.

ClickApply,andthen,whenprompted,clickApplyagain.

WaitfortheSynaptictodownloadandinstallchntpw.

Step3:MountyourWindowsdrive
InorderforyoutoresetyourWindowspassword,youhavetomaketheUbuntulivesessionknowthatyourWindowsdriveisavailable
foruse.Thisprocessiscalledmounting.

TomountWindows,justclickonPlacesandthenselectyourdrive.Itwillbelistedbythesizeofthedrive(inthisexample,80GB).

Step4:Resetyourpassword
chntpwisaterminalbased(notpointandclick)application,sotouseit,wellhavetoopenupacommandlineterminal.Dontbe
intimidated.Illwalkyouthroughtheprocess.

Toopentheterminal,gotoApplications>Accessories>Terminal
Imgoingtobeofferingalotofexplanationforthosewhoarentexperiencedwiththeterminalandcommands,butifyouwanttojust
skipoverallthatstuff,feelfreetojustpayattentiontotheterminalcommandsandignoretheexplanations.
cd/media/493D9CB55373C3DD/Windows/System32/config/
First,youregoingtocd(changedirectories)totherightWindowsdirectory.
Starttypingcd/media/andthenhittheTabkey,anditllautocompletewiththeaddressofyourmountedWindowsdrive.
ThentypeWandhitTabagaintogettoeitherWindows(Windows7)orWINDOWS(WindowsXP).Yes,theterminaliscasesensitive,
soupperandlowercasematters!
TypeSorsandhitTabagaintogetSystem32orsystem32(againdependingonwhetheritsWindows7orWindowsXPIforget
whichitisforWindowsVista).
Anddothesameforconfig.

Tabcompletionmakesthingsalotsimpler,soyoudonthavetotypeeverysinglewordout.Italsoavoidsthewholetypoissue,incase
youarentagoodtypist.
Onceyouvegottentocd/media/nameofyourwindowsdrive/Windows/System32/configorcd/media/nameofyourwindows
drive/WINDOWS/system32/config,hitEnter.
sudochntpwuusernameSAM
YoushouldthentypeinsudochntpwuusernameSAM,whereusernameisyouractualusername.Forexample,ifyourusernameis
susan,itshouldbesudochntpwususanSAM
Afteryoutypethatin,hitEnter,andyoullseeawholebunchofterminaloutput,mostofwhichyoucanignore:
chntpwversion0.99.5070923(decade),(c)PetterNHagen
Hivename(fromheader):<\SystemRoot\System32\Config\SAM>
ROOTKEYatoffset:0x001020*Subkeyindexingtypeis:666c
Pageat0x7000isnothbin,assumingfilecontainsgarbageatend
Filesize262144[40000]bytes,containing6pages(+1headerpage)
Usedfordata:260/20240blocks/bytes,unused:9/4144blocks/bytes.
*SAMpolicylimits:
Failedloginsbeforelockoutis:10
Minimumpasswordlength:4
Passwordhistorycount:4
|RID|Username|Admin?|Lock?|
|01f4|Administrator|ADMIN|dis/lock|
|01f5|Guest||dis/lock|
|03e8|susan|ADMIN||
>SYSKEYCHECK<
SYSTEMSecureBoot:1>NotSet(notinstalled,good!)
SAMAccount\F:0>off
SECURITYPolSecretEncryptionKey:1>NotSet(OKifthisisNT4)
Syskeynotinstalled!
RID:1000[03e8]
Username:susan
fullname:
comment:
homedir:
Userismemberof1groups:
00000220=Administrators(whichhas4members)
Accountbits:0x0214=
[]Disabled|[]Homedirreq.|[X]Passwdnotreq.|
[]Temp.duplicate|[X]Normalaccount|[]NMSaccount|
[]Domaintrustac|[]Wkstrustact.|[]Srvtrustact|
[X]Pwddontexpir|[]Autolockout|[](unknown0x08)|
[](unknown0x10)|[](unknown0x20)|[](unknown0x40)|
Failedlogincount:0,whilemaxtriesis:10
Totallogincount:100
Thispartisimportant,though:
UserEditMenu:
1Clear(blank)userpassword
2Edit(setnew)userpassword(carefulwiththisonXPorVista)
3Promoteuser(makeuseranadministrator)
(4Unlockandenableuseraccount)[seemsunlockedalready]
qQuiteditinguser,backtouserselect
Select:[q]>
Iwouldhighlyrecommendtyping1toblankthepasswordinsteadofeditingthepassword.Afteryoutypethat,hitEnter,andyou
shouldsee
Passwordcleared!
Hivesthathavechanged:
#Name
0
Writehivefiles?(y/n)[n]:

TypeyandhitEntertoconfirmthechange.Onceyousee
0OK
thenyouredone.

Nowyoucanreboot,andyoucanlogintoyouradminaccountwithablankpassword.Onceyoureloggedin,youcangototheControl
Paneltochangeyourpasswordtosomethingelsesomethingyoucanremember.
Ifyourecurious,youcanseeanolderversionofthispage.
PostedbyubuntucatFiledinTags:chntpw,resetpassword,Ubuntu,Windows
78Comments

78ResponsestoHowtoresetaWindowspasswordwithUbuntu
1. Vic.Says:
July29th,2010at20:39

ThankyouforthisitreallyworkedformyWindowsVista.TheonlythingIhavetochangewasinthechntpwline:
sudochntpwuVicGlezSAM
for
sudochntpwuVicGlezsam
Bestregards.
2. NickOlsenSays:
August1st,2010at11:41

Awesome!Thebesttutorialontheinternetfordoingthis!Thanks!
3. GabrielSays:
August2nd,2010at10:23

Awesomeawesomeawesome.Workedbrilliantly.IlostthepasswordtomyWinXPVirtualBoxandthishowtowasexactlywhatI
needed.
Thankyou!
4. JohnSidleSays:
August4th,2010at22:55

Savedtheday1Thanksalot.
5. FinnSays:
August11th,2010at19:43

AtipfrommeifyoudonthaveUbuntuonanyUSBorCDistosaveyourselfsometimeanduseNTpasswd+Unetbootin(besure
togettheneweststableISOfromthesite)instead.
ThatsjustmyopiniononthematterthoughandImsureforsometheabovemethodispreferable,thoughIalwayskeepanUSB
withNTPasswdhandy.:)
6. Janis_2Says:
August15th,2010at15:45

WithoutanypriorknowledgeofUbuntu,Imlost.Startingatthebeginning,interminalitshowsubuntu@unbuntu:~$WhenIadd
thecd/media/itdoesntautocompleteandifItypeinalltherest,itfindsNosuchfileordirectoryWheredidIgowrong?Ihave
downloadedthelatesteditionofUbuntu.WhenItriedtoinstallthefirstpackagefrommyflashdrive,Iwastoldthatthesoftware
alreadyexisted.DoIneedtofindthesoftwarefirstandthentypeinthegivencommand?
7. danSays:
August15th,2010at16:14

Question.WhatiftheuseraccountisonanNTdomaine?
forexample:toto\mike

onthetotoNTdomaineandmyusernameismike.Thendoesthisapproachwork?oristhepwdcheckedonthedomaine
controler?ItshouldworkonlaptopsIguess,sinceyoucanloginwithoutbeingonthenetworkattheoffice
DoIneedtoputthedomainenameinthepasswordtool?
Thanks
8. ubuntucatSays:
August15th,2010at17:15

@Janis_2
Thisisntreallytheplacetoaskforsupport.YoushouldgototheUbuntuForumsforthat.Iwilltellyouyouremissingaspace
betweencdand/media/,though.Anythingbeyondthat,theforumfolkscanhelpyouwith.
@dan
Idontbelievethiswillworkfordomainpasswords,onlylocalones.Ifyouneedadomainpasswordchanged,youneedtocontact
yourworkplacesnetworkadministrator.
9. TerrySays:
August16th,2010at01:59

Thereisasimplersolution.ophcrack.Downloadthe.isoburntoacdandbootfromit.itwillrunascanandwillgiveyouthe
Windowspasswords.Writethemdown.RebootintoWindowsandusethePasswordsitprovides.
10. kartikSays:
August16th,2010at03:51

YoucanalsouseHirensBootCd
Itcontainspreinstalledchntpw,Snoneedtoinstallitthroughubuntu(linux)
anditseasytoo
itsalsocontainmanyotherutilites(defrag.,partitionmanager,crackingtools,networkingtools,registrytools,Imagemakingtools,and
manymore)
youcanDownloaditfromanyTorrentSite.
HappySurfing!!!..
11. BorisVasilievSays:
August18th,2010at23:51

ExactlywhatIneeded.Thankyouverymuch.
12. foxrafiSays:
August19th,2010at03:29

Greattutorial,thankyouverymuchforthat.
Itreallyworksasyoudescribed.Itrarelyhappens:)
13. AinuddinFaizanSays:
August23rd,2010at10:58

seriouslyawesome!!!uveearnedyourselfafan!!^_^
14. kirinSays:
August25th,2010at22:04

itryusingyourtutorialbutwheniloginthepasswordstillthere.Whatwrong?
15. stephenSays:
August27th,2010at13:52

Thistutorialistopnotch.Itsbetterthantheprofessionaldocumentationincludedwithmanytechnologyproducts.Kudos!
16. johnstapletonSays:
September1st,2010at18:02

thankyallsomuchmysistergothernotbookandlostthepasswordbutthiswork.justanotyoumustrestart2xonadelldont
knowybutididandBOWnopasswordthanksomuch
17. KoenSays:
September2nd,2010at09:20

ThisfantastictutorialjustsavedmeanafternoonreinstallingXPonanoldlaptop!

Greatwork!
18. WarnerSays:
September3rd,2010at01:52

IhardlyeverwriteonblogsbutIthinkitwouldbehelpfulhere.ThisblogreallyhelpedmeatacustomertodayTheyhavean
Intelfakeraidcardthatdoesntworkwithoutsometricks.Alltheautomaticlinuxtooldisksdidntworkbecauseofthis.Ineededto
use:
DMRAID+kpartxtogetthevolumetowork.ThenmountingwasfineandIwasabletousethistool.Again,thebiggestproblem
wastheRAID5volumebeingmounted.
19. WarnerSays:
September3rd,2010at01:53

*********************************************************
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudodmraidr
/dev/sda:isw,isw_bhbaafbegd,GROUP,ok,312581806sectors,data@0
/dev/sdc:isw,isw_bhbaafbegd,GROUP,ok,312581806sectors,data@0
/dev/sdb:isw,isw_bhbaafbegd,GROUP,ok,312581806sectors,data@0
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudodmraiday
RAIDsetisw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5alreadyactive
RAIDsetisw_bhbaafbegd_Raid51wasnotactivated
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/
controlisw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid\5/mnt
NTFSsignatureismissing.
Failedtomount/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5:Invalidargument
Thedevice/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5doesntseemtohaveavalidNTFS.
Maybethewrongdeviceisused?Orthewholediskinsteadofa
partition(e.g./dev/sda,not/dev/sda1)?Ortheotherwayaround?
********************************************************************************
******************************Thenthefilenameswereallmessedup**
********************************************************************************
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5/mnt
ntfs3g:Failedtoaccessvolume/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5:Nosuchfileordirectory
ntfs3g2010.3.6externalFUSE28ThirdGenerationNTFSDriver
Configurationtype1,XATTRSareon,POSIXACLSareoff
Copyright(C)20052007YuraPakhuchiy
Copyright(C)20062009SzabolcsSzakacsits
Copyright(C)20072010JeanPierreAndre
Copyright(C)2009ErikLarsson
Usage:ntfs3g[ooption[,]]
Options:ro(readonlymount),remove_hiberfile,uid=,gid=,
umask=,fmask=,dmask=,streams_interface=,syncio.
Pleaseseethedetailsinthemanual(type:manntfs3g).
Example:ntfs3g/dev/sda1/mnt/windows
Ntfs3gnews,supportandinformation:http://ntfs3g.org
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid/mnt
ntfs3g:Failedtoaccessvolume/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid':Nosuchfileordirectory
ntfs3g2010.3.6externalFUSE28ThirdGenerationNTFSDriver
Configurationtype1,XATTRSareon,POSIXACLSareoff
Copyright(C)20052007YuraPakhuchiy
Copyright(C)20062009SzabolcsSzakacsits
Copyright(C)20072010JeanPierreAndre
Copyright(C)2009ErikLarsson
Usage:ntfs3g[ooption[,]]
Options:ro(readonlymount),remove_hiberfile,uid=,gid=,
umask=,fmask=,dmask=,streams_interface=,syncio.
Pleaseseethedetailsinthemanual(type:manntfs3g).

Example:ntfs3g/dev/sda1/mnt/windows
Ntfs3gnews,supportandinformation:http://ntfs3g.org
20. WarnerSays:
September3rd,2010at01:55

ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid/mnt
ntfs3g:Failedtoaccessvolume/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid':Nosuchfileordirectory
ntfs3g2010.3.6externalFUSE28ThirdGenerationNTFSDriver
Configurationtype1,XATTRSareon,POSIXACLSareoff
Copyright(C)20052007YuraPakhuchiy
Copyright(C)20062009SzabolcsSzakacsits
Copyright(C)20072010JeanPierreAndre
Copyright(C)2009ErikLarsson
Usage:ntfs3g[ooption[,]]
Options:ro(readonlymount),remove_hiberfile,uid=,gid=,
umask=,fmask=,dmask=,streams_interface=,syncio.
Pleaseseethedetailsinthemanual(type:manntfs3g).
Example:ntfs3g/dev/sda1/mnt/windows
Ntfs3gnews,supportandinformation:http://ntfs3g.org
**********************************************************************************************************
*****************Thenfinallyafterreadingthisforum>http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linuxhardware
18/mountinganntfsraid0stripeinubuntu90464bit769017/page2.html
*****************Thereissomeweirdbehaviorwiththenamesthatarelistedinthe/dev/mapper/Ifinallytriedtousethe
isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5withthe_
**********************************************************************************************************
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudokpartxa/dev/mapper/
controlisw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudokpartxa/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid
failedtostat()/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudokpartxa/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid\5
devicemapper:reloadioctlfailed:Invalidargument
*********Thisoneworked***********
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudokpartxa/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$mounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/
controlisw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5p1
isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid5p1
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$mounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5
isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5p1
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$mounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5/mnt
mount:onlyrootcandothat
21. WarnerSays:
September3rd,2010at01:56

ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5/mnt
NTFSsignatureismissing.
Failedtomount/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5:Invalidargument
Thedevice/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5doesntseemtohaveavalidNTFS.
Maybethewrongdeviceisused?Orthewholediskinsteadofa
partition(e.g./dev/sda,not/dev/sda1)?Ortheotherwayaround?
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5p15/mnt
ntfs3g:Failedtoaccessvolume/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5p15:Nosuchfileordirectory
ntfs3g2010.3.6externalFUSE28ThirdGenerationNTFSDriver
Configurationtype1,XATTRSareon,POSIXACLSareoff
Copyright(C)20052007YuraPakhuchiy
Copyright(C)20062009SzabolcsSzakacsits
Copyright(C)20072010JeanPierreAndre

Copyright(C)2009ErikLarsson
Usage:ntfs3g[ooption[,]]
Options:ro(readonlymount),remove_hiberfile,uid=,gid=,
umask=,fmask=,dmask=,streams_interface=,syncio.
Pleaseseethedetailsinthemanual(type:manntfs3g).
Example:ntfs3g/dev/sda1/mnt/windows
Ntfs3gnews,supportandinformation:http://ntfs3g.org
************************************************************************************
***************************FINALLY!!WHoooohoo!************
************************************************************************************
ubuntu@ubuntu:/dev/mapper$sudomounttntfs3g/dev/mapper/isw_bhbaafbegd_Raid_5p1/mnt
22. PauloSays:
September29th,2010at14:29

DoesitworksforWindows7?
23. pauloSays:
September29th,2010at16:20

Ifollowedallthestepsanditsnotworkingforme,anysuggestion:
u*SAMpolicylimits:
Failedloginsbeforelockoutis:0
Minimumpasswordlength:0
Passwordhistorycount:0
|RID|Username|Admin?|Lock?|
|01f4|Administrator||dis/lock|
|01f5|Guest||dis/lock|
|03eb|Jack||dis/lock|
>SYSKEYCHECKNotSet(notinstalled,good!)
SAMAccount\F:0>off
SECURITYPolSecretEncryptionKey:1>NotSet(OKifthisisNT4)
Syskeynotinstalled!
Cannotfindvalue
Hivesthathavechanged:
#Name
None!
24. SarahSays:
October3rd,2010at14:16

IIthinkIloveyou.This,alongwiththeolderversionyouwerekindenoughtosupplyalinkto,coveredallthebasesneededto
solvemyremainingtryingtogetthisdamnthingbootedproblems.
Sofar,Ubuntuhasbeentheanswereverytime!
ThankyouforsupplythisnewUbuntuuserwiththewarm,fuzzyfeelingofasupportiveopencommunity(andanexcellent
solutiontoherproblems).:)
25. VivekSays:
October5th,2010at16:27

Yourockman!Veryusefulpost!
26. scroogeSays:
October12th,2010at20:33

OnemorereasonWindowssucks,buthandytooltohaveathandincaseofemergency
27. robertSays:
October16th,2010at05:49

Greattutorial.WhosaidUbuntuwasworthless)?
28. SandeepSinghSays:
October21st,2010at08:59

Hi,
AwesomeexcellentThanksalot.Itstotallyworking
Thanks,
Sandeep
29. TomSays:
November5th,2010at01:27

havetosayitworkedformyacernetbookthatipurchasedwithapasswordthatthesellerforgot.DOH!Imstartingtolikethis
Ubuntustuff.newlanguagetomebutinteresting.thanksagain!!
30. dodSays:
November14th,2010at05:05

Thanksalot!Yousavedmyday!
Greattutorial.MakesmethinktoswitchtoUbuntu:)
31. AntonioSays:
November27th,2010at21:02

Excellenttutorial!Savedmylife!Thanksalot!
32. SlickSlackSays:
December6th,2010at15:11

Igetallthestagesdoneright,includingrunningchntpw,butwhenIrestartbackintoWindows7ontheHPMini110itstillwont
loginwithnopassword.Anysuggestions?Tried#sudochntpwuaccountsam.
ThefileinconfigislowercasesamnotSAM,doesthatmeananything?
33. NielsSays:
January5th,2011at05:12

Hi
IjustusedthisonaWinXP.Worksasacharm:)
Thanks!
SlickSlack:Case_does_matterinLinux.ThefilenameSAM/sammustbeincorrectcase,andsomusttheuername.Itshouldbe
Administrator,andnotadministrator.
34. makarzurSays:
January25th,2011at06:29

excellentexplanationandveryuseful
thanks
35. sSays:
January27th,2011at21:34

hi
36. justinSays:
January31st,2011at09:52

Ikeeptgettingthismessageafterenteringthecommand:sudochntpwumyusernamesam
chntpwversion0.99.5070923(decade),(c)PetterNHagen
openHive(sam):Filedoesnotseemtobearegistryhive!
Simpleregistryeditor.?forhelp.
get_abs_path:Notanknode!
itheninstalledthe64bitversionmanuallyanditnowworks.
37. SebnemSays:
February6th,2011at16:08

Awesome,thisisaperfecttutorial,veryclearfromAtoZ.
38. gab007Says:
February7th,2011at13:17

Thanks,itactuallyworked!

39. MikeySays:
February10th,2011at13:34

Everythingwentaccordingtothedirections,exceptthatitdidnotworkformeonaWindows7HomePremiuminstallation.There
wasoneuserconfigured(IsuspectbyrenamingthebuiltinAdministratoraccount),withanemptypassword.AfterMicrosofts
updatesthisweek,Icouldntlogontothatuser.chntpwdidntwork,eitherbyclearingoreditingthepasswordsoneitheraccount.
ophcrackcouldntcrackanyofthepasswords,butdidcorrectlyidentifytheGuestpasswordasempty.Finally,autilityonthe
pogosticksitedidsuccessfullyresettheuserpassword.Iwassurprisedatthissuccess,sincethecodelookedverymuchlike
chntpwwhenitwasrunning.IsuspectitsallgotsomethingtodowiththewaythebuiltinAdministratoraccountistreatedin
Windows7,andwouldlovetofindawaytoconfirmthatmyuseraccountisinfacttherenamedbuiltinAdministrator.Allthe
utilitieslistedthetwoasseparateaccounts,butusingnetuseradministratorcommandsinWindowsreturnsinternalerrors.
Thisisarelativelynewinstallation,sohopefullynotoomuchbitrothassetin.
40. RizanSays:
February21st,2011at12:11

Hi,
Thisisreallycooltool.IresetafewPCwithVistaitworkedlikeadream.Welldonedeveloper.!!!!!!
41. TedSays:
March18th,2011at10:59

Ihavetriedmanytimesbutitdidntwork.Itseemedthatthepasswordshadbeenemptiedbutactuallytheywerenot.Minehave
threeaccounts:
Administrator
ecopharmacist1
Guest
Afterreboot,IsawboththeAdministratorandecopharmacist1onthestartupwindowbutbothstillrequiredpasswordtoenter!
Anythingtodowiththesamlimitswhichshowed:
Failedloginsbeforelockoutis:0
Minimumpasswordlength:0
Passwordhistorycount:0
Howtochangethesevalues?
42. MartinSays:
March30th,2011at20:14

Reallythankyou!
43. bereket7Says:
April8th,2011at03:56

youarealifesaver:)Thanksfortheneatexplanation!
44. DaveNSays:
June6th,2011at06:29

Thisisgoodstuffbutdoesitworkwith11.04?IhavedownloadedNNbutitseemsverydifferenttothescreenimagesonhere.
45. pankajSays:
June9th,2011at12:56

awesometricksss.ilikeditthanxbuddy..
46. CookieSays:
June25th,2011at20:27

icreatedanewaccountbutthepasswordswerenotresetandthenewaccountrequiredapasswordalso
47. UsmanGhaniSays:
July4th,2011at06:03

PleaseWindowsPasswordResetremotly,
Likewindowsxp,Windows7,windows2003server,
PLeaseHelpme
48. Dkz!Says:
November1st,2011at19:06

Thanks!!!thisreallyworks!Yeay!

49. OrcrisSays:
November11th,2011at22:46

IgavemynormallypasswordlessWindowsaccountapasswordjusttotrythis,anditworks.ThisistheonlytutorialIcanfindto
dothis,sincemostofthemassumethatthistypeoftutorialwillbeusedbykidstohacktheirparentsaccount.Thisworksgreat,
though.
50. RichardSays:
November13th,2011at09:43

Thankssomuch!My11yodaughterforgotherW7p/wonhernetbook.Thistutorialsavedtheday.Ialreadyhaveseveral
UbuntudistrosonUSBfortunately.
I10.04.3onmylaptopsotheterminalcommandsherewerenttoodaunting(withmy13yosonshelp!!)
51. RaySays:
November20th,2011at01:53

Fantastictutorial.Iknewtherewasasimplersolution,withalloftheseLinuxCDsIhavelyingaround.
52. BernardMarkSays:
November29th,2011at07:15

youtookyourtimetogiveadetailedexplanation,evenacomputerdummycandothis,ivespent3daysnowontheinternet
downloadingseveralsoftwaresthatneverworkedorthatwantedmycreditcarduntililandedonthispage.
NOTE:windows7users,ihadtousesamNOTSAMbeforeitgavewayandthereiwasinauthorityandwithoutmercyor
compassion,iclearedthegoddampassword
53. GregSays:
December15th,2011at19:07

Icannotfindsystem32inmycd/media/Vista
54. GregSays:
December15th,2011at19:15

Scrapthatlastcomment,IcannotdosudochntpwuusernameSAMwithoutitsayingopenHivefailed:Nosuchfileor
Directory,tryingreadonly.openHiveinfallbackROmodefailed:nosuchfileordirectory.
55. GregSays:
December15th,2011at20:18

RightIvecompletedthewholeprocess,butwhenItrytologintomyaccountonvista(32x)ablankpassworddoesntlogme
inthehinthasgone,andIdidselectclearpassword.Cananybodyhelpme?
56. MarkSays:
January2nd,2012at01:04

Awesomeinstructions,workedperfectly.mighthavetouselowercaselettersforsam
57. taylordcraigSays:
January12th,2012at01:47

LOWERCASEsamfixedmyproblem.KEEPTHISINMINDIFITSNOTFINDINGYOURSAMFILE.
58. ERNESTSays:
March1st,2012at11:19

hello,sorry,lnotspeakEnglishverywellso,iusechtnpwversion0.99.6.2onUbuntu10.10butitnotclearmypassword
window.
Theerroris:theparameter1nogivenothingresultsthenparameter1givetutorialpasswordclearestpleasehelpme
59. hmwaurahSays:
April13th,2012at04:32

Thankssoomuchman.Ireallyappreciatedyourtutorial.
60. SumanthNRSays:
July17th,2012at22:18

Thanksatonforthedetailedexplanationandthesnapshots.Mylifeisbacktonormalbecauseofyoumate.
IusedUbuntu12.04andthingswerealittledifferentherebutwasabletomanage.
ThankstojohnstapletonforhintingthattheDellrequiresdoublebootup.
61. lifestyleSays:
August18th,2012at02:57

ThisdidNOTworkforme.Pleasehelp.
WhenItrytologontoWindowsServer2003,Igetthiserror:
Thesystemcouldnotlogyouon.MakesureyourUsernameanddomainarecorrect,thentypeyourpasswordagain.Lettersin
passwordsmustbetypedusingthecorrectcase.
WhatIseeinUbuntu12.04:
$sudochntpwSAM
chntpwversion0.99.6080526(sixtyfour),(c)PetterNHagen
Hivename(fromheader):
ROOTKEYatoffset:0x001020*Subkeyindexingtypeis:666c
Pageat0xa000isnothbin,assumingfilecontainsgarbageatend
Filesize262144[40000]bytes,containing9pages(+1headerpage)
Usedfordata:364/31768blocks/bytes,unused:6/4808blocks/bytes.
*SAMpolicylimits:
Failedloginsbeforelockoutis:0
Minimumpasswordlength:7
Passwordhistorycount:7
|RID|Username|Admin?|Lock?|
|01f4|Administrator||dis/lock|
|03ee|ARRNET|||
|03f7|District||dis/lock|
|01f5|Guest||*BLANK*|
|03f2|ABC_SNGLDVM|||
|03eb|DEF_SNGLDVM|||
|03ec|XYZ_SNGLDVM|||
|03f0|ProSys|||
|03e9|SUPPORT_xyz|||
>SYSKEYCHECKNotSet(notinstalled,good!)
SAMAccount\F:1>keyinregistry
SECURITYPolSecretEncryptionKey:1>NotSet(OKifthisisNT4)
*****************SYSKEYISENABLED!**************
Thisinstallationverylikelyhasthesyskeypasswordhashobfuscatorinstalled
Itscurrentlyinmode=1,Unknownmode
SYSTEM(andpossiblySECURITY)hivesnotloaded,unabletodisablesyskey!
PleasestarttheprogramwithatleastSAM&SYSTEMhivefilenamesasarguments!
RID:0500[01f4]
Username:Administrator
fullname:
comment:Builtinaccountforadministeringthecomputer/domain
homedir:
Accountbits:0x0210=
[]Disabled|[]Homedirreq.|[]Passwdnotreq.|
[]Temp.duplicate|[X]Normalaccount|[]NMSaccount|
[]Domaintrustac|[]Wkstrustact.|[]Srvtrustact|
[X]Pwddontexpir|[]Autolockout|[](unknown0x08)|
[](unknown0x10)|[](unknown0x20)|[](unknown0x40)|
Failedlogincount:2,whilemaxtriesis:0
Totallogincount:5
UserEditMenu:
1Clear(blank)userpassword
2Edit(setnew)userpassword(carefulwiththisonXPorVista)
3Promoteuser(makeuseranadministrator)
4Unlockandenableuseraccount[probablylockednow]
qQuiteditinguser,backtouserselect
Select:[q]>1
Hivesthathavechanged:
#Name
0
Writehivefiles?(y/n)[n]:y
0OK
62. AsadJawaidSays:

January1st,2013at10:43

Thankyou!chntpwisaverygoodutility.Iused&get100%result.
63. DavidR.KellySays:
January9th,2013at19:26

myfilewassamlowercase
64. CourtneySays:
March21st,2013at16:59

Iamtryingtofindthepasswordtomywindowsaccountbyusingthis.Orjustresetthepassword.ithinkmycomputerisrunning
WindowsVista.However,theTerminalisnotautocompletinghowcanifixthis?Orhowcanifindtheaddressofmyharddrive?
Thanks
65. ubuntucatSays:
March23rd,2013at10:22

Hey,Courtney.Whenyoureintheterminal,trytypingdfhtoseetheaddressoftheharddrive.
Also,keepinmindthatthepathstofoldersarecasesensitive.Soifitsanuppercaseandyouretypinglowercase,itwont
autocomplete.
Ihopethathelps.
66. angelSays:
March28th,2013at22:24

afterenter
sudochntpwuAngelPcSAM
itgivememessage
[sudo]passwordforangel:
andwhenienteranycharacterfromkeyboarditsdidntwroteonscreen
ihavewindows8notwindows7
67. BerlinerLuftSays:
March29th,2013at13:10

Hiubuntucat,
Ihadthesameproblemastheuserlifestyle,becausechntpwcannotdisablesyskey!WhatcanIdo?
68. kaushikSays:
April2nd,2013at15:56

helloalltodayiplanedtobuywindowspasswordkeyprotectionbutwheniseenyourtutorialitquiteniceanditrieditbygod
sakealliswellthanksforannicestuffandallthebest.!!
69. SebastinGarilloSays:
April10th,2013at10:55

Reallythanks,yousavemyday.
Iownyouabeer!
70. sunnySays:
June22nd,2013at09:04

wheniamtypingcd/media/andhittabitnotcompletingthelineplshelpiwanttocrackwindows8password
71. sunnySays:
June22nd,2013at09:15

howigetwindowsnameificrackingwindows8password
72. jesseSays:
August23rd,2013at01:10

hithere,thanksforthetutorial.
onmywindows7machine,thepathIfindis
/media/70***************/Windows/system

Icantfinda/system32/oraconfigafterthat.
canyoutellmewhereelsethatconfigfilecouldbe?orwhereelse/system32directorycouldbe?
Thanks!
Jesse
73. HarryBoroniSays:
January15th,2014at14:28

Dude!Thanks!Savedmybacon!IneededthatselfinstallerpackagelinksinceIwasrunningUbuntuofftheCDdriveonly!
74. tpSays:
June20th,2014at13:55

Tiensjepensaisrdierunetitarticlesemblableceluici
75. MrtikSays:
August2nd,2014at01:57

Goodtutorial.Goodprogram.GotproblemandreasonwasthatSAMwasinlowercase.Afterthat,done.Thnks
76. vishalSays:
August26th,2014at08:25

pleasesomebodyhelpitsveryurgentthemountisunsuccessfultellingwindowsishibernatedandaccessisdenied??
windows8
77. AndrewAllenSays:
August27th,2014at18:34

Thankyouverymuchforthistutorial.
ThoughtIwouldleavemyexperiencesonhereincaseitsofanyuseasIhadafewbarriersnotcoveredhere:
Idownloadedfromhttp://www.ubuntu.com/downloadtheiosfileandsavedittousbstick,restartedlaptop(keptmissingthe
chancetobootusingusb)quicklypressingesc(windows7laptop),bootoptionsF9(suddenlymycomputerdoesnotneedshift
buttonforFkeys,wasted10minsbecauseofthis)andpickedTryUbuntuoptionasIdonotyetwanttoinstallUbuntu.Noprobs
withlaptopasonlyoneaccountandthiswasjusttestrun.BecauseIhadnotinstalled,theuniversepartwasdonethrough
SoftwareandUpdatesandthesynaticdevicesstepwasreplacedbyopeningtheterminalandtypingsudoaptgetupdateEnter
sudoaptgetinstallchntpwEntercd/media/ubuntu/nameofyourwindowsdrive/Windows/System32/config(notetheubuntu
part)EntersudochntpwuAndrewSAM
Iwastaskedwithresettingadminpasswordoncomputerusedinmyflatsbuilding,multipleaccounts.MainissuewasthatI
neededcd/media/ubuntu/Windows7/Windows/System32/configAFTERrightclickingbothsystemandwindow7inSYSTEMand
clickingmountforboth.AnotherissueisspaceinusernameDigitalCoordinator,solvedbyescapecharacter\insteadof
andforsomereasonthistimeroundIneededsaminsteadofSAM
Iwascarefulnottoberootorhavecommandlinestarting#asIdonotyetfullyunderstandthisstufftominimiseanyrisks.
Thisisstillthebesttutorialforubuntuforthistaskthough
78. OhanaSays:
January22nd,2015at18:21

Itworkslikeacharm!Thankyousomuch!

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