How to Use the Linux System Rescue CD to Change Your Forgotten Windows Password

How to Use the Linux System Rescue CD to Change Your Forgotten Windows Password

Maybe many people have encountered such a situation that you set a password in your computer and everytime you open your machine you have to type in your password to start it. However, one day you forget your password and you have no idea how to enter a correct password to open your computer as the screenshot shown below. How will you solve it? Today we will take a look at how to change your forgotten password with the Linux System Rescue CD in Windows.

Note: Keep in mind if you are using standard Windows encryption for your files, resetting the password will permanently disable access to those files. So you should crack the password to solve it.

How to Create the System Rescue CD

On the first step, you'll need to download a copy of the System Rescue CD and burn the ISO image to disc. In this example, I choose the simple ImgBurn utility, but you are free to use whatever burning application you prefer instead.

If you are using ImgBurn, just click the Write image file to disc button.

Simple click the "File" button near Source and then pick the ISO file, then click the "Burn" button near the bottom.

Download the System Rescue CD from sysresccd.org

How to Reset Your Password

Once you have your boot CD, you'll want to boot from it, which will take you to this very informative prompt (with some basic instructions on how to use the CD.).

Firstly, we'll need to install the hard drive by using this command below.

Note: You might not need to use the o force argument. it's only really for when the system didn't shut down correctly.

ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /mnt/windows o force

After that, you can use the df m command to make sure the drive has been mounted and that it's the right drive(Here it's mounted on /mnt/windows at this point.).

Now you'll want to change directory into the Windows/System32/config directory inside of your windows installation. For mine, the full path was something like this, but it might be different on yours:

cd /mnt/windows/Windows/System32/config

Once you are in that directory, you should see that there is a SAM file, which is where we'll want to change the passwords.

In order to change the password, we'll use the chntpw command shown below, and it's most useful to use the l argument first to list out all the usernames in the file.

chntpw l SAM

At this point, you can add the u argument with your username which will end up being something like this command (except you'll want to replace geek with your username) :

chntpw u geek SAM

This will present you with a wizard type screen:

Now maybe you want to set a new password, so just type "2 at the prompt, add in your password, then use the "y" key when prompted to save.

Now your password has been changed, so you can enter the reboot command to restart the computer (should take the disc out of the drive).

Now you can login with the new password:

Note:This way can be used in XP, Vista and Windows 7 with good results.

conclusion

It's indeed a useful and easy way for you when you have such trouble problem. Perhaps it can works for lots of people. Just have a try if you need.

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