Post by ZF on Jan 21, 2014 3:02:54 GMT -5
Boot to alternate media, be it windows 7 recovery or other linux distro. The goal is to access C:\windows\system32
If using Windows installer/recovery disc, wait while your Windows 7 installation is located on your computer.
Once your installation is found, take note of the drive letter found in the Location column. Most Windows 7 installations will show D: but yours may be different.
Select Windows 7 from the Operating System list and then click the Next button.
If the windows version is different, click other options with the goal of getting to the command prompt.
Likewise with Linux, mount the system partition to access the native Windows filesystem.
With a command prompt, backup the original utilman.exe
copy d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe d:\
Replace it with a command prompt.
copy d:\windows\system32\cmd.exe d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Restart computer and once the Windows 7 logon screen appears, locate the little icon on the bottom-left of the screen that looks like a pie with a square around it and then click it!
Now that Command Prompt is open, and you can reset the password using net user command!
net user <username> <password>
Remember to revert the changes by copying back utilman.exe to system32.
FOR WINDOWS XP
Rename C:\Windows\system32\sethc.exe to other name ( to revert later )
Rename cmd.exe to sethc.exe
Reboot and at the login screen, hit shift 5 times to get a command prompt
net user (find your account name)
net user <username> <password>
Remember to revert the changes by copying back sethc.exe
If using Windows installer/recovery disc, wait while your Windows 7 installation is located on your computer.
Once your installation is found, take note of the drive letter found in the Location column. Most Windows 7 installations will show D: but yours may be different.
Select Windows 7 from the Operating System list and then click the Next button.
If the windows version is different, click other options with the goal of getting to the command prompt.
Likewise with Linux, mount the system partition to access the native Windows filesystem.
With a command prompt, backup the original utilman.exe
copy d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe d:\
Replace it with a command prompt.
copy d:\windows\system32\cmd.exe d:\windows\system32\utilman.exe
Restart computer and once the Windows 7 logon screen appears, locate the little icon on the bottom-left of the screen that looks like a pie with a square around it and then click it!
Now that Command Prompt is open, and you can reset the password using net user command!
net user <username> <password>
Remember to revert the changes by copying back utilman.exe to system32.
FOR WINDOWS XP
Rename C:\Windows\system32\sethc.exe to other name ( to revert later )
Rename cmd.exe to sethc.exe
Reboot and at the login screen, hit shift 5 times to get a command prompt
net user (find your account name)
net user <username> <password>
Remember to revert the changes by copying back sethc.exe