Windows 7 admin password nuked.

[xaade]

I'm helping my daycare get some computers moved around and on wifi so they can have them all in one place.

Except one of their computers only has a guest account and they can't access the admin account because they no longer have the password.

They don't have a windows CD, I have no way to burn a CD.

The problem is that I don't see a wifi device in system devices, however being on a limited account it may just not have one, or it may be blocked.

I have a USB wifi adapter I'm going to bring.

What I would like to know if anyone knows a way to change the admin password without having a bootup CD or being able to access an admin account from safe mode.

I remember reading that there's a tool on MSDN for cracking admin passwords.

[Erufael]

@xaade If all else fails, you could try using Ophcrack on a live USB to get the admin account password.

[blakeyrat]

@xaade If it supports Windows 7, it almost certainly supports booting from USB.

[e4tmyl33t]

@xaade ntpasswd on a bootable USB drive?

[xaade]

@e4tmyl33t said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@xaade ntpasswd on a bootable USB drive?

Risk level?

[e4tmyl33t]

@xaade Rather low if you don't intentionally hose it up. What ntpasswd does is boot an external linux kernel that then loads the registry hives from the Windows install(s) it detects on the disk(s) in the machine. You then pick an account, and tell it whether you want it to nuke the password completely or replace it with something of your own choosing.

https://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Edit: Also, I tend to use Unetbootin to make some basic bootable images, since it easily downloads and installs the image on the drive for you. Pretty simple.

[xaade]

@e4tmyl33t all the pages say CD.
Do you have one explaining with usb.

[e4tmyl33t]

@xaade Apologies, see my edited-in second link for a really easy way to make a USB drive of it. NTPasswd is one of the options for Unetbootin to grab as an image.

[pie_flavor]

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

[Polygeekery]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

This. It is how I have taken care of this issue when admin password are lost. I believe our documentation does it through accessibility options though. One click on the login screen brings up a command prompt.

[pie_flavor]

@polygeekery said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

This. It is how I have taken care of this issue when admin password are lost. I believe our documentation does it through accessibility options though. One click on the login screen brings up a command prompt.

That requires preconfiguration however; this doesn't.

Still a funny bug. Who'd have thought Sticky Keys had some purpose?

[xaade]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

I read that, but don't you need a windows recovery disc to pull that off?

[pie_flavor]

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

I read that, but don't you need a windows recovery disc to pull that off?

You might; you might not. Depending on your installation, you might be able to boot directly into recovery mode without external disks. If you have a more minimal installation, then you'll need the disks.

[Tsaukpaetra]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

I read that, but don't you need a windows recovery disc to pull that off?

You might; you might not. Depending on your installation, you might be able to boot directly into recovery mode without external disks. If you have a more minimal installation, then you'll need the disks.

Yeah, IIRC if Windows fails to boot four or five times in a row it will do automatic startup repair, if you reboot while it's doing that it should prompt you for what to do next, at which point you should (technically) be in the recovery shell.

[pie_flavor]

@tsaukpaetra said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

I read that, but don't you need a windows recovery disc to pull that off?

You might; you might not. Depending on your installation, you might be able to boot directly into recovery mode without external disks. If you have a more minimal installation, then you'll need the disks.

Yeah, IIRC if Windows fails to boot four or five times in a row it will do automatic startup repair, if you reboot while it's doing that it should prompt you for what to do next, at which point you should (technically) be in the recovery shell.

That, or you could press F8 at startup and select Repair your computer and select Command prompt. Probably easier than trying to get it to fail to boot consistently.

[blakeyrat]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

Who'd have thought Sticky Keys had some purpose?

The disabled?

[pie_flavor]

@blakeyrat said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

The disabled?

Yes, I disable it on every computer I use.

[ben_lubar]

@blakeyrat said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

Who'd have thought Sticky Keys had some purpose?

The disabled?

Let me rephrase that question: Who'd have thought pressing shift 5 times to pop up a dialogue about YOU MUST BE A DISABLED PERSON would be a useful thing?

[Tsaukpaetra]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@tsaukpaetra said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

I read that, but don't you need a windows recovery disc to pull that off?

You might; you might not. Depending on your installation, you might be able to boot directly into recovery mode without external disks. If you have a more minimal installation, then you'll need the disks.

Yeah, IIRC if Windows fails to boot four or five times in a row it will do automatic startup repair, if you reboot while it's doing that it should prompt you for what to do next, at which point you should (technically) be in the recovery shell.

That, or you could press F8 at startup and select Repair your computer and select Command prompt. Probably easier than trying to get it to fail to boot consistently.

Oh, right, we're talking about Windows 7. Good luck getting F8 working on 8+...

[pie_flavor]

@tsaukpaetra said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@tsaukpaetra said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

I read that, but don't you need a windows recovery disc to pull that off?

You might; you might not. Depending on your installation, you might be able to boot directly into recovery mode without external disks. If you have a more minimal installation, then you'll need the disks.

Yeah, IIRC if Windows fails to boot four or five times in a row it will do automatic startup repair, if you reboot while it's doing that it should prompt you for what to do next, at which point you should (technically) be in the recovery shell.

That, or you could press F8 at startup and select Repair your computer and select Command prompt. Probably easier than trying to get it to fail to boot consistently.

Oh, right, we're talking about Windows 7. Good luck getting F8 working on 8+...

Nah, you just do the advanced reboot thing. The step occurs in the shutdown, not the startup, but it's still there.

[Tsaukpaetra]

@ben_lubar said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@blakeyrat said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

Who'd have thought Sticky Keys had some purpose?

The disabled?

Let me rephrase that question: Who'd have thought pressing shift 5 times to pop up a dialogue about YOU MUST BE A DISABLED PERSON would be a useful thing?

Or that holding Right-Shift for eight seconds would pop up a dialog about the same thing?

---

Filed under: Stop shaking!

[pie_flavor]

@tsaukpaetra said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@ben_lubar said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@blakeyrat said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

Who'd have thought Sticky Keys had some purpose?

The disabled?

Let me rephrase that question: Who'd have thought pressing shift 5 times to pop up a dialogue about YOU MUST BE A DISABLED PERSON would be a useful thing?

Or that holding Right-Shift for eight seconds would pop up a dialog about the same thing?

I have in fact found MouseKeys useful, however (Alt+Left Shift+Num Lock), when I need to perfectly position the mouse since it moves exactly one pixel on tap (or when I want to hold the mouse down for Minecraft and such without physically weighting down the button)

[HardwareGeek]

@tsaukpaetra said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@ben_lubar said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@blakeyrat said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

Who'd have thought Sticky Keys had some purpose?

The disabled?

Let me rephrase that question: Who'd have thought pressing shift 5 times to pop up a dialogue about YOU MUST BE A DISABLED PERSON would be a useful thing?

Or that holding Right-Shift for eight seconds would pop up a dialog about the same thing?

I hate both of those. I can't be the only person who sometimes gets to the end a sentence, with the shift key pressed ready to start the next sentence, then pauses to think about how I want to word the sentence, until my train of thought is derailed by the Filter Keys dialog. Or fidget by tapping a "do nothing" key, like shift, while I'm thinking.

[xaade]

@hardwaregeek said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

Or fidget by tapping a "do nothing" key, like shift, while I'm thinking.

You.... aren't....

[sloosecannon]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I dunno if this needs a boot disk in your environment or not but you can use recovery mode to access command prompt, delete the sticky keys program (system32\sethc.exe) and replace it with a copy of command prompt, boot back into regular mode, press shift five times at the login screen to bring up an admin command prompt, and then use net user <username> <new password> to reset the password.

Don't delete it! Rename it!

[pie_flavor]

@sloosecannon Yes, because I will ever need to use Sticky Keys ever.

[Luhmann]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

Sticky Keys

I really hate when my keys get sticky

[xaade]

@e4tmyl33t

Ok, so unetbootin doesn't like my fat32 usb drive.

Tried reformatting it, and it still doesn't like it.

Hm..

Oh, and everything on the internet talks about creating a windows boot usb from linux. Not what I want to do.

Ok, so now I'm doing the NOT quick format and seeing if that does the trick.

EDIT UPDATE: Ok, so there is a targeted version that will say, "fuck you, this drive exists, do your shit". Got it working now.

[sloosecannon]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@sloosecannon Yes, because I will ever need to use Sticky Keys ever.

Do you want someone to be able to get in to an admin cmd just by launching sticky keys? What about Windows crashing because the file it knew was there was missing? It's simpler just to put it in...

[pie_flavor]

@sloosecannon said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@sloosecannon Yes, because I will ever need to use Sticky Keys ever.

Do you want someone to be able to get in to an admin cmd just by launching sticky keys?

They already can, unless I have a recoveryless install.

What about Windows crashing because the file it knew was there was missing? It's simpler just to put it in...

I wonder. I don't have a box to test that on, shame...

[sloosecannon]

@pie_flavor said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

I wonder. I don't have a box to test that on, shame...

Yeah, I'm not totally sure what it would do either. But I don't trust it to handle that sanely...

[xaade]

@pie_flavor
I can't open command line in recovery mode unless I login to admin account

[sloosecannon]

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@pie_flavor
I can't open command line in recovery mode unless I login to admin account

Hmm... You'll have to use a boot disk to do the same thing then...

[xaade]

You know what.

This whole exercise was to get them logged into admin so they could get online with wifi.
Just one of the computers can't get on wifi? I moved it next to the ethernet and plugged it in.

[Tsaukpaetra]

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

You know what.

This whole exercise was to get them logged into admin so they could get online with wifi.
Just one of the computers can't get on wifi? I moved it next to the ethernet and plugged it in.

Occam's razor at its finest?

[xaade]

@tsaukpaetra said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

You know what.

This whole exercise was to get them logged into admin so they could get online with wifi.
Just one of the computers can't get on wifi? I moved it next to the ethernet and plugged it in.

Occam's razor at its finest?

Pretty much.

If they want to get into the admin account very bad, which they don't, then they can reinstall windows on that PC.

[boomzilla]

@xaade said in Windows 7 admin password nuked.:

You know what.

This whole exercise was to get them logged into admin so they could get online with wifi.
Just one of the computers can't get on wifi? I moved it next to the ethernet and plugged it in.

[Inari Pooltoy]

@xaade I know I'm late to the game here, but I believe what you're looking for is the Windows 7 MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization) toolkit. It contains a CD/DVD image with WinPE and a bunch of tools which will of all things, let you forcefully reset any local user password. I believe it is possible to burn the image to a USB stick using the right tools.