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Changing the admin paswd when not known

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9 replies

by heckfire

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Inherited laptop from last job, but was not given the admin password. Does anyone know how to locate and change the admin password, so that I can become the admin of the laptop?

9 replies

by shmaltz

What OS? is it possible that you share this info so someone might be able to help you?

by ryanarthur

Im assuming that you have a 2000/NT or XP OS since it sounds like being an administrator is a big issue and that 98/95/Me you can get away with it with less hassles because its security feature is not as regid compared to 2000/NT or XP. Basically, you won't be able to change the admin password unless you wipe it out start a fresh install. it's just built that way since it has a rigid security feature that can't be broken. There might be third party utilities that can do that and some tricky procedure tinkering the Registry.

by jheslinga

Try this password editor: http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html . Who knows where it comes from, but it's worked a few times for my organization. If you prefer to go a more commercial (and therefore supported) route, you can use the similar tool from Sunbelt Software. Or, boot with a NTFSDOS floppy, copy the SAM off, and run it through L0phtCrack.

by ramoncarter

If using 2000 or XP:
Can you login as a local user? If so, simply replace the login.scr file with the cmd.exe file and reboot the system. Upon reboot wait for the cmd.exe to launch and then you can set the password for the local administrator.

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