Hacker Help. Windows XP Help!

Hello everyone,
Well, my school has a bit of a dilemma. Apparently someone set a password for the whole computer, and cannot remember the password. Now everyone is locked out of this computer, and we'd like back in.
So, they asked me... I am the most computer savvy of the school, but that doesn't say a lot, since most don't use a computer very often.

They have tried numerous passwords, and cannot get back in, so now it's up to me to try to hack my way in with no passwords. The computer cannot be accessed at all that I know of.

I think I have a couple options: Trying to get in with Safe Mode (start, and hold F8) and get in to change the password; don't know if that will work without the original password.

Or: An install disc, and run in 'repair' mode. I don't want to erase any data, if its possible to avoid.

What should I do? Any tutorials/walkthroughs to follow? I am not sure they have any discs, so I would have to buy one if we go that route.

Thanks a lot!
-Darin

Where is it prompting for a password? At the initial boot, or after windows has loaded? If it is at the initial boot the user has set a password in the BIOS, and the only way to clear that (generally) is to find a manual for the computer that may show where the BIOS reset pins are on the motherboard (if it has any) and then use a small jumper to connect the pins (you can usually find them on the back of a hard drive, or any conductive metal will work), and then boot the machine. You will have to do things like reset the clock, etc.

If it is in windows itself, using safe mode or a recovery CD will not get you into the machine as that would be an easy way for a hacker to bypass the security of the device.

What are you trying to get at on the computer? If it is files and the like you can take the HDD out, put it into a PC that you have admin rights for and then access the hard drive from that PC. That will let you then copy/backup the files. Then put the Hard drive back in the original computer and do a full reformat/reinstall of windows XP from the install disc.

And next time set up at least two user accounts with administrative rights so if one gets locked out there is another account that can get in

I'm assuming it is after the system loads. I haven't seen the PC since it's fouled up. I work as a satellite off of them, from home, so I'm 60-70 miles from them. I'm part of the school, but I'm not usually physically there.
How would transferring the HDD to another computer help? Wouldn't the password be on the HDD itself?
I can go that rout, but I will have to buy the XP install. I will do it if you're sure it'll work, though!

I think this may be an upgraded computer. I suspicion it used to be 98, and was upgraded to XP before it was donated.

Wonder how much the Evad3rs team charges!

http://pogostick.net/~​pnh/ntpasswd/

Make a boot disc of that. You can use it to reset the machine's local "Administrator" password.

Follow the instructions: http://pogostick.net …ntpasswd/walkth​rough.html It's not as complicated as the instructions make it look.

Please note that, like most tools like this, you can totally eff up the Windows install if you do something wrong. I am not responsible for any effing up that may occur. Do this at your own risk.

No, the password is not on the HDD itself (unless the person set a drivelock password, in which case it's now only good as a paperweight). It is on the OS. If you put it into another computer where someone can log into the OS that is on the new computer with an administrator account, that computer's admin account has the ability to read the contents of any drive on the computer.

Would I be able to make Restore disks off of their HDD, or will I have to buy a new OS?

Costs $25.00, but it works and saves a lot of headache. As long as you can create boot CD from iso file on another computer.

http://www.any-data-rescue.com …ws-password-recovery.html

No that won't work, it would need a valid product key and the install CDs.

That one product listed above might work, don't know anything about it.

manderson wrote in post #15571427
Costs $25.00, but it works and saves a lot of headache. As long as you can create boot CD from iso file on another computer.

http://www.any-data-rescue.com …ws-password-recovery.html

That looks like I have to start up the computer and start the program; I can't get in at all.

This might help http://community.spice​works.com …s-xp-local-admin-password I have a linux disk that you can boot and just type in the new password into a GUI. If I can find it I will post the link to the site I got it from.

--Evan

I don't have the original CD, though. Is there a cheaper disc I could get than the full install disc, to run in repair mode?

There are some solutions on this thread that seem to work. Let us know if any of them work for you.

http://en.kioskea.net …+windows+xp&cur​=2&url=%2F

You can buy Kon-Boot which will let you boot the computer from a USB stick, and it will let you boot the computer,
and access the accounts without a password. Then you just reset the password to whatever you want. I think it
cost $20.00 for the personal version. It would do what you want as well.

--Evan

D. Vance wrote in post #15571643
That looks like I have to start up the computer and start the program; I can't get in at all.

No, you just need to run it on another computer and create a bootable CD. Then you boot the problem computer with the bootable CD and it will recover the passwords. Very simple.

You can download this and burn the iso to a cd, or use one of the various utilities to make
it a bootable USB stick and then boot the computer from it, and reset the administrator
password with the NTPWD utility http://www.hiren.info/​pages/bootcd

--Evan