Reset Windows Passwords and other Password Issues

Password Resets

Ultimate Boot CD for Windows (not the Linux one) has a few tools for resetting Windows passwords. I've used them in the past...

Dell Windows OEM "Administrator" password - apparently this is programatically generated and you can call Dell for it (never tried).

Sticky keys trick: http://4sysops.com/archives/forgot-the-administrator-password-the-sticky-keys-trick/ - kind of convulted

chntpw (which is probably the tool on the Ultimate Boot CD, original, not Windows one)

- http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Boots.
IMPORTANT: Defaults to partition 1, which I on the Dell I was testing on appears to be a setup partition, only 16GB. Try bigger one, 400GB, “2”.
Next prompt seems to look for SAM. Default seems OK.
Next, “1” to do password reset. (Default)
Next “1” lists users.
Next “Test” to change that user.
“1” to clear password.
! to quit.
“q” to quit.
Confirms write – pree “Y”?
Final prompt to quit or do another. Press “N”
Rebooted. Selected “Test” user. Press enter (for no password) and it worked. Whoa.

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Password Expiry

Set password expiry to never: net accounts /maxpwage:unlimited

Show Password Expiry Date

net user

Password Expiry Individual User Accounts

If you want to remove password expiration do the following:

run cmd.exe with administrator permissions.

wmic

UserAccount where PasswordExpires=TRUE set PasswordExpires=FALSE

Confirm change for each account with password expiration.

tags: password, nt, reset, administrator, expiry