Break into a Windows box?
 

Windows 7 box with one account on it and noone has the password. I've downloaded and made both cd's and flash drives of Ubuntu 10.04, 11.10, Trinity and PCLoginNow.
None of them will run.

I get just past the boot screen and I get depending on which one of the programs I'm using:

Ubuntu: There are file system specific -0 flags
Can not mount /dev/loop1 on/cow

PCLoginnow:
can't access tty
Job has been shut down.

and similar with the other programs.

I would like to say that I have a baby's knowledge of Linux but I would be lying.

I don't know if I just haven't found the right instruction set, written just the right way for me to understand it - or - if I'm just stupid and should stick with the dummy's version of an operating system. The one thing I do know is that whenever Windows breaks, Linux is called in to fix it.
So, is there someone out there that can walk me through this. I need to remove the password, so this chck can get her schoolwork.

Hi,

I had to break into my nephew's netbook windows 7

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Is it a pre-installed system?
Do you have a widnows Recovery disk? An installation CD/DVD?

Might try the microsoft site below:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...n/5d4e5bb1-589

aazkan, I've not heard from anyone else this set of instructs. I will do this and post - it might take me a couple hours but don't forget to check b ack cause I'll post the results.

Yancek, Yea I've been there and no I don't have any of Microsoft's approved ways of getting in. I wish I did but it is what it is. I've got to pick the lock and I need someone that knows what there talking to lead me through it. There's a computer tech in town that garuantees me that for 25.00 and 30 minutes he can open the door. I know that I have access to most all of the tools that he has except for the coveted Microsoft MVP tech tools that no one can get there hands on unless thay've bowed to the windows god.

I doubt you need any linux knowledge to remove a windows password.

There might be a few thousand or so web pages on different ways to find it and/or change it to blank.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...ord-reset-disk is the usual way before it breaks down.

We kind of get back to the question what do you really need right now? Just access to files? Have they been encrypted? If so then you need to use only the correct password. If you blank it, the data will be lost.

logonrecovery or gentoolive dvd or ophcrack live or john or a few hundred other ways.

As mentioned above by, aazkan the best method would be

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Hi _vaago,

Thought I'd ask how did it go with that windows thingy? Were you able to get to the user account?

Hey guys, the only other working box in the house just lost internet connect. I'm typing this on a phone w/o a keyboard. I hav a live version of 11.10 up and running, I can see into sys32 and it looks like I've got write privileges (can't see my internet connection though) I think what I'm looking for is in the sam file but I don't know what that looks like. Can I get wbere I want to go from bere? The firefox browser is tbere but wben I click nothing happens.k

You will be using a terminal to do the password change.

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I could not get anything to happen when I did apt-get install chntpw. I went out and found it, downloaded, but I'm not sure how to install it.

Hi,

What linux distro are you using to do the rescue?

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Just to let you know most wins users never put password on safemode so boot safemode change password call it a day.

Hi Eddy1

I really didnt know that and will give that a try. Thanks for sharing that tip.

You're welcome. Good luck

I tried going in through the back door but it states that the hdd pw is frozen.

edit:
If computer is not powered down and then rebooted the hard drive password is frozen, and all it did was put one more password between me and my desktop.
edit:
I installed chntpw into ubuntu and followed the instructions to the letter. Nada.

edit:
The reason that I did not download Takeback 5 is because it was a 2 hour download on a medium fast connection and I figured if I don't have the skills to operate ubuntu, which is pretty much designed for ..... like myself what the was I going to do with pentest distro designed for pros?
edit:
I'm one click away from re-installing which in my book is an admission of failure. Local IT says he will remove the password for 25cold - I'm sure that is just a preliminary figure. We all know the skies the limit.
edit:
I know it is possible to do just about anything with Linux - as long as your parents were singing to each other in the linux language at the moment of conception. I have yet had any one be able to explain with out using geek speak the beginning of the beginning of linux.I really believe that the guys back in the 60's building the naming conventions were sitting around a bong laughing their asses off. Yea I'm pretty frustrated right now. I'm not quitting. I'm just so disappointed that at the premier forums where a guy should be able to get something as simple as this accomplished that I can't seem to do the simplest instruction.