Reset Windows Password Using Ubuntu

reset windows password using ubuntuI have a funny experience. Few days ago, my senior (at my office) ask me to change his computer password (Windows XP Professional). He said, “…please tell me how to change my password. Just tell me the way and I’ll change the password by myself…“. When I asked him the reason, his answer is “…so you can’t use my computer anymore…” :D

Yesterday, he called me. “…panoet, do you know my new password?…” and of course “NO” is my answer. “…Why you ask to me? Yesterday you’ve changed your password. Right?…“. Guess, what his answer?

“I’ve forgotten my new password!“! LOL, I think. Yesterday you want to change your password so I can’t use your computer and know you ask me the password because you’ve forgotten your new password. Is it sounds silly, right?

Have you ever experienced anything like that? Lost your Windows password? If you have, how to fix that? First, check out this page and you’ll shocked about the difference!

Reset Windows password?

To reset your Windows password is very easy, as easy as resetting your Ubuntu password. What you need is bootable Ubuntu system (ie. USB, CD or anything) and software called chntpw.

This is step-by-step to reset your Windows password:

  1. Boot from your bootable device (Ubuntu Live Session)
    Shutdown your computer and boot up using your bootable system. So you run Ubuntu on Live Session that means you run your system without install it!
  2. Set your repository
    Goto Synaptic Package Manager → Settings → Repositories → Ubuntu Software and check the “Software restricted by copyright or legal issues” checkbox. And don’t forget to reload synaptic.
  3. Install CHNTPW
    Install from Synaptic Package Manager or use this command on shell: 

    sudo apt-get install chntpw

  4. Resetting Windows password
     

    • Mount your “Windows installed” device
      It’s depending on your system, example: 

      sudo mkdir /media/WINDOWS
      sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/WINDOWS

      On my system Windows installed on /dev/sda1 and I want to mount it to /media/WINDOWS that I’ve created before.

    • Goto your Windows system configuration folder
      Located at [WINDOWS_DEVICE]/WINDOWS/system32/config/: 

      cd /media/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/system32/config/

    • Cracking the SAM file

      chntpw SAM

      reset windows password using ubuntu
      There a SAM file on Windows system configuration folder. That’s the file we’re looking for. Let’s crack it :) (sounds cool)
      And if you see the output similar with image beside, it’s mean you can crack the SAM file.

As you see, there is 5 choices. Just type “1″ and press “ENTER” to reset your password.

I’ve try this on my system and work well! But I’ve never try another choices (2-4) yet, you can try yourself.

DONE!!! It’s easy, right? But if you’ve more easy step to reset Windows password, you can share here :)