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The other day one of my friends forgot his Windows Admin password and was as usual panicking and acting like the whole world had come to an end. And how do I get it back? By neatly showing off my expertise in Ubuntu which I used to get back the Windows Administrator Password.

Note: You will be needing an Ubuntu Live CD.

Here’s how you get started with the *cough* hacking the Windows Administrator password:

1. First, insert in your Ubuntu Live CD or load it. There’s no need for installing.

2. Navigate to the desktop. Next, install chntpw.

$ sudo apt-get install chntpw

3. Now, we have to access the Windows NTFS partition by mounting it and allowing read/write support. We need to install NTFS config from the Ubuntu Repository. Get it from here.

4. Next install the NTFS config,

sudo apt-get install ntfs-config

5. After installation, goto Applications > System Tools > NTFS Config.

6. Enter the root password when prompted to.

7. It will show the partitions that are configurable. Select the partition and enter the mount point as Windows. Not it should show /media/windows partition. Click Apply.

8. Select the NTFS write support of the internal/external device. External if you are using an external hard drive.

9. Now you should see an ‘Windows’ mount point on your desktop. Double click and you can see the mount point.

10. For now, double click the Windows folder and goto System32 > Config.

11. Inside the Config directory, give the following command:

$ sudo chntpw SAM

12. Next it will now ask to reset your password. Its better if you leave the field empty except with a ‘*’ (asterix).

13. Thats it. Restart your system and now you should be able to get into Windows.

Pushkar