User Password Recovery Windows XP

[rapco 0]

Yesterday a friend called me asking me how could he recover a windows xp user's password...Nothing came to my mind...I'll aprecciate the help, thanks!

[vizskywalker 0]

Recover from what? Did the computer crash, has he forgotten it? More details could add tothe helpfulness of a solution.

[rapco 0]

Yes, he just forgot it... no crash down present

[nakulgupta 0]

Try booting up in safe mode. Use the administrator user account and then change the user's password.

[vizskywalker 0]

If he your friend has forgotten the administrator password , he won't be able to do the safe mode trick. Otherwise, that is the best option. If that doesn't work, there is a program available to help with this problem. I hesitate to recommend it though, because it costs $90.00. Here is the link, however. Information on how to use it can be found at annoyances.org. I'm looking for the file(?) that XP stores password information in to help find a free solution, but so far no luck. Sorry.

[qwijibow 0]

WindowsXP uses very very weak md4 hash algorithms to encrypt passwords.your options are brute forcing it with johntheripper, or hash insertion (simply making up a new password, hashing it, and saving it over the old hash)unless you used drive encryption, hash insertion should work fine.do you have access to a *nix rescue cd ? (for example knoppix)if so, ther is a porgram called ntpassword for re-setting passwords (hash insertion of the SAM file)