How to Change a Windows User Password Using Backtrack 4

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Locked out of your computer? Can't access a old Windows user account? Then this is the article for you!

Steps

1. 1
   Boot Backtrack 4 in your computer.
2. 2
   

   Backtrack Select Menu
   Once Backtrack is done loading and the select menu is visible, pick "Start Backtrack Frame Buffer (1024X768)".
3. 3
   

   Inserting Startx
   Once you're allowed to type in commands, type in "startx".
4. 4
   

   Chntpw
   Once the GUI is visible, go to start(Lower-left corner) Backtrack >> Privilege Escalation >> PasswordAttacks >> Chntpw, opening the Chntpw terminal.
5. 5
   Now inside backtrack, you need to find the file path to a file called SAM, usually under 'Windows/System32/config/SAM'
6. 6
   Now in the Chntpw terminal type in "chntpw -i " Ex: chntpw -i /media/disk/windows/system32/config/SAM
7. 7
   Type in 1. "Edit user data and passwords"
8. 8
   Type in the username of the Windows account you want to change the password in.
9. 9
   Type in 1 to clear the password, type in 2 to edit it.
10. 10
    Once done, type in the username of the Windows account you changed or cleared the password on.
11. 11
    Type in 4. "To unlock account"
12. 12
    Type in !, then q, then y.
13. 13
    Done! Close Backtrack 4 and restart Windows!

Tips

• If this sounds complicated, it is better off to view a video tutorial.

Warnings

• Do NOT use this method on anyone else computer but your own.
• Please notice that Backtrack is not very stable and can mess up your computer. Do this at your own risk!

Things You'll Need

• Way to boot Backtrack 4 (Disc, USB, etc)

• Article provided by wikihow the wikihow manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article How to Change a Windows User Password Using Backtrack 4 All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license