Laptop with unknown local admin password

[mrstrong]

Hi,

 

I've been given an old laptop (not on domain) with unknown local admin user / password.

Think it was bought and setup for doing some audio/video stuff off the network.

 

No one seems to know admin login so whats the quickest way to get local admin.

Don't want to start searching for hack/crack password tools!

 

Maybe I could just login as standard user and join it to domain ?

[clareq]

Boot to a cmd window (usually F8), then make the ease of access center launch an administrative command prompt. The ease of access button launches the Utilman.exe executable.

 

Both the cmd.exe and Utilman.exe are located in the same directory. Navigate to C:/Windows/System32.

 

Rename Utilman.exe to something like Utilman_old.exe

Right click and copy cmd.exe

Paste the copy into the System32 folder (same folder you'll be in)

Rename the copy of the cmd.exe to Utilman.exe

Reboot into windows. Once you get to the login screen, click the ease of access button in the lower left corner. An administrative command prompt will launch.

 

The next step is up to you. You can create a new password for the user, create a new user or activate the default administrative account.

 

use the net user command. ($ is the prompt don't type the $ sign).

 

change password for the current account: $ net user username password

 

add a new user: $ net user username password /add

 

activate the default administrator (I use two commands but you can do it with one):

 

$ net user administrator password

 

$ net user administrator /active:yes

[chazzy2501]

if the laptop boots, hold down shift when you press reboot to bring up the recovery options and do a factory reset.

[stevewill6]

Boot to a UBCD disk (https://www.ultimatebootcd.com/) navigate to Offline NT Password & Registry Editor and follow the instructions to reset the admin password. Used it many times on forgotten admin passwords.

[AJWhite1970]

As SteveWill6 says. From experience though, set the new Admin password to be blank rather than try and overwrite a new one, seen it screw up the Admin user too many times....

 

Hirens Boot CD also has the same tool on it but that hasn't been updated for ages

[mavhc]

Next realise that all your computers are insecure and need bios passwords and denying booting from anything except the hdd without a password

[mrstrong]

thanks for advise, will give it a try when next in

[mrstrong]

Tried ultimate boot cd and it did the trick to clear local admin password

 

Used Offline NT Password & Registry Editor,

 

It is in /HDD/Data Recovery

See https://www.ultimatebootcd.com/index.html

 

Also booted it via easy2boot which looks interesting Easy2Boot

Edited September 13, 2019 by mrstrong

[mavhc]

Easy2Boot is great, boot also any iso automatically, copy yet another iso to usb stick, done.

[InvertorsYang]

Tried ultimate boot cd and it did the trick to clear local admin password

 

Used Offline NT Password & Registry Editor,

 

It is in /HDD/Data Recovery

See https://www.ultimatebootcd.com/index.html

 

Also booted it via easy2boot which looks interesting it

https://www.recoverywindowspassword.com/

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor does can help us to fix this problem.But there are also many examples of failure,in order to be 100% successful,try using them.

Edited October 15, 2019 by InvertorsYang