LAPTOP problem HELP needed

[Bikernereid]

Hi all,

I have recently locked myself out of my laptop and wondered if anyone in the Chch region is good at hacking and can please get me back onto my user.

Cheers, Lily

[SMOKEU]

I can sort it out easily enough, just format the hard drive and do a fresh install of your OS of choice. You will, however, lose everything that is on the hard drive.

[Bikernereid]

I can sort it out easily enough, just format the hard drive and do a fresh install of your OS of choice. You will, however, lose everything that is on the hard drive.

Thanks for the offer but I can't afford to lose everything on the hard drive.

[SMOKEU]

Thanks for the offer but I can't afford to lose everything on the hard drive.

Usually it's not really possible to 'hack' into a user name in a Windows OS (I'm going to assume the computer has Windows installed on it), unless you know the password for another user name with administrator privileges, in which case you could create another user name if you wish.

If that's not possible, then your only other solution is to remove the hard drive, back it all up onto another hard drive, format the laptop hard drive and reinstall your OS on that drive, then transfer the backed up contents onto the original drive.

[Latte]

You'll proably need someone with some computer "nouse" but it's a 10 min job to get a linux based cd that can crack the windows Administrator password or reset it to what you want (and from there you can reset your password). No loss of data necessary (backup is a good idea if the person hasn't done it before incase they make a mistake).

[Gremlin]

Not in chch, but you have several options.

a) If you have another username you can log in as (perhaps the hidden administrator account - if you're not already using it), but this depends on operating system? Windows XP, Vista, 7... (eg, its available by default in XP, but disabled by default in 7).

b) as said, take the hard drive out, copy contents to another computer

c) Using software such as ERD commander, change the password of the user account (software that accesses the operating system, but outside the operating system). Someone in chch should be able to assist. Not something for the average person to be using...

[Bikernereid]

You'll proably need someone with some computer "nouse" but it's a 10 min job to get a linux based cd that can crack the windows Administrator password or reset it to what you want (and from there you can reset your password). No loss of data necessary (backup is a good idea if the person hasn't done it before incase they make a mistake).

That is what my very competent techie friend in Auckland said but I need to find someone down in Chch to do it.

[p.dath]

We use a free Linux Boot CD called "Windows Admin Password Changer". It works great.

You just boot off the CD, and then it lets you change the password of any account on the machine.

Have a Google for it.

[Lurch]

p.dath has got it right, the password can be reset but only with a boot disc with the right software.

[Lias]

p.dath has got it right, the password can be reset but only with a boot disc with the right software.

+1

Basically with physical access to the machine, virtually every OS is compromisable. Windows is no exception.

This free util will work most of the time:

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Just download, it, burn it to CD, or write it to Floppy.

As a general rule, choose to BLANK the password, rather than change it with the offline editor, it generally works better.

[Urano]

+1
it should be maybe possible with the windows installation disc too.
check it out...

then get a mac, or at least ubuntu... ;)

[Neshi]

mac is overpriced and overrated.

but +1 on the bootdisc. It's really very easy to do and is just a few minutes work. No need to get a techie to do it and pay topdollar for an easy job.

[Urano]

mac is overpriced

not if you consider the cost of your time dealing with those stupid problems.... :D :D
but i won't go on on the usual mac/pc debate, i consider sufficient the fact that *usually* people complaining macs are those who always used pc only, those who complain windows are usually people who have used it for years before switching to mac...:innocent:
mac is not the "perfect one" and a lot of us are angry with apple for fuzzy marketing decisions, but is way better than alternatives nowadays and surely it would be best fitted for the most of home users.
remember also that i've bought an ibook g4 in 2004 for 1200 € and sold it in 2009 for 400 €. now tell me how much will be valued a 600 € pc not 5 years, but 5 minutes after the moment you left the retailer...
it sucks guys, i'd be happy to have alternatives.
i've been trying arch linux for a while, hoping it to be at least sufficient to let me out mac's golden jail, but it was not: my mbp last 8 hours with osx, 4 with linux.
is not comparable...
mac is the best thing possible? no. is the best possible choice? in 90% of the cases, yes.
over. ;)

[Forest]

+1

Basically with physical access to the machine, virtually every OS is compromisable. Windows is no exception.

If you have a Truecrypt encrypted boot volume then physical access gives no meaningful advantage.

An insecure operating system can be made secure through encryption.

[Phreak]

Cant you just boot it in 'safe mode' by hitting a key during the boot process (cant remember which key but pretty sure it takes you to the blue screen menu), which gives you an admin login, no password required, then once loaded go into your personal account settings and change your password?

Prob depends on the OS though...

[Gremlin]

Cant you just boot it in 'safe mode' by hitting a key during the boot process (cant remember which key but pretty sure it takes you to the blue screen menu), which gives you an admin login, no password required, then once loaded go into your personal account settings and change your password?
Couple of things:
a) administrator account has to be enabled (sometimes isn't)
b) pure luck if there is no password, its like any other user account, may or may not have a password
c) I have seen home computer set ups where the administrator account is the default account being used (so when it goes wrong you have no come back)
d) don't need safe mode to log in as the administrator
e) any account that is on the administrator level can alter other user accounts - ie, reset password

[Urano]

If you have a Truecrypt encrypted boot volume then physical access gives no meaningful advantage.

An insecure operating system can be made secure through encryption.

please.
don't do that.

unless your employer is the nsa. truly.