Accessing windows 7 without a password?

bledd · 21 Apr 2010 at 16:29

I assume Windows 7 still has it

When you're at the login screen, press ctrl/alt/del twice, it should bring up a classic login screen, enter administrator into there.

^not sure if Vista/7 have this..

Safemode should be accessable with that though I think

bledd · 21 Apr 2010 at 16:29

csmager said:
switch user to administrator at the login screen.

However, it's not going to work. I'm fairly certain that by default the Admin account is disabled. MS aren't daft enough to leave an admin account with no password on a standard install.

They were in the past!

Even though I've been using Vista/7 for ages, I've not had to login this way, so have no idea if it works

csmager · 21 Apr 2010 at 16:31

bledd. said:
They were in the past!

Really? As far as I remember, XP installs always asked you to set an admin password in the installer.

I just checked my Userlist on my install of 7 - Administrator and Guest are disabled accounts.

bledd · 21 Apr 2010 at 16:32

But you could just next it, that was one of the big downfalls of XP, blank admin passwords

csmager · 21 Apr 2010 at 16:35

bledd. said:
But you could just next it, that was one of the big downfalls of XP, blank admin passwords

Whoops!

Energize · 21 Apr 2010 at 17:06

bledd. said:
I assume Windows 7 still has it

When you're at the login screen, press ctrl/alt/del twice, it should bring up a classic login screen, enter administrator into there.

^not sure if Vista/7 have this..

Safemode should be accessable with that though I think

Ctrl + Alt + Del does nothing, safe mode or otherwise.

bledd · 21 Apr 2010 at 17:09

In XP, you have to tap it twice in a row..

csmager · 21 Apr 2010 at 17:13

bledd. said:
In XP, you have to tap it twice in a row..

Doesn't exist in Vista/7 - 'Classic' is no more! You just click 'switch user' on the screen and type in a new username. It's a massive button just below the password entry.

However, this is slightly futile as the administrator accounts will be disabled by default. This may even cause the 'Switch user' button to not display, as there are no other valid users.

Energize · 21 Apr 2010 at 17:14

Correct, there is no switch user button.

Swordfish · 21 Apr 2010 at 17:14

The administrator account in Vista and 7 are disabled by default.

Best to use the Hiren discs to remove the password and then login from there.

I must do this around 20 times a week and have yet to come across a serious issue with it.

kiel367 · 21 Apr 2010 at 17:16

use pcloginnow the latest version works for 7

lazer46 · 21 Apr 2010 at 19:15

Hirens boot disc. Where can i get it? Tried the official site but no joy!

rexehuk · 21 Apr 2010 at 19:56

lazer46 said:
Hirens boot disc. Where can i get it? Tried the official site but no joy!

http://www.hirensbootcd.net/download.html

And op those tables prob dont cover the full range of symbols. You'd need a bigger rainbow table for that:

http://freerainbowtables.mirror.garr.it/mirrors/freerainbowtables/

Grab the ALL tables, for LM/NTLM hashes and you'll have the pass in an hour or two. If you do this a lot then it's worth downloading the tables, if you ever run into this problem again you can solve it quickly.

.one. · 22 Apr 2010 at 00:51

Swordfish said:
The administrator account in Vista and 7 are disabled by default.

Best to use the Hiren discs to remove the password and then login from there.

I must do this around 20 times a week and have yet to come across a serious issue with it.

20 times a week why may i ask out of interest.

Swordfish · 24 Apr 2010 at 21:01

.one. said:
20 times a week why may i ask out of interest.

I do PC repairs and you am forever getting PC's and Laptop's handed that have every account passworded and the customer either cant remember the password or does not even tell you.

Simples !