How can I set windows 7 passwords.

Freebase Dali · 03-01-2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Can you still delete the password file in Win 7? Used to be you could boot into safe mode, go to the DOS prompt (or whatever they call it these days, old guy bah humbug wasn't like this in my day grumble) and find the file password.pwl I think it was, delete it and then the system wouldn't ask for a password and would just log you right in?

Am I talking bollocks here? Well, I know I do anyway but is this still do-able?

No. Booting into safe mode still requires a user name and password, otherwise there wouldn't be a point in having a credential check to begin with. And even if you attempt to mount the file system via a recovery console or something of that sort, if everything is in tact, it will still ask you before it lets you browse directories.

Passwords are stored in SAM (Security Accounts Manager). You CAN crack it, but it requires particular software that you boot to. I've had to rely on software like this for years to clear passwords for clients.
And to be honest, the absolute best I've come across, that works on every Windows system I've tried it on, since 2003, is this:

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor

A noob will probably have difficulties making a bootable disk and actually using it, but it's pretty simple if you actually read what it's asking and have a basic knowledge of operating systems. For those that don't, google a tutorial.

All I can guarantee is that it will work.
(I've had far better luck with it than even Ophcrack.)