RE: locked out of XP, need file access

["Wayne S. Ackley" <wackley () ideorlando org>]

Sounds to me like you'll need an MFD (Magic Frickin' Disk) boot disk.
I used Google to search for "Linux NT boot disk" and got this link:

 http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

This is a great utility for getting back into a Windows NT, 2000, or XP box,
where any passwords even the Administrator's password has been forgotten.

Please note: If used on users that have EFS encrypted files, and the system
is XP or later service packs on win2k, all encrypted files for that user
will be UNREADABLE! and cannot be recovered unless you remember the old
password again.

Just remember to RTFD, and DO NOT USE this to "modify" any system you do not
personally manage or own.

----You may not only be breaking company policies, but also the law!--------

**************************************************
Wayne S. Ackley
IT Manager - Senior Network Engineer
IDEORLANDO Facility
3045 Technology Parkway
Orlando, Florida 32826
321-235-7524
321-235-1484
text pager: page_wayne () ideorlando org
Pager phone: 1-800-946-4646 pin#1431304
**************************************************


-----Original Message-----
From: J. Yoon [mailto:supercool9000 () hotmail com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 10:46 AM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: locked out of XP, need file access


I'm locked out of my own Windows XP box.
Being a paranoid,
I have not provided myself with any password hints
even for the administrator mode.

I do remember about 2 characters from it though
but there's just too many combinations.

There are personal files in there that I need to access.

I remember that with the old Win98,
it was possible to do something with the .pwd file
(not that we needed it,
since all the files are accessible anyway)
but I'm sure things have changed significantly since.

I did infact try using a XP password recovery tool kit
and global-resetter thing I got from the net...
but the software asks me to enter root password
and then tells me to get lost.
It's strange and ironic,
because the passwd is precisely what I'm trying to figure out.

I don't wanna read a 1,000 page book just yet
cuz I need access to my files asap.

What would be some of the necessary simple steps to take at this time?
Thanks in advance...

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