How to reset your Windows password using Ubuntu

Resetting your Windows password is as easy as resetting your Ubuntu password. What you need is a bootable Ubuntu system (ie. USB, CD or anything) and software called chntpw

Please find the steps o reset your Windows password below.

1. # Boot from your bootable device (Ubuntu Live Session)

Shutdown your computer and boot up using your bootable system. So you run Ubuntu on Live Session that means you run your system without install it!

2. # Set your repository

Goto Synaptic Package Manager -> Settings -> Repositories -> Ubuntu Software and check the “Software restricted by copyright or legal issues” checkbox. And don’t forget to reload synaptic.



3. # Install CHNTPW
Install from Synaptic Package Manager or use this command on shell:

sudo apt-get install chntpw

4. # Resetting Windows password
# Mount your “Windows installed” device

It’s depending on your system, example:

sudo mkdir /media/WINDOWS
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/WINDOWS

On my system Windows installed on /dev/sda1 and I want to mount it to /media/WINDOWS that I’ve created before.

# Goto your Windows system configuration folder

Located at [WINDOWS_DEVICE]/WINDOWS/system32/config/:

cd /media/WINDOWS/WINDOWS/system32/config/

# Cracking the SAM file

There a SAM file on Windows system configuration folder. That’s the file we’re looking for. Let’s crack it

chntpw SAM

And if you see the output similar with image below, it’s mean you can crack the SAM file.



As you see, there are 5 choices. Just type “1″ and press “ENTER” to reset your password.

Posted by : Nishad S S