To be honest, I don't have any idea how to start this post which is why it started with a stupid word.
So let's just go with the "trick" shall we?
The scenario is that you(not me) are trying to login to a PC but the User Account is password protected. There is a way indeed to by pass that weak security by altering the password altogether and it will end up locking the owner of the user account haha evil!! or let's just say you forgot your NT login password - ok, let's just go with that. Technically, will be resetting your password (everybody say yeah!).
Bare in mind that you can only do this if the "Hidden" Administrator account of windows is enabled and "IS NOT" password protected which I think if memory serves right is the default settings. Of course we can enable the administrator account if its disabled or we can remove the password if its secured but that will be on a different post - another day.
Let's just say the hidden administrator account is enabled and is-not-password-protected.
The only info you need from the user account is the username and since it's your user account you're already familiar with it, yes? Oooooooook.
First step:
Login to the hidden administrator account. How do we do that? Simple. We need to boot the computer in Safe Mode. For those who don't know, here's how - Shut you computer down (assuming it's still On) as soon as you press the On button tap F8 or keep tapping it until the screen presents you the "Advance Boot Options" as the exhibit below shows.
Now now, don't get excited. You'll have to highlight Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking if you preffer(I do) using the arrow keys then hit Enter. The reason why I chose Safe Mode with Networking is because you can still use all the networking device installed on your computer which means you can still connect to the internet compared to just the plain Safe Mode where most of the software/hardware settings are disabled. Going back, give it a couple of minutes or lets says several and it should now bring you to the NT login screen where this time you'll grow aware of the existence of another user account flirting with yours - no worries that's just the Administrator account I've been reffering to earlier.
Since, it's not password protected (as the scenario dictates) just click the icon to login into the account.
The Safe Mode is where most of the settings/configurations/options are restored to the default factory settings so don't be surprised if the Fonts&Icons are humungus and everything appears magnified. It only means you've succesfully infiltrated the Safe Mode environment and we can now proceed with the second step.Chapter II.
Lovely.
Windows XP: Start » Run » CMD - no further explanation required.
Windows 7: Use the search tag "cmd" on the Start Menu Search box and it should come up with the CMD application.
bare in mind that when using windows seven, you need to run CMD as an Administrator. You can do that in two ways, either use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Enter while CMD is highlighted or just right click CMD and select Run as Administrator.
The following are the string of characters you need to print on the command prompt for this post to make sense :p
net use "Account Name" "Password"
The "Account Name" obviously is your User Account Name while the "Password" duh!? is your desired password.
Conclusion. (Feels like a Science experiment, how nostalgic)
The only thing we have to do now is to test the method. There's no way for me to show that from here so you'll have to come up with your own results. Goodluck! In case it won't work, no worries it will :)
That's it! I'm now off to breaking my fast.
