Solved Installation disk problem resetting admin password

[dalpets]

My friend is unable to access his Win7, 64 bit, operating system as administrator, as the person who set it up did not tell him the password and that person is no longer available to ask. So my friend has asked me for help. I need to access Admin to correct a profile problem that prevents access to his system.

I have searched the net & have come up with a suggested solution at the below link;

If you forget your Windows admin password, try this | PCWorld

I am using a Win 7, 64 bit installation disk, in repair mode, to attempt the reset of the password. The 1st window (system recovery options) tells me that the local disk is “D” so I use that at the command prompt (2nd window). I attempt the command lines shown in the 3rd window as follows;

X:\ Sources>d:
D:\>cd windows\system32
D:\Windows\System32>ren utilman.exe utilhold.exe

I get the message “The system cannot find the file specified”

Do you have any ideas why this is so?

There also appears to be a Ubuntu fix for this Win 7 problem (at the below link), although I stumbled when it asked me for the gdebi installer for the chntpw file, so I haven't pursued that approach further.


Change or Reset Windows Password from a Ubuntu Live CD

Thank you for your help.

 

[Layback Bear]

Password protection bypass is a touchy problem. My only suggestion would be to look through all these in the tutorial section of this forum.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutsearch.php?q=Lost password

 

[Megahertz07]

Use the Ubuntu disk to rename utilman.exe and to make a copy of cmd.exe as utilman.exe.
You cant do it under windows.
Once it comes to put the password, launch Ease of Access Center (utilman.exe now cmd.exe)
Type the commands below:
net user <name> <Password>
were name is the user name and Password is the new password

 

[dalpets]

Megahertz07
Thanks for your help.
Everything I have tried doesn't work.
Could I impose to ask you the steps necessary to achieve the outcome in your above post. In particular, I'm having trouble knowing what is done in Ubuntu & what is done in windows to achieve that outcome.

 

[Megahertz07]

When you get to the log on screen you have two icons: one is the administrator account (that you don't know the password) and another (your friend account) without administrator rights.
You also have an icon at the screen (I think is on the bottom left corner) that is for Ease of Access Center.
To change the administrator account password you must launch a command screen.
To do so you change the Ease of Access Center icon command from utilman.exe to cmd.exe.

To do it you must rename utilman.exe as utilman.exe.org and a copy of cmd.exe as utilman.exe.
To do it you must boot with a Ubuntu USB flash disk.

On another computer, download Lubuntu iso from here: lubuntu | lightweight, fast, easier
With Rufus Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way create a Lubuntu USB flash drive bootable disk.

Boot the Lubuntu USB flash drive bootable disk on the computer you want to change the administrator password.
Go to the windows drive at \windows\system32 and rename utilman.exe as utilman.exe.org
Make a copy of cmd.exe and rename it as utilman.exe.

Now boot the computer under Windows and when you get to the log on screen you have an icon at the screen (I think is on the bottom right corner) that is for Ease of Access Center.
When you launch it, instead of the Ease of Access Center it will launch the cmd screen.
Type the commands below:
net user <name> <Password>
were name is the administrator user name and Password is the new password

 

[dalpets]

Hi megahertz07,

Thank you very much for your elaboration.

I still need some help, please.

I have got Lubuntu to boot into the Win 7 system but I do not understand how I go to \Windows\System32. What commands do I use in the terminal to get there & to copy cmd.exe & rename utilman.exe. As you can readily appreciate, I am not familiar with the linux command line.

I can see the Windows\System32 directory from the Lubuntu dektop file manager, but there is no utilman.exe file in there.

If required, I am unable to connect to my ethernet connection from the Lubuntu live cd, although it shows 'automatic' in network settings. I've tried to get a mac address at the command line, without sucsess

Thanks again

 

[Megahertz07]

PCmanFM file manager = Start - Accessories - File Manager PCmanFM
Find Win 7 disk - Go to /windows/system32 find utilman.exe and rename (right click) to utilman.exe.org
Find cmd.exe - Ctrl+C then Ctrl+V . A window will open - There is already a file... - On the field where is the name cmd.exe replace with utilman.exe

 

[dalpets]

meghertz07;

/Windows/system32 contains cmd.exe but NOT utilman.exe.
Lubuntu version 16.10

 

[Megahertz07]

It could have been deleted or renamed.
Find cmd.exe - Ctrl+C then Ctrl+V . A window will open - There is already a file... - On the field where is the name cmd.exe replace with utilman.exe

 

[Win7 WINNN]

Try to replace "sethc.exe" instead and then hit "Shift" button 5 times when windows loads.

You can also use 'dir' command to see if there actually is a file that you are looking for.

 

[dalpets]

Thanks all for your comments, particularly to Megahertz07. Your fix worked.

 

[dalpets]

Thanks all for your comments, particularly Megahertz07. Your fixed worked.