SYSTEM user account

[nowlincod]

when i type for example~

runas /user:system "cmd /k"

outputstream says: "please enter the password for the system."

how can i figure out what the built in user account passwords are? i havent tried bulletview yet but i know that in the services.msc properties where i add the user to run by, if I add a system account it asks for a password which i always leave blank, only then return to find it filled in automatically....

 

[Alejandro85]

The system account is a special one, in that it does NOT have any password (not even blank, is has NO password at all). Together with "LocalService" and "NetworkService", those 3 are designed specifically to be used with services, not interactively.
You can't simply use runas to impersonate it. Besides, why do you want that?

When configuring services, for System, there is a special option in the dialog (that disables both user/password), and for LocalService and NetworkService, simply leave the passwords blank, and use the browse button to help you locating the account, don't type it by hand preferably.

Ultimately, PsExec can start any program under any of those accounts, if you really want to and know what you're doing.

 

[LMiller7]

For all practical purposes the SYSTEM account does not have a password. But for security reasons you cannot login with or use runas with any of the system accounts. This would be a huge security risk if possible.

Can you image the security implications if you could sit down in front of any Windows computer in the world and login as SYSTEM without a password?
That is why it is not permitted.

You can use the AT command to run a scheduled task with the SYSTEM account.
How To Use the AT Command to Schedule Tasks
You can also use Windows Task Scheduler to do this.
In both cases you need to be an admin on the computer in question.

 

[carmellolb]

Access SYSTEM Account with Windows Installation Disk

PAID
If you want one more way, to access SYSTEM Account's files w/o password, buy a Windows 7 Installation disk or if you have one use that.
1. Put the disk in.
2. Restart.
3. Press any letter when prompted to boot from CD or DVD.
4. When installation opens up, select language settings.
5. At the bottom of the page, click "Repair your computer".
6. If startup repair found problems, click "no" and don't fix them.
7. Click "use recovery tools".
8. When it asks for operating system, click "Load Drivers".
9. In here, you can access all of SYSTEM's files.
FREE
1. Download Windows 7 Iso file.
2. Once downloaded, right click it and click properties.
3. Make sure it opens with Windows Disk Image burner. If not, in properties, click opens with, and navigate to C:\WINDOWS\system32, then select isoburn.exe.
4. Exit properties, right click it again, and click "Mount".
5. Restart, and complete steps starting from step 3.