Win2K password help - emergency!!

[ErikS]

Someone hacked my machine last night & now I can't get in to my machine. Is there any where around this situation? The admin & my account are both locked out (for a "99999" time limit).

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Saltin]

Is it just a stand alone box? And what is your File system? FAT32 or NTFS?

If it is FAT, boot up with a 98 boot disk and browse to c:\winnt\system32\config\sam
Delete the SAM file.
The OS will then notice it is gone and replace it with the SAM in the Repair directory, which should have just a disabled Guest account and your original Administrator account, with the password you first defined.

If the File System is NTFS, you will need to download a version of NTFS DOS from the web, and use that to boot your system. After that, just proceed as above.

I'm pretty sure this will work, but I've never tested it, so it's obviously not 100% for sure.

 

[ErikS]

Thanks for the information, I'll give it a shot.

 

[Woodie]

I thought the NTFS DOS download was read-only? Try booting from the Win2K setup diskettes...they may be able to r/w an NTFS partition.

Other solution: Install a second copy of W2K, on the same drive (not an upgrade), in a different folder. Boot to the new install, then do as above, and reboot into your original install. (Make sure the Boot Menu entries are distinguishable from each other.)

--Woodie

 

[Psychoholic]

You can also boot up using the Recovery Console.

You might the following FAQ article handy for the future.
How do I use Win2K/WinXP's Recovery Console to access all my files?

 

[Saltin]

Wood, yeah I guess the download (free) version is read only. I'm just so used to having everything registered and paid for, I sometimes forget

 

[TheOmegaCode]

<< Wood, yeah I guess the download (free) version is read only. I'm just so used to having everything registered and paid for, I sometimes forget >>

HAHAHA, I work for the county, I know exactly what you mean... awww adaptec ez cd creator sucks... I wish we had clone cd or nero.. cha ching... Oh, if only we had servermagic... cha ching.... etc, etc...

 

[ErikS]

Tried all the suggestions, so far no go. Deleting the SAM file caused a boot failure - I'm screwed I guess - lol - at least it wasn't my home machine

 

[Saltin]

Not yet you arent. Boot into DOS and go to c:\Winnt\Repair. Move the SAM file from there into the C:\winnt\system32\config folder. Reboot.