how easy to get past windows password?

[jasonz]

Hi,

My laptop was stolen last week and I had some pretty important data on it that should not get out. (Work related, not porn) My laptop is set to ask for a password when it opens. The password is not long or complicated, but it is something that someone who doesn't know me wouldn't know. How difficult is it to get past the login password without reformatting.

Note I am not asking how to do it, I am just praying that is hard as hell and that it will likely require a reformat or something of the sort.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[massahwahl]

I could be wrong but i think if you put linux on a prtition of the drive you could in theory access the windows partition. Again, im not positive on that.

 

[atentora]

I know if you set it as secondary HDD you can't access it from windows directly.

I did do the partition thing with linux before, but I can't remember if windows was password protected.

EDIT: Oh, and what OS? XP, Vista, something else?

EDIT 2: I found this bit from searching google

"if its windows xp home , press f8 or f5 on boot and select safe mode. log in as administrator and with no password. theres no password for xp home by default"

"if you are using Windows Vista ; realy you have to do recovery process ., "

If you changed the defult admin password it will be harder. I believe there are other ways too, but that is the easiest. I have done it before but forgot about it >_<

 

[Geoff]

"if you are using Windows XP Operating system You will able to go to the safemode administrator login.

once you get into the safemode desktop pease go to control panel and find user account , remove the password now.

That's only if the person who setup the computer didn't change the administrator password. On Windows XP Pro (and I believe Vista Business/Ultimate), it will ask you to change the administrator password, while XP/Vista Home doesn't by default.

 

[jasonz]

I had vista ult. I don't remember specifically changing any password. I just created the password at the beginning of installing windows. I guess this is the admin password.

Assume it was a bastard little 14 year old or some low life idiot. Would it be difficult?

 

[N3crosis]

I had vista ult. I don't remember specifically changing any password. I just created the password at the beginning of installing windows. I guess this is the admin password.

Assume it was a bastard little 14 year old or some low life idiot. Would it be difficult?

Yes it probably would be difficult for a 14 year old, unless one of their parents worked in IT, which I would assume they would chastise the child for stealing your laptop, and would probably not break into it anyways.

 

[wiwazevedo]

depends who it was
for me
really really easy
you should consider encrypting all of your important files next time. even your whole hard disk

 

[quagmondo23]

Honestly, it is very easy to do that. I had to break into a Windows 2000 Pro computer since it was using an old admin password that no one knew, so all I had to do was download a few files from the internet, put them onto a CD and make it bootable, and from there I was able to:

Reset the administrator password to anything I want
Reset any user password to whatever I want, or leave it blank
Promote any user account to have administrative privileges
Remove/Create accounts

So if someone had the know how, they could get into your computer within 15 minutes. And by the way, this particular tool can be used to gain access to any Windows computer running Windows 2000/XP/Vista.


That's only if the person who setup the computer didn't change the administrator password. On Windows XP Pro (and I believe Vista Business/Ultimate), it will ask you to change the administrator password, while XP/Vista Home doesn't by default.

Care to elaborate on these files omega? haha

 

[FatalityTech]

depends who it was
for me
really really easy
you should consider encrypting all of your important files next time. even your whole hard disk

How would you go about encrypting the hard disk, i would love to do that.

 

[quagmondo23]

Theres lots of software available to do it. Not sure how good the packages are. Google's your friend

 

[FatalityTech]

Ok i figured as much. Im surprised no one posted a "let me google that for you" link. lol

 

[quagmondo23]

oh, sorry haha

let me google it for you

 

[quagmondo23]

http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Haha... cool, thanks. I thought you got them from your underground l33t haxor group and wouldn't give them up. thanks though

 

[cohen]

i know it is possible, search youtube and you'll find out

Cohen

 

[Geoff]

quagmondo23, I was asked to remove the link since it's against the rules. Would you mind removing the link from the quote? Thanks.

 

[Kill Bill]

Also be aware if they have OS X they don't need passwords. So if they take the laptop drive out, get a usb to IDE or what ever,plug it into their mac its game over and they can browse freely.

 

[luckyedboy66]

if the thief simply wanted the data, the easiest way to access it is by removing the HDD and using it as a second hard drive on another computer. all files would be accessible unless encrypted. i have done that to my lappy when things went haywire. sorry if this doesnt reassure you. i hope everything works out!

 

[DCIScouts]

How 'bout NO! Thread closed.

To answer the original question in its form; it depends on the strength of the password and the abilities of the user. As an added precaution keep an eye out for activity with your identity and such for a while to be on the safe side...