Getting into a password protected Vista

I have physical access to the computer, but I'm stuck at the User Logon screen. I can restart the computer and access Setup if needed.

What's the best way to use the computer (password cracking, account creation, etc)?

[Prometheum]

This is more appropriate for NS&H, but use Ophcrack to dump the hashes, save them onto a flash drive, and then run Ophcrack over them or use Cain & Abel on windows.

[RDProgrammer]

The easiest is to load safe mode and log in the Administrator Account. Many people don't ever add a password for that and you can then change or remove the passwords on other accounts through the users item in the control panel.

RDP

[oddballz194]

Originally Posted by RDProgrammer

The easiest is to load safe mode and log in the Administrator Account. Many people don't ever add a password for that and you can then change or remove the passwords on other accounts through the users item in the control panel.

RDP

The Administrator account is disabled for login by default on Vista. You'd need to gain another administrative privs account to enable it for this to work.

[Prometheum]

Originally Posted by oddballz194

The Administrator account is disabled for login by default on Vista. You'd need to gain another administrative privs account to enable it for this to work.

This fact is the bane of oddballz194's existence.

I wrote up a little howto for things like this; since the question pops up so often in NS&H.

https://www.totse.com/community/show...7&postcount=30

Feel free to provide feedback, tell me I'm full of shit/an idiot, send money, etc.

[Zok]

Since this thread should be in NSH and it appears there's already a thread about it in NSH... I'm gonna go ahead and close this.