Hiren's Boot CD & a just repaired HDD

[shifted]

Just replaced the PCB on a HDD I fried over a year ago - loads fine as an external, but I can't get files from it because it keeps doing this bullshit admin thing (tried everything I could find to work around it).

Anyway, still boots, just can't log in because I have forgotten my password.

Downloaded Hiren's Boot CD 12.0 and booted from it... following instructions as per guides such as:

http://www.lansys.ch/arch/insecure/chntpw/howto.txt

and various others (google searched).

Shit still doesn't do what I want. I tried blanking the password, I tried changing the password - I am stumped.

What is the next step? Any other methods to try? I just want to get my data back off of it - and would like to log in to the drive to do so.

Any other bits of Hiren's I should use? First time using it...

Any suggestions/help would be great!

Cheers,
Paul

[Alt_F4]

Just run a download & run a live cd/usb OS (probably easiest to use a XP based one) and just copy what you need?

[shifted]

Won't I still need to login to the account that is password protected anyway to get my files?

The issue I am having is that Hiren's change password utility is not working (unless there is more than one on the Boot CD?) I am downloading ophcrack at the moment and will give this a shot.

Can't login to Admin cos it says that it is also password protected for some reason. So safe mode didn't work out.

I have copies of XP on disc that I have tried doing a boot from/the install method with - but its playing up anyway...

Stumped. :(

[Alt_F4]

IIRC you will only need a password if you encrypted (protected) your data.
If that's the case you are only left with hacking the SAM files.

Live OS is different to a reinstall/repair, I used this method to save some files from the missus computer after the install was corrupted and couldn't be repaired.

Search for torrents using keywords live xp rescue etc to find an ISO you can burn to make a live OS/rescue disc

[shifted]

Will take a look into.

Can't remember the password to log-in into the account at the moment (prob won't remember, and have prob fucked it now anyway) - hence trying the Hiren's Boot CD to see if that program could change it - didn't happen.

Issue when trying to copy off of as if it was an external, just kept saying I don't have the rights, did the stuff I found on google (re-assigning ownership and etc.) but it still would not do it. :(

Would deleting the SAM file work?

Will have a look into LiveOS

[shifted]

That RIPLinux thingo works on Hirens - it loaded up the areas I need folder access too - anyone know how to grab the files from there? Can I copy them to another drive? Do I just move them on the drive then plug in externally and done and finished?

[Dagon]

L0phtcrack takes fucking YEEEAAAAARS to get the passwords. If it's a complicated password you might be waiting weeks.
If all you need is files off it, why do you need to log in? Surely everything you want is just laid out in plain files that you can copy across onto another drive?

[South]

Get a cheap caddy, bung it in, plug it into a working PC, look for the Doc/Settings folder, find the user, change the permissions on folder, you will need to change the owner of filles/folder and you can get it all.

Administrator account is probably disabled, which is why resetting the password isn't doing squat.

[Soul]

If you want to login the first thing you tried was the best option.

1. Boot using the Hiren's CD
2. Password & Registry Tools --> Active Password Changer
3. Search for SAM --> Select SAM --> Select Administrator account
4. Tick "Clear password", enable the account if it's disabled

Once admin is free, then you can just log in Administrator with blank password, clear other users password etc.

Or as suggested you can just plug the drive into a sata/ide to usb converters or caddies and just get it that way. If it's files in your user folders that you need (My docs etc.) and your old login was passworded you'll need to reset the ownership before you copy over.

[shifted]

L0phtcrack takes fucking YEEEAAAAARS to get the passwords. If it's a complicated password you might be waiting weeks.
If all you need is files off it, why do you need to log in? Surely everything you want is just laid out in plain files that you can copy across onto another drive?

Yes, however when used as an external drive - it won't access the Docs & Settings folders - even after I change permissions.


Get a cheap caddy, bung it in, plug it into a working PC, look for the Doc/Settings folder, find the user, change the permissions on folder, you will need to change the owner of filles/folder and you can get it all.

Administrator account is probably disabled, which is why resetting the password isn't doing squat.

Tried that earlier as mentioned. ;) Changing ownership/permissions works for the Docs & Settings folder, but not for the User I want to get into.


If you want to login the first thing you tried was the best option.

1. Boot using the Hiren's CD
2. Password & Registry Tools --> Active Password Changer
3. Search for SAM --> Select SAM --> Select Administrator account
4. Tick "Clear password", enable the account if it's disabled

Once admin is free, then you can just log in Administrator with blank password, clear other users password etc.

Or as suggested you can just plug the drive into a sata/ide to usb converters or caddies and just get it that way. If it's files in your user folders that you need (My docs etc.) and your old login was passworded you'll need to reset the ownership before you copy over.

Yeah hence when that failed I tried the boot up with Linux option, which gave me access to the folders easy - just unsure how to copy what I want off of the drive then with Linux to another drive. Is it just plug in another external?

Cheers for all the replies. :)

Will have to keep trying different shit til one works.

[Dagon]

Booting up Ubuntu or another linux LiveCD is definitely the best bet, then. The basic linux commands are just like old DOS - move, copy, etc., but you'll be able to do it all in the GUI anyway.

[Nemi]

hahahha linux faggots.

[cplagz]

Yeah hence when that failed I tried the boot up with Linux option, which gave me access to the folders easy - just unsure how to copy what I want off of the drive then with Linux to another drive. Is it just plug in another external?

Cheers for all the replies. :)

Will have to keep trying different shit til one works.

Plug in another ext drive and it should automount... check under /Volumes for it

Then it's as easy as using the cp command (copy) ..ie

Old drive = /Volumes/Old Drive, new = /Volumes/New Drive

cp /Volumes/Old Drive/Documents and Settings/User/My Porn/* /Volumes/New Drive/Porn/*

[Sfidz]

bart pe disk will help you see the data.
google it. download it = profit?

[shifted]

Had that somewhere before when I tried the MCE trick on XP Pro... might still have it lurking. Will check. ;)