Member Avatar for johnny80

We have a Windows NT 4.0 Workstation which we forgott the admin password. The admin is the only user assigned to the machine.

I want to know, is there any free software out there that will let me reset or change the password of the administrator? or how can I gain access to the Win. NT workstation?

I will appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Johnny.

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If you have permission to service the box, you do not need to crack anything or reinstall immediately. On NT 4.0 the supported recovery path is to use an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) and choose to restore the SAM/Security hive; that reverts the Administrator password to whatever it was when the ERD was last updated. You can create/use an ERD from the NT setup disks; details are in Indiana University’s archived KB and Microsoft KB summaries. See IU: Make/Use an ERD and MS KB Q122857: RDISK options. Note: an ERD made long ago restores that older password, by design.

If no ERD exists, ’s idea is on the right track: boot a reputable offline password editor and clear (do not “recover”) the local Administrator password. The long‑standing free, open‑source option is the Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor; its boot CD/USB works with NT 4.0 and edits the SAM offline. Instructions and images are here: Offline Windows Password & Registry Editor. Before doing anything, back up the SAM and SYSTEM hives so you can roll back if needed:

copy C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SAM D:\backup\
copy C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM D:\backup\

Two clarifications for the thread: (1) NT 4.0 does not include EFS; clearing a local password will not orphan EFS‑encrypted files (that risk begins with Windows 2000+). SANS EFS primer. (2) Installing NT “over the top” usually preserves the existing SAM, so it will not blank the Administrator password; use ERD restore or a clean/parallel install if you go the reinstall route. For corporate environments, avoid warez‑style tool compilations (’s Hiren’s suggestion) and stick to open‑source or vendor‑documented methods that pass a software audit.

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Member Avatar for Bob_180_Bob

Google it, there are thousands of sites to download the illegal software to over-ride a security password.

Member Avatar for johnny80

Correct, but since this is a company, the administrator won't let me use illegal software. We have to be legal all the way. I have tried 3 so far and none of them have worked.

I know I can try illegal software since 99.9% of my collection is, but I just cant use it for work.

Member Avatar for Salem

Maybe this linux based tool?

> the administrator won't let me use illegal software.
So hand the machine over to them, and let them earn their keep for a day or two while you get on with something else.

Member Avatar for johnny80

I told the admin about the software, and he did try it, but said that he go not where. He also said not to worry about it anymore since he is going to install windows NT over the current one and that should work.

The good thing about it is that if it does not, then it's not my problem anymore.

Thank you all for all the help.

Johnny

Member Avatar for Naser_1

hi
my name is nasser from iran
if change admin password on nt4.0 workstation windows break all embedded setup on system becuse all machine nt windows encrypted. you can not changed .

Member Avatar for y0f4n

are you already try hirens boot CD ?
try to find old version of this. like version 11 or 12

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