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Windows Password Reset using chntpw

This guide explains how to reset a Windows password from a Linux system using the chntpw tool.

Prerequisites

  • Linux system or Live USB/CD
  • Access to the Windows drive
  • Administrative privileges on the Linux system

Steps

Step 1: Boot into Linux

Boot your system using a Linux distribution (either installed system or Live USB/CD).

Step 2: Install chntpw

Update your package manager and install the chntpw utility:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install chntpw

Step 3: Mount the Windows Partition

Create a mount point and mount the Windows partition:

sudo mkdir /mnt/windows
sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/windows

Note: Replace X with the correct drive letter. For NVMe SSDs, the naming convention is different and typically follows the pattern /dev/nvme0n1p1 (where 0 is the drive number, n1 is the namespace, and p1 is the partition number). You can find the correct partition using lsblk or fdisk -l.

Examples:

  • Traditional SATA drives: /dev/sda1, /dev/sdb2
  • NVMe drives: /dev/nvme0n1p1, /dev/nvme1n1p2

Step 4: Navigate to SAM Directory

Change to the Windows system configuration directory:

cd /mnt/windows/Windows/System32/config

Step 5: List Users

Display all available user accounts:

sudo chntpw -l SAM

Step 6: Reset Password

Reset the password for the specific user:

sudo chntpw -u Username SAM

Note: Replace Username with the actual username you want to reset.

Step 7: Follow Interactive Prompts

The tool will present you with options:

  • Choose option 1 to clear the password (recommended)
  • Choose option 2 to edit the user account
  • Type q to quit and save changes

Step 8: Unmount and Reboot

Unmount the Windows partition and reboot:

cd /
sudo umount /mnt/windows
sudo reboot

Important Notes

  • Always backup important data before performing password resets
  • This method works with local Windows accounts, not Microsoft accounts
  • Some Windows versions may have additional security measures
  • The cleared password will be empty, allowing login without entering a password

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

  • Verify the correct partition is mounted
  • Check if Windows was properly shut down (disable Fast Startup if needed)
  • Ensure you have the correct permissions to modify system files
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