Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Lost the Administrator Password - Windows :

Lost the Administrator Password - Windows :

Hello Friends

Can't Log On to Windows XP?

If that's your only problem, then you probably have nothing to worry about. As long as you have your Windows XP CD, you
can get back into your system using a simple but effective method made possible by a little known access hole in Windows
XP.

You can easily change or wipe out your Administrator password for free during a Windows XP Repair. Here's how with a step-by-step description of the initial Repair process included for newbie's.

  1. Place your Windows XP CD in your cd-rom and start your computer (it's assumed here that your XP CD is bootable as it should be - and that you have your bios set to boot from CD)
  2. Keep your eye on the screen messages for booting to your cd Typically, it will be "Press any key to boot from cd"
  3. Once you get in, the first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting your system and loading files.
  4. When you get to the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now
  5. The Licensing Agreement comes next - Press F8 to accept it.
  6. The next screen is the Setup screen which gives you the option to do a Repair.
    It should read something like "If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it"
    Use the up and down arrow keys to select your XP installation (if you only have one, it should already be selected) and press R to begin the Repair process.
  7. Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.
  8. Shortly after the Copying Files stage, you will be required to reboot. (this will happen automatically and you will see a progress bar stating "Your computer will reboot in 15 seconds"
  9. During the reboot, do not make the mistake of "pressing any key" to boot from the CD again! Setup will resume automatically with the standard billboard screens and you will notice Installing Windows is highlighted.
  10. Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen and when you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. This is the security hole! A command console will now open up giving you the potential for wide access to your system.
  11. At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. Voila! You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel.
  12. Now simply pick the account you need to change and remove or change your password as you prefer. If you want to log on without having to enter your new password, you can type control userpasswords2 at the prompt and choose to log on without being asked for password. After you've made your changes close the windows, exit the command box and continue on with the Repair (have your Product key handy).
  13. Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password (or without a password if you chose not to use one or if you chose not to be asked for a password). Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.
  14. I tested the above on Windows XP Pro with and without SP1 and also used this method in a real situation where someone could not remember their password and it worked like a charm to fix the problem. This security hole allows access to more than just user accounts.

15 Top Windows XP secrets :

15 Top Windows XP secrets :

    • Windows key + D - shows the desktop.
    • Windows key + M - minimizes all open windows.
    • Windows key + Shift + M - maximizes all open windows.
    • Windows key + E - Runs Windows Explorer.
    • Windows key + R - shows the RUN dialog.
    • Windows key + F - shows Search window.
    • Windows key + Break - shows System Properties box.
    • Windows key + TAB - Go through taskbar applications.
    • Windows key + PAUSE Display the System Properties dialog box.
    • Windows key + U Open Utility Manager.
    • ALT + TAB - Cycle through opened applications.
    • Hold down CTRL while dragging an item to Copy it.
    • CTRL + ESC Display the Start menu.
    • ALT + ENTER View the properties for the selected item.
    • F4 key Display the Address bar list in My Computer or
    • NUM LOCK + Asterisk (*) Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder.

  1. Lock Windows to protect computer :
    You can lock Windows to protect the computer when leaving the station easily by creating a shortcut with the path rundll32.exeuser32.dll, LockWorkStation. The Windows key + L is also a shortcut to this feature.
  2. Edit sysoc.inf to list all software :
    To show all software that can be removed from your computer (including protected Windows services), you can manually edit (using notepad for example) the sysoc.inf file located in Windows\inf\. Just remove the word hide next to the software pack.
    Note - use this at your own risk. Removing critical components of the system will make Windows instable.
  3. Windows XP comes with IPv4 and IPv6 :
    Windows XP comes both IPv4 and IPv6 support. To enable IPv6, you can install the protocols needed with the command "ipv6 install" in the command-prompt. Then type ipv6 /? to see the options. The installation will not remove the IPv4 protocols so your current configuration will still work.
  4. Access Task Manager with shortcut :
    To access the Task Manager easier, you can make a shortcut that points to %windir%\system32\taskmgr.exe.
  5. Stop treating ZIP files like Folders :
    If you don't want your Windows XP to treat ZIP files like folders, you can disable this component by running regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll at the command prompt or Run dialog. If you start missing it, you can enable it by typing regsvr32 zipfldr.dll.
  6. Run program as diffrent user :
    You can run a program as a different user. Right click an application and select Run As command.
  7. Switch users leaving applications opened :
    You can switch users leaving the applications opened too (*NOTE* use this only when needed since it could lead to system instability).
    Go to Task Manager - processes and end the process explorer.exe. This will end only your session and not all applications. Then go to Applications tab, click New task and type runas /user:domainname\username explorer.exe. A password prompt will appear to login to the desired username. The user's session will start, with all your previously applications running.
    I recommend to open first a command-line prompt and type runas /? to see all the options available.
  8. Rename multiple files in Windows at once :
    Rename multiple files in Windows at once. Select them all, right click and select Rename. Enter the desired name. They will be renamed using what you specified, with a number in brackets to distinguish them.
  9. Task kill feature in Windows :
    Windows has a task kill feature similar to Linux. Go to a command prompt and run the command tasklist to see running processes with PID numbers. Then type tskill to end the specific task. This forces an instant closing of the task.
  10. Edit features with GPEDIT.MSC :
    You can edit many features by running gpedit.msc. You can add log on/log off scripts here and many features.
  11. Edit accounts in the command prompt :
    You can edit accounts by running "control userpasswords2" at the command prompt.
  12. Use systeminfo.exe to see System Information :
    You can use the systeminfo.exe command in the command prompt to see System Information, including all Windows updates and hotfixes.
  13. Disable system services for maximum performance :
    There are system services that you can disable to free up the system's load. To access the interface that permits you to make changes to system's services, type services.msc and the command prompt.
    This is a list of services that are *usually* useless and can be safely disabled.
    • Alerter
    • Application Layer Gateway Service,
    • Application Management
    • Automatic Updates
    • Background Intelligent Transfer
    • Clipbook
    • Distributed Link Tracking Client
    • Distributed Transaction Coordinater
    • Error Reporting Service
    • Fast User Switching Compatibility
    • IMAPI CD-Burning
    • Indexing Service
    • IPSEC Services
    • Messenger
    • Net Logon
    • Net Meeting
    • Remote Desktop Sharing
    • Network DDE
    • Network DDE DSDM
    • Portable Media Serial Number
    • Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
    • Remote Registry
    • Secondary Logon
    • Smartcard
    • SSDP Discovery Service
    • Uninterruptible Power Supply
    • Universal Plug and Play Device Host
    • Upload Manager
    • Webclient
    • Wireless Zero Configuration
    • WMI Performance Adaptor
    NOTE: Make sure you don't need them since some applications you're using could depend on them. If you make any application to fail by disabling any of the services, go back and enable it again.
  14. Repair Windows XP by using the XP installation CD:
    If your system failes to start due to an error related to missing HAL.DLL, invalid Boot.ini or any other critical system boot files you can repair this by using the XP installation CD. Simply boot from your XP Setup CD and enter the Recovery Console. Then run "attrib -H -R -S" on the C:\Boot.ini file and delete it. Run "Bootcfg /Rebuild" and then Fixboot.

List of All DOS Commands

I found this list of all the DOS commands in a website. But on searching Google to find the source gives thousands of results, so I decided not to credit anyone! Anyway it’s interesting have a look.

1 ANSI.SYS — Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.

2 APPEND — Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a command.

3 ARP — Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices

4 ASSIGN — Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter

5 ASSOC — View the file associations

6 AT — Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.

7 ATMADM — Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager.

8 ATTRIB — Display and change file attributes.

9 BATCH — NRecovery console command that executes a series of commands in a file.

10 BOOTCFG — Recovery console command that allows a user to view, modify, and rebuild the boot.ini

11 BREAK — Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.

12 CACLS — View and modify file ACL’s.

13 CALL — Calls a batch file from another batch file.

14 CD — Changes directories.

15 CHCP — Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.

16 CHDIR — Changes directories.

17 CHKDSK — Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.

18 CHKNTFS — Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.

19 CHOICE — Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.

20 CLS — Clears the screen.

21 CMD — Opens the command interpreter.

22 COLOR — Easily change the foreground and background color of the
MS-DOS window.

23 COMP — Compares files.

24 COMPACT — Compresses and uncompress files.

25 CONTROL — Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.

26 CONVERT Convert FAT to NTFS.

27 COPY — Copy one or more files to an alternate location.

28 CTTY — Change the computers input/output devices.

29 DATE — View or change the systems date.

30 DEBUG — Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.

31 DEFRAG — Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.

32 DEL — Deletes one or more files.

33 DELETE — Recovery console command that deletes a file.

34 DELTREE — Deletes one or more files and/or directories.

35 DIR — List the contents of one or more directory.

36 DISABLE — Recovery console command that disables Windows system services or drivers.

37 DISKCOMP — Compare a disk with another disk.

38 DISKCOPY — Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.

39 DOSKEY — Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.

40 DOSSHELL — A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.

41 DRIVPARM — Enables overwrite of original device drivers.

42 ECHO — Displays messages and enables and disables echo.

43 EDIT — View and edit files.

44 EDLIN — View and edit files.

45 EMM386 — Load extended Memory Manager.

46 ENABLE — Recovery console command to enable a disable service or driver.

47 ENDLOCAL — Stops the localization of the environment changes
enabled by the setlocal command.

48 ERASE — Erase files from computer.

49 EXPAND — Expand a Microsoft Windows file back to it’s original format.

50 EXIT — Exit from the command interpreter.

51 EXTRACT — Extract files from the Microsoft Windows cabinets.

52 FASTHELP — Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them

53 FC — Compare files.

54 FDISK — Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.

55 FIND — Search for text within a file.

56 FINDSTR — Searches for a string of text within a file.

57 FIXBOOT — Writes a new boot sector.

59 FIXMBR — Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.

60 FOR — Boolean used in batch files.

61 FORMAT — Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.

62 FTP — Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.

63 FTYPE — Displays or modifies file types used in file extension
associations.

64 GOTO — Moves a batch file to a specific label or location.

65 GRAFTABL — Show extended characters in graphics mode.

66 HELP — Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.

67 IF — Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing.

68 IFSHLP.SYS — 32-bit file manager.

69 IPCONFIG — Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.

70 KEYB — Change layout of keyboard.

71 LABEL — Change the label of a disk drive.

72 LH — Load a device driver in to high memory.

73 LISTSVC — Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers.

74 LOADFIX — Load a program above the first 64k.

75 LOADHIGH — Load a device driver in to high memory.

76 LOCK — Lock the hard disk drive.

77 LOGON — Recovery console command to list installations and enable administrator login.

78 MAP — Displays the device name of a drive.

79 MD — Command to create a new directory.

80 MEM — Display memory on system.

81 MKDIR — Command to create a new directory.

82 MODE — Modify the port or display settings.

83 MORE — Display one page at a time.

84 MOVE — Move one or more files from one directory to another DIRECTORY

85 MSAV — Early Microsoft Virus scanner.

86 MSD — Diagnostics utility.

87 MSCDEX — Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.

88 NBTSTAT — Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT

89 NET — Update, fix, or view the network or network settings

90 NETSH — Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS.

91 NETSTAT — Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.

92 NLSFUNC — Load country specific information.

93 NSLOOKUP — Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.

94 PATH — View and modify the computers path location

95 PATHPING — View and locate locations of network latency

96 PAUSE — command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.

97 PING — Test / send information to another network computer or network device .

98 POPD — Changes to the directory or network path stored by the pushd command.

99 POWER — Conserve power with computer portables.

100 PRINT — Prints data to a printer port.

101 PROMPT — View and change the MS-DOS prompt.

102 PUSHD — Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be returned to at any time.

103 QBASIC — Open the QBasic.

104 RD — Removes an empty directory.

105 REN — Renames a file or directory.

106 RENAME — Renames a file or directory.

107 RMDIR — Removes an empty directory.

108 ROUTE — View and configure windows network route tables.

109 RUNAS — Enables a user to execute a program on another
computer.

110 SCANDISK — Run the scandisk utility.

111 SCANREG — Scan registry and recover registry from errors.

112 SET — Change one variable or string to another.

113 SETLOCAL — Enables local environments to be changed without affecting anything else.

114 SHARE — Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities.

115 SETVER — Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.

116 SHIFT — Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program.

117 SHUTDOWN — Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.

118 SMARTDRV — Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.

119 SORT — Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.

120 START — Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.

121 SUBST — Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter.

122 SWITCHES — Remove add functions from MS-DOS.

123 SYS — Transfer system files to disk drive.

124 TELNET — Telnet to another computer / device from the prompt.

125 TIME — View or modify the system time.

126 TITLE — Change the title of their MS-DOS window.

127 TRACERT — Visually view a network packets route across a network.

128 TREE — View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.

129 TYPE — Display the contents of a file.

130 UNDELETE — Undelete a file that has been deleted.

131 UNFORMAT — Unformat a hard disk drive.

132 UNLOCK — Unlock a disk drive.

133 VER — Display the version information.

134 VERIFY — Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly.

135 VOL — Displays the volume information about the designated drive.

136 XCOPY — Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one location to another.

137 TRUENAME — When placed before a file, will display the whole directory in which it exists

138 TASKKILL — It allows you to kill those unneeded or locked up applications

100 Windows XP RUN Commands

Here is a collection of 100 (One Hundred) Commands that can be entered in Start>Run in Windows XP, with their functions mentioned therein. I like it. If you can remember some important ones, you can save a lot of time.

Go to StartMenu>RUN, where u get the following box:


There you can enter these commands to get the results mentioned.

Function & Command
———————- ————————-
Accessibility Controls
access.cpl

Add Hardware Wizard
hdwwiz.cpl

Add/Remove Programs
appwiz.cpl

Administrative Tools
control admintools

Automatic Updates
wuaucpl.cpl

Bluetooth Transfer Wizard
fsquirt

Calculator
calc

Certificate Manager
certmgr.msc

Character Map
charmap

Check Disk Utility
chkdsk

Clipboard Viewer
clipbrd

Command Prompt
cmd

Component Services
dcomcnfg

Computer Management
compmgmt.msc

Date and Time Properties
timedate.cpl

DDE Shares
ddeshare

Device Manager
devmgmt.msc

Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)*
directx.cpl

Direct X Troubleshooter
dxdiag

Disk Cleanup Utility
cleanmgr

Disk Defragment
dfrg.msc

Disk Management
diskmgmt.msc

Disk Partition Manager
diskpart

Display Properties
control desktop

Display Properties
desk.cpl

Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected)
control color

Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility
drwtsn32

Driver Verifier Utility
verifier

Event Viewer
eventvwr.msc

File Signature Verification Tool
sigverif

Findfast
findfast.cpl

Folders Properties
control folders

Fonts
control fonts

Fonts Folder
fonts

Free Cell Card Game
freecell

Game Controllers
joy.cpl

Group Policy Editor (XP Prof)
gpedit.msc

Hearts Card Game
mshearts

Iexpress Wizard
iexpress

Indexing Service
ciadv.msc

Internet Properties
inetcpl.cpl
IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration)
ipconfig /all

IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents)
ipconfig /displaydns

IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents)
ipconfig /flushdns

IP Configuration (Release All Connections)
ipconfig /release

IP Configuration (Renew All Connections)
ipconfig /renew

IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS)
ipconfig /registerdns

IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID)
ipconfig /showclassid

IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID)
ipconfig /setclassid
ava Control Panel (If Installed)
jpicpl32.cpl

Java Control Panel (If Installed)
javaws

Keyboard Properties
control keyboard

Local Security Settings
secpol.msc

Local Users and Groups
lusrmgr.msc

Logs You Out Of Windows
logoff

Mcft Chat
winchat

Minesweeper Game
winmine

Mouse Properties
control mouse

Mouse Properties
main.cpl

Network Connections
control netconnections

Network Connections
ncpa.cpl

Network Setup Wizard
netsetup.cpl

Notepad
notepad

Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed)
nvtuicpl.cpl

Object Packager
packager

ODBC Data Source Administrator
odbccp32.cpl

On Screen Keyboard
osk

Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed)
ac3filter.cpl

Password Properties
password.cpl

Performance Monitor
perfmon.msc

Performance Monitor
perfmon

Phone and Modem Options
telephon.cpl

Power Configuration
powercfg.cpl

Printers and Faxes
control printers

Printers Folder
printers

Private Character Editor
eudcedit

Quicktime (If Installed)
QuickTime.cpl

Regional Settings
intl.cpl

Registry Editor
regedit

Registry Editor
regedit32

Remote Desktop
mstsc

Removable Storage
ntmsmgr.msc

Removable Storage Operator Requests
ntmsoprq.msc

Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof)
rsop.msc

Scanners and Cameras
sticpl.cpl

Scheduled Tasks
control schedtasks

Security Center
wscui.cpl

Services
services.msc

Shared Folders
fsmgmt.msc

Shuts Down Windows
shutdown

Sounds and Audio
mmsys.cpl

Spider Solitare Card Game
spider

SQL Client Configuration
cliconfg

System Configuration Editor
sysedit

System Configuration Utility
msconfig

System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately)
sfc /scannow

System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot)
sfc /scanonce

System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot)
sfc /scanboot

System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting)
sfc /revert

System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache)
sfc /purgecache

System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x)
sfc /cachesize=x

System Properties
sysdm.cpl

Task Manager
taskmgr

Telnet Client
telnet

User Account Management
nusrmgr.cpl

Utility Manager
utilman

Windows Firewall
firewall.cpl

Windows Magnifier
magnify

Windows Management Infrastructure
wmimgmt.msc

Windows System Security Tool
syskey

Windows Update Launches
wupdmgr

Windows XP Tour Wizard
tourstart

Wordpad
write

So, memorise what you use..