Windows Tools, Help & Guides

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Have you ever forgotten your Windows password? Ever had a friend ask you if you know how to retrieve their password? Ever needed a password for other reasons? In this guide you’ll learn how to retrieve your Windows password.

Download ophcrack here

Introducing ophcrack

Ophcrack is a free Windows password cracker based on rainbow tables. It comes with a Graphical User Interface and runs on multiple platforms.

I recommend you download the LiveCD and burn the ISO to a disc. Now boot your computer from the LiveCD and run ophcrack. I tried the Vista and XP version and my 8 character password (letters, numbers–mixed case) was cracked in fifteen seconds (yes 15.)

Burn these discs (one for XP and one for Vista), archive them, and save yourself from losing your data in the event of you losing your password.

Booting the LiveCD

Here are a few screenshots to point you in the right direction. Boot your PC and press F12 (or other key) to open the boot menu. Put the LiveCD into the drive and select boot from CD. You should see the following screens.

Booting from the LiveCD

Starting ophcrack

Beginning the Brute Force Attack

15 Seconds Later — Password Cracked

Download ophcrack here

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

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