Tools To Recover Your Windows Password

Tools to Recover Your Windows Password

Have you ever been in the situation where you forgot your passwords? Password recovery tools gain access to your password if you forget them on your operating system. Most of the time these type of software are called “password cracking” tools, because hackers use these tools to gain access to your system, but you can crack your own password to gain access to your system in case you forgot the password.

Mainly the aim of these legit software is to recover your password, but if good tools end up in the wrong hands, then we all know what happens. If you do a simple web search, you will find some password recovery tools cost hundreds of dollars. However, there are some free password recovery tools which will help you to find your Windows passwords quickly!

1. Ophcrack
This tool can be downloaded from http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/
This is a fast and simple password recovery tool to recover your passwords, this is a very simple tool to use to those users with limited knowledge when it comes to Windows.

For Ophcrack, you do not need any advanced knowledge with Windows to find your lost passwords. First, download this ISO image (Live CD), burn the ISO image on the CD, and boot from the CD. Once installed, Ophcrack searches user accounts and accesses the passwords immediately.

Ophcrack offers support for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP and finds the password in seconds.


 
2. Offine NT Password & Registry Editor
You can download this tool from http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/
This is another password retrieval tool. Instead of recovering your password like Ophcrack, this software erases the Windows password so you will be able to access your account without entering any password, then after you boot you can create a new password from the User Accounts Manager. This option is also good for deleting your password.

This software should work on most operating systems, including Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows 2000, and Windows NT

 
3. Cain & Abel
You can download this tool here: http://www.oxid.it/cain.html
Another free and fast Windows password recovery tool is Cain & Abel. However, you need to have administrator access to use this program successfully. The program works well to recover passwords for other accounts.
Yet, this program has advanced functions to recover passwords than other applications. However, Cain & Abel can recover a 10-character password of a Windows XP administrator account in seconds.

It’s a shame that a good program like this was discontinued and not supported anymore, hence this program could not work well in Vista or Windows 7.

 
4. LCP
You can download this tool here: http://www.lcpsoft.com/english/download.htm
Another tool to recover your password is LCP. The program can be downloaded from the LCPSoft's website and installed into the computer. This seems like some very advanced tool, and you need some good knowledge of how these things work. It’s not for an average everyday user.

 
5. John The Ripper
You can download this tool here: http://www.openwall.com/john/
A popular password recovery tool is John the Ripper. Unlike previously mentioned applications, the wordlists, which are required for this software to wok, do cost money. However, if you conduct some searching, there are free wordlist alternatives. This program functions through the command line and it is considered to be an advanced tool, and should only be used by advanced users.

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Password Recovery Tools Should Be the Last Option
These password recovery tools are great if you need them, but there's a much easier way to access your account if you forget your password - create a password reset disk! An easier method to recover your password is to create a password reset disk. This method allows you to insert a disk into your PC while you are logging in. It will allow you to reset your password.


Useful Links:
http://www.derekdesigns.com/windows-vista-password-reset-tool
http://www.whatsmypass.com/windows-password-recovery-tools
http://blog.resetwindowspassword.com/?p=68