How Hackers Break into Systems: Resetting Passwords Without the Old One

Introduction

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This article is for educational purposes only. Please use this knowledge responsibly. Unauthorized access to systems is illegal and unethical. The methods here are used for legitimate recovery and testing, not for illegal activities.

This article is a method on using the same operating system to break into the system file. Not using other system to mounting the file you want.

Why?

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Sometimes people forget their system password. While there are proper ways to recover or reset a password, this guide will show you a basic method that was common in the past.

Is it Easy?

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Yes, it can be surprisingly easy with the right tools. Here’s a simple overview:

1. Use a bootable USB drive with Windows on it.
2. Replace a critical system file (utilman.exe) with cmd.exe.
3. Restart the system and use the modified file to open a command prompt.
4. Use the command prompt to create a new admin user or reset the password.

Step 1: Create a Bootable Windows USB

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You need a USB drive with a bootable Windows ISO. Search online for guides if you’re not sure how to do this.

Step 2: Boot from the USB

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Insert the USB drive and restart your computer. Use F12 or F11 to choose the USB drive as the boot device.

Step 3: Open Command Prompt

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When you see the Windows Setup screen, press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt.

Step 4: Find the Right Drive

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The command prompt starts in X:\Sources or a similar directory. You need to find your main system drive, usually C:\. Use the command:

wmic logicaldisk get name

Switch to each drive and use dir to find the Windows folder and cd again into the System32 folders.

C:\
dir

...
# more precise
cd Windows
cd System32

# One line
cd Windows\System32

Repeat with D:\ and others until you find the correct drive.

Step 5: Rename utilman.exe

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In the System32 directory, rename utilman.exe to something else:

ren utilman.exe utilman2.exe

Step 6: Replace utilman.exe with cmd.exe

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Copy cmd.exe and rename it to utilman.exe:

copy cmd.exe utilman.exe

How Does This Work?

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You’ve replaced the utility manager (which appears on the login screen) with a command prompt.

Step 7: Restart the System

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Exit the Windows Setup and restart your computer. At the login screen, click the Utility Manager icon (near the power button). You’ll see a command prompt instead of the usual utility manager.

Final Step: Reset the Password

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In the command prompt, reset the password with:

net user <username> <new_password>

Replace <username> with the actual username and <new_password> with your new password.

Conclusion

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After resetting the password, don’t forget to restore the original utilman.exe file. Use these commands to put things back:

del utilman.exe
ren utilman2.exe utilman.exe

Another ways

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There are other, more complex methods using like Mimikatz or ophcrack, but they require more advanced knowledge and skills.

This method should be straightforward if you have experience with ethical hacking or CTF challenges.