Using Hiren's Boot CD to Create Admin User Accounts

Overview

If you’ve ever forgotten a password and none of the usual tricks work to get you back into your Windows box, then a boot CD like Hiren is a must. Of all the things that you can do with this boot disc none is as useful as making admin accounts. What this means is that if you have physical access to a machine then there is nothing to prevent you from gaining administrative access.

You can download the ISO for Hiren at http://www.hirensbootcd.org This article presumes you already know how to create a boot disc from and ISO image and can boot to it. If you’ve never used the Hiren Boot CD before then do yourself a favor and try it. It is an indispensable tool in any technician’s bag of tricks.

1) After booting the disc, select the mini XP option. Once your at the desktop click on the wrench icon in the notification area and navigate to Pass Renew. The path is: Passwords/Keys-Windows Login- Password Renew.

2) At the Pass Renew screen click on “Select Target” in the lower right. Then browse to the Windows folder on the local hard drive.

The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing: Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Made Easy (Syngress Basics Series)

Amazon Price: $15.46
List Price: $29.95

3) Click OK, then click on the “Create new Administrator user” option under “Select a task” on the left of the screen. Then enter the username and password you want to use for the new account. For this tutorial we’ll use testadmin as the username. Then click the “Install” option under “Select an (a) action” on the left.

4) You will see a popup stating that the creating the new user is “Done.” Go ahead and click “OK”

5) Now there is one trick to this next step that you must do correctly. DO NOT “X” OUT! You must click the “Quit” option under “Select an action” to finish using the program and use the account just created. If you simply click the “X” then the account will show up on the Welcome screen but you won’t be able to logon. So make sure to click “Quit.”