10 things you should know about moving from Windows XP to Windows 7

10 things you should know about moving from:

Windows XP to Windows 7

Greg Shultz

September 4, 2009

If you skipped Windows Vista and stuck with Windows XP, chances are good that you are now seriously considering moving to Windows 7 after it’s released on October 22. If so, there is much for you to do. Not only should you begin planning for your operating system migration, but you should begin learning as much as you can about Windows 7. Here are 10 things you can do to get ready for the switch.

1: Check your hardware

Windows 7 was designed to be lean in terms of hardware, so that it will be able to function satisfactorily on sub-powered netbooks. If you’re running Windows XP on a computer manufactured within the last three or four years, chances are good that Windows 7 will run fine on your system. However, you can make sure that your hardware is compatible by running Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will perform a detailed scan of your entire system, checking hardware, programs, and peripheral devices. Once the scan is complete, the Upgrade Advisor will display a report telling you whether your system meets the hardware requirements and idenfying are any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices. If it finds problems, the Upgrade Advisor will provide suggestions you can use to better analyze your upgrade options to Windows 7.

You can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from the Microsoft Download Center. At the time of this writing, this tool is listed as being a Beta version. However, running it now will give you a good idea of what you will be facing as you prepare for your upgrade.

If you’re planning a much bigger Windows XP to Windows 7 migration, you’ll want to investigate the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit. This free toolkit, which runs across the network without having to install software on client systems, will allow you to investigate systems and compile reports on hardware and device compatibility.

2: Understand the Custom Install

If you’re running Windows XP on your computer and you want to use Windows 7 on that same computer, you’ll purchase an Upgrade license package of Windows 7. However, you won’t be able to perform an in-place upgrade. In other words, you won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 7 on top of XP and keep all your applications and settings “in place.” Instead, you’ll have to perform a Custom Install, which Microsoft describes as follows:

A custom (clean) installation gives you the option to either completely replace your current operating system or install Windows on a specific drive or partition that you select. You can also perform a custom installation if your computer does not have an operating system, or if you want to set up a multiboot system on your computer.

When you completely replace Windows XP, the installation procedure will not totally obliterate it. In fact, the installation procedure will create a folder on the hard disk called Windows.old and will place the Windows, Documents And Settings, and Program Files folders from your Windows XP installation in it. Your data files will be safe and accessible, but your applications will not be viable. (Even though the Custom Install saves your data in the Windows.old folder, you will want to have a separate backup on hand just in case!)

Regardless of whether you choose to completely replace Windows XP or set up a multiboot system, you are going to have to back up and transfer all of your data, reinstall all of your applications, and reconfigure all of your settings.

3: Consider a setting up a multiboot configuration

When pondering a Custom Install, you should consider setting up a multiboot configuration. That will place both Windows XP and Windows 7 at your disposal, which will be a big advantage as you begin migrating your settings, documents, and applications. More specifically, you can boot into Windows XP to check out how something is set up and then boot into Windows 7 to re-create the same configuration. Once you have everything in Windows 7 exactly the way you had it in Windows XP, you can remove the multiboot configuration set Windows 7 as the primary OS and then remove Windows XP.

To be able to perform this type of switch, both XP and 7 must be installed on the same hard disk but on separate partitions. (If you install Windows 7 on a second hard disk, the boot partition will exist on the first hard disk, so you won’t be able to remove that drive once you’re ready to get rid of XP.) As a result, you’ll need to repartition your hard disk to make room for Windows 7. To repartition your hard disk without destroying data, you can take advantage of partition management software, such as Norton PartitionMagic 8.0, which retails for about $70, or Easeus Partition Manager Home Edition 4.0.1, which is available for free and earned a 4.5 star rating in a recent CNET editors’ review.

4: Plan your backup and restore strategy

Before you move from one operating system to another, you’ll want to back up all your data – at least once and maybe twice, just in case. While it may sound like overkill, having an extra backup will give you peace of mind.

If you’re using a third-party backup program, you will need to check the manufacturer’s Web site to see whether the program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7. If you aren’t using a third-party backup program, you’re probably using Windows XP’s native Backup Utility. As you may have heard, the file format used for this tool isn’t compatible with Windows Vista’s Backup And Restore Center. To provide for that, Microsoft released a special version of the XP Backup Utility, called the Windows NT Backup – Restore Utility. It’s designed specifically for restoring backups made on Windows XP to computers running Windows Vista. While I was unable to get official confirmation, it is a safe bet that this special version will work in Windows 7 or will be adapted to do so.

If you aren’t willing to take that bet or you are not sure whether your third-party backup program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7, you can simply make copies of all your data files on CD/DVD or on an external hard disk.

5: Plan your data transfer strategy

To move from one operating system to another, you’ll probably want to use a transfer program that will scan your XP system, pull out all your data and settings, and then transfer them to Windows 7. Fortunately, the Windows 7 Easy Transfer utility can provide this service for you. However, before you perform this transfer operation, it will be in your best interest to have a separate back up copy of your data (see #4).

The new operating system will come with two copies of the Windows 7 Easy Transfer. One copy will be on the DVD and the other will be installed with the operating system. Before you install Windows 7, you will run Windows 7 Easy Transfer from the DVD and back up all your files and settings. Then, once you have Windows 7 installed, you’ll use it to move all your files and settings to the new operating system. You can learn more about the Windows 7 Easy Transfer by reading the article Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration on the Microsoft TechNet site.

6: Inventory your applications and gather your CDs

Since you won’t be able to perform an in-place upgrade when you move from Windows XP to Windows 7, you’ll have to reinstall all your applications that passed the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor compatibility tests (see #1). It will be helpful to have an inventory of all the installed applications so that you can track down all your CDs or compile a list of Web sites for those applications you downloaded.

While the report generated by the Upgrade Advisor will be helpful as you create an inventory, it won’t be comprehensive. To create a detailed inventory, you can use something like the Belarc Advisor. For more details, see the article Gather detailed system information with Belarc Advisor.

7: Become familiar with the new UI

The UI in Windows 7 is quite different from the UI in Windows XP, and it offers a lot of new features. As a result, you may encounter what I call “UI Shock.” You’ll know what you want to do, but you’ll experience a momentary lapse of composure as you strive to adapt what you know about XP’s UI to what you’re seeing and experiencing in Windows 7.

To ease the level of UI shock, you’ll want to become as familiar as possible with the features of the new Windows 7 UI. One starting point is Microsoft’s Windows 7 page. While a lot of the content here is essentially marketing related, it will give you a good idea of what to look for when you actually move into the Windows 7 operating system.

To help you get right to the good stuff, check out:

• The Windows 7 features section, where you’ll find a host of short videos and descriptions.
• The Windows 7 Help & How-to section, where you’ll find a whole slew of step-by-step articles that show you how get around in Windows 7. Be sure to check out the section on installing Windows.

You’ll also find useful information on the Windows Training Portal on the Microsoft Learning site. Be sure to check out:

• The Windows 7 Learning Snacks, which are short, interactive presentations. Each Snack is delivered via animations and recorded demos using Microsoft Silverlight.
• The Microsoft Press sample chapters from upcoming Windows 7 books. Viewing the free chapters requires registration, but it is a short procedure. Once you’re registered, you can access sample chapters from Windows 7 Inside Out, Windows 7 Resource Kit, Windows 7 Step by Step, and Windows 7 for Developers.

8: Check for XP Mode support

If you discover that some of the applications you’re currently running in Windows XP are not compatible with Windows 7 (see #1) or you just want to keep Windows XP accessible, don’t forget about Windows XP Mode. This virtual environment includes a free, fully licensed, ready-to-run copy of Windows XP with SP3 that runs under Windows Virtual PC in Windows 7.

As you consider the Windows XP Mode, keep these things in mind:

• Windows XP Mode is available only in Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions.
• Your computer must support processor-based virtualization.

You can learn more about Windows XP Mode from the following TechRepublic resoruces:

• Determine if your hardware can support Windows XP Mode in Windows 7
• Hands on: Windows 7 XP Mode
• 10 reasons why Windows 7’s XP Mode is a big deal

9: Ask questions

You aren’t the only one making the move from Windows XP to Windows 7, so ask questions and share information you pick up along the way. Of course, you can use the TechRepublic discussion forums. But you should cast a wider net.

One good place to connect with Microsoft experts is the Getting Ready for Windows 7 section of the Microsoft Answers site. Another good place is in the Windows 7 forums in the Windows Client TechCenter on the Microsoft TechNet site.

10: Subscribe to the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report

TechRepublic’s free Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report newsletter, which is delivered every Friday, offers tips, news, and scuttlebutt on Windows 7. As we count down to October 22, the day that Windows 7 is to be released to the general public, we will be covering topics of interest to Windows XP users in more detail. You can sign up on the TechRepublic newsletters page.

Comment on this article: TechRepublic blog.

How to increase the Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 18-gigabyte database size limit

INTRODUCTION

New functionality has been included with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2). You can now configure database size limits.

The database size limits for Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition have been increased from 16 GB to 18 GB. The limit can be increased to as much as 75 GB by using a registry key.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition does not have a maximum database size limit.

For more information about how to set the database size limit, see the Exchange Server 2003 Help topic. The Help topic was updated during the installation of Exchange Server 2003 SP2.

MORE INFORMATION

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

To increase the Exchange Server 2003 SP2 database size, follow these steps.

Important Before you increase the maximum size of an Exchange database, verify that sufficient hard disk space is available for the larger database.

1.	On the computer that is running Exchange 2003 SP2, click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2.	Click one of the following registry subkeys, as appropriate for the store that you want to increase: • For a mailbox store, click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\Server name\Private-Mailbox Store GUID • For a public folder store, click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\Server name\Public-Public Store GUID
3.	On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4.	In the New Value #1 box, type Database Size Limit in Gb, and then press ENTER.
5.	Right-click Database Size Limit in Gb, and then click Modify.
6.	Click Decimal, and then type an integer from 1 to 75 in the Value data box. Note These integer values represent the maximum size of the database in gigabytes (GB). For example, a value of 75 represents a database that has a maximum size of 75 GB.
7.	Click OK, and then exit Registry Editor.
8.	Restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK. b. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER: net stop msexchangeis c. After the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service has stopped successfully, type the following command, and then press ENTER: net start msexchangeis
9.	Examine the Application log to verify that the database size has been set successfully. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type eventvwr, and then click OK. b. In the Event Viewer tool, click Application. c. Double-click event ID 1216 to verify that the database size has been set successfully.

For more information about how to configure the new database size limit when you use Exchange Server 2003 SP2, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998066.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998066.aspx)

For more information about how to temporarily increase the database size in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or an earlier version of Exchange Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

828070 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828070/) Exchange Server Mailbox Store does not mount when the Mailbox Store database reaches the 16-GB limit

For more information about how to temporarily increase the database size in Exchange 2000 Server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

813051 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813051/) How to temporarily increase the Exchange 2000 16-gigabyte database size limit

---

APPLIES TO

•	Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2

 

AD User Creation does not create Exchange Mailbox

I’m creating an AD user programatically and everything seems fine.
Except that the mailbox does not create.
What attributes specifically are needed to create the mailbox?

Note:
Win2K – Exchange 2K3

ryangorman:

Exchange does not allocate mailboxes until the user has sent or received mail. Therefore, the user’s mailbox won’t appear in System Manager until the user has sent/received email.

What is StiSvc getting DCOM error in Windows 2003 Server

Q) What is StiSvc and why am I getting DCOM error every few min in my event log on my
Windows Server 2003

Such as: DCOM got error “The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or
because it has no enabled devices associated with it. “Attempting to start the service
StiSvc with arguments”” in order to run the server {jibber jabber}

StiSvc = Still Image Service and it’s relies on WIA “Windows Image Acquisition”
A) Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

*** By default the above service is Disabled in Windows Server 2003
 
>>> What this service Provides is image acquisition services for scanners and cameras.

If your getting a error that say’s it is attempting to start StiSvc you will need to enable
“Windows Image Acquisition” in services.

This may take place due to a application calling StiScv.

You will find some info googled that mentions StiScv.exe which does not exist anymore in
Windows XP nor Windows Server 2003.

By enabling “Windows IMage Acquisition (WIA)” that will allow StiSvc to run.

Cheers,

DWS 01/2007

MicroSoft .NET Framework 2.0 Pack

  

Microsoft .net Framework 2.0 Package 2.0 Redistributable (x86)  

Brief Description

The Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 (x86) redistributable package installs the .NET Framework runtime and associated files required to run applications developed to target the .NET Framework v2.0.

Click the following URL to “download” now…

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en

On This Page

Quick Details

Overview

System Requirements

Instructions

Additional Information

Related Resources

What Others Are Downloading

Related Downloads

 

document.write(”);

Quick Details

File Name:	dotnetfx.exe
Version:	2.0
Date Published:	3/22/2006
Language:	English
Download Size:	22.4 MB
Estimated Download Time:	55 min 56K	Dial-up (56K)DSL/Cable (256K)DSL/Cable (768K)T1 (1.5M) 55 min
Change Language:	ArabicChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CzechDanishDutchEnglishFinnishFrenchGermanGreekHebrewHungarianItalianJapaneseKoreanNorwegian (Bokmål)PolishPortuguese (Brazil)Portuguese (Portugal)RussianSpanishSwedishTurkish    function setChangeLanguageButtonState(dropdown){ if (document.getElementById){ if (dropdown.options[dropdown.selectedIndex].value!=”en”) document.getElementById(“btnChangeLanguage”).disabled=false; else document.getElementById(“btnChangeLanguage”).disabled=true; } } if (document.getElementById) document.getElementById(“btnChangeLanguage”).disabled = true;

 

Overview

The Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 redistributable package installs the .NET Framework runtime and associated files required to run applications developed to target the .NET Framework v2.0.The .NET Framework version 2.0 improves scalability and performance of applications with improved caching, application deployment and updating with ClickOnce, support for the broadest array of browsers and devices with ASP.NET 2.0 controls and services. For more information on the .NET Framework 2.0, click here.

 Top of page

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 3; Windows 98; Windows 98 Second Edition; Windows ME; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Home Basic; Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Home Premium; Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Starter; Windows Vista Ultimate; Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition; Windows XP Service Pack 2

• Required Software:
  o Windows Installer 3.0 (except for Windows 98/ME, which require Windows Installer 2.0 or later). Windows Installer 3.1 or later is recommended.
  o IE 5.01 or later: You must also be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later for all installations of the .NET Framework.
• Disk Space Requirements: 280 MB (x86), 610 MB (x64)

 Top of page

Instructions

1. Important: Make sure you have the latest service pack and critical updates for the version of Windows that you are running. To find recent security updates, visit Windows Update.
2. Click the Download button on this page to start the download
3. Do one of the following:
   • To start the installation immediately, click Run.
   • To save the download to your computer for installation at a later time, click Save.
   • To cancel the installation, click Cancel.

IMPORTANT: If you have installed previous pre-release versions of .NET Framework v2.0, such as Beta 1, Beta 2 or Community Technical Preview (CTP) builds, then you must uninstall these versions via Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel before installing this final release version.

 Top of page

Additional Information

Server Installation Requirements:If you have been directed to do a server installation, you must have the following software installed in addition to the typical installation requirements:

• Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 or later is recommended.
• Internet Information Services (IIS) version 5.0 or later. To access the features of ASP.NET, IIS with the latest security updates must be installed prior to installing the .NET Framework. ASP.NET is supported only on the following platforms: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 3 recommended), Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (Service Pack 3 recommended), Microsoft Windows XP Professional, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 family.

Note: Most users will perform a typical installation and can ignore these requirements. If you are unsure which type of installation to perform, meet only the typical installation requirements.

If you plan to develop .NET Framework version 2.0 applications, the Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) includes tools, documentation and samples you need to write, build, test, and deploy .NET Framework applications

 Top of page

Related Resources

1. ASP.NET Developer Center
2. Stay current and subscribe to MSDN
3. .NET Framework Developer Center

 Top of page

What Others Are Downloading

Others who downloaded Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86) also downloaded:

1. Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable Package
2. Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1
3. Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Redistributable Package
4. Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x64)
5. .NET Compact Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 Redistributable

 Top of page

Related Downloads

• .NET Framework 2.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) (x86)
• .NET Framework Version 2.0 Language Pack
• Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (IA64)
• Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x64)

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en

Using Group Policy with User Level Filtering and AD (GP SnapIn)

When using a GP Snap IN (GroupPolicy / SnapIn)

– If you install the Group Policy Snap-In be sure to enable the following in order for “any” group policy to take effect.

Launch Gruop Policy Snap In via Administrative Tools or via Active Directory Users and Computers

– Right click on Default Domain Policy [customers-domain]

– Highlight view , click DC Options

– Be sure the radio button ” The one used by Active Directory Snap-Ins ” is checked ( 2nd one in the middle of the three options )

– Build your GPO as noted from ScanSafe and add local IP address exceptions

*** On the SBS box as well as the workstations

At the command line:

gpupdate /force

This will force the Group Policy down to the active server and or workstation …

spencer recovery

spencerrecovery

scan safe

scansafe

scandefense

scan defense

group policy

gpupdate

windows 2003 sbs

proxycfg

As of 11/2006

SBS 2003 Server

Update:

Logging off the domain and Logging back on to the domain will also “Refresh” the group policy….

**** As a last step:

Be sure to “Secure the proxy settings” in order to “disable” AD users from changing there Network Proxy Settings

select: User Configuration

select: Administrative Templates

select: Windows Components

select: Internet Exlporer

via the right side of the window panel

scroll down to “Disable changing proxy setting” – Right Click on it

select: Properties

select: Enabled

After a log off and log on OR from the command line you gpupdate /force

The proxy settings will be “greyed” out…

Dws

***** MicroSoft Update IP Space

Here is the network ranges that Microsoft Update uses’s…

 

Add to the default domain Group Policy – Exception to the Proxy Configuration.

 

Will allow for MS updates to take place.

 

Cheers!

 

Dave Safley

 

network

gpo

group policy object

microsoft update

ip ranges

exceptions

allow table

firewall

web url filter

updates

 

For the Windows update to be able to function an exception need to be made in
Group Polocy Management Console we set up earlier this morning with the
following IPs ranges:

    * 207.46.0.0/16
    * 213.160.98.224/27

This Change will allow the Windows Update function to functon correctly

How to Register a DLL with Windows

REGSVR32

Register or unregister a DLL.

Syntax       REGSVR32 [/U] [/S] [/C] [/I:[Command_Line]] DLL_Name        REGSVR32 [/U] [/S] [/C] /N /I:[Command_Line] DLL_Name
 Key        /u          Unregister Server.    /s          Silent - no dialogue boxes.    /c          Console output.    /n          Don't call DllRegisterServer    /i          Call DllInstall (or DllUninstall if /u is specified)   Command_Line An optional command line for DllInstall

Examples

Unregister / Disable image viewer (wmf file vulnerability)

REGSVR32 /u shimgvw.dll

Enable image viewer:

REGSVR32 shimgvw.dll

Unregister / Disable XP Zip folders and CAB View:

REGSVR32 /u C:\Windows\System32\zipfldr.dll
REGSVR32 /u C:\Windows\System32\cabview.dll

Register/Enable XP Zip folders and CAB View:

REGSVR32 C:\Windows\System32\zipfldr.dll
REGSVR32 C:\Windows\System32\cabview.dll

Register DAO 3.6 (DLL library):

REGSVR32 “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\DAO\DAO360.DLL”

It costs nothing to register and will only take a moment…

Related Commands:

Delsrv – unregister a service with the Services Control Manager. (Win 2K ResKit)
MSIEXEC – Microsoft Windows Installer
RUNDLL32 – Run a DLL command
Microsoft DLL Database – which software installed a specific version of a DLL
Q249873 – Regsvr32 usage and error messages

HowTo: Windows Password Hack

Featured Product: Windows XP/2000/NT Key – Easy to use utility to reset Windows 2003/XP/2K/NT local and domain controller administrator passwords. Download FREE version now!

How can I gain access to a Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 computer if I forgot the administrator’s password? How can I reset the administrator’s password if I forgot it? 

Source: http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm
Powered by: http://www.paragonhost.com

Ok, so you say you forgot your Windows administrator’s password, huh? Oh well, it doesn’t really matter if you did or you just say you did. The fact is that you need to gain access to a computer and you cannot “remember” the administrator’s password.

How can you get out of this situation without formatting and re-installing the operating system?

One method of gaining access to the system is by trying hard to remember the forgotten password, or a password of another user which has the same level of administrative rights. However I don’t think this approach will help you, otherwise you wouldn’t be sitting here reading article, would you?)

Another method is by trying to restore a backed up System State (in Windows 2000/XP/2003) or a ERD (in NT 4.0) in which you do remember the password. The problem with doing so is that you’ll probably lose all of the recently add users and groups, and all the changed passwords for all of your users since the last backup was made.

A third method might be to install a parallel operating system on a different partition on the same computer, then use a simple trick to gain access to the old system. Read more about it on my Forgot the Administrator’s Password? – Alternate Logon Trick article.

Note: If you are looking for password cracking tools that can be used for miscellaneous objectives such as password-protected PDF documents, zipped archives, Office documents, BIOS protection and so on then this pages is NOT for you. See some links at the bottom of this page for hints on where to find such tools, but I can tell you right away that Google might be a better choice for you.

The fourth option is by using 3rd party tools that will enable you to reset the lost password and logon with a blank password.

Update: You can also discuss these topics on the dedicated Petri.co.il Forgot Admin Password Forum.

Translations of this article

There are some translations made of this article. Here are the ones I am aware of (do tell me if you know of another, or if you want to create one in your language):

• Portuguese – HERE is an excellent translation of this article into Portuguese (by Bruno Koga – Thanks!)

• Serbian – HERE (by Aleksandar Stojilkovic – thanks!)

• Spanish – HERE (by Victor Pereyra – thanks!)

Free Tools

Here are some of these tools:

Free Windows password-cracking tools are usually Linux boot disks that have NT file system (NTFS) drivers and software that will read the registry and rewrite the password hashes for any account including the Administrators. This process requires physical access to the console and an available floppy drive but it works like a charm! I’ve done it myself several times with no glitch or problem whatsoever.

Beware!!! Resetting a user’s or administrator’s password on some systems (like Windows XP) might cause data loss, especially EFS-encrypted files and saved passwords from within Internet Explorer. To protect yourself against EFS-encrypted files loss you should always export your Private and Public key, along with the keys for the Recovery Agent user. Please read more about EFS on my What’s EFS? page. Out of the following list, the only tool that will no cause any harm to EFS-encrypted files on your hard disk is the Windows Password recovery system.

Here are 5 of these free tools:

1. Windows Password recovery – Can retrieve forgotten admin and users’ passwords in minutes. Safest possible option, does not write anything to hard drive.

2. Petter Nordahl-Hagen’s Offline NT Password & Registry Editor – A great boot CD/Floppy that can reset the local administrator’s password.

3. Openwall’s John the Ripper – Good boot floppy with cracking capabilities.

4. EBCD – Emergency Boot CD – Bootable CD, intended for system recovery in the case of software or hardware faults.

If you happen to know about other free tools please let me know .

Note: These password resetting tools are usually good for local users on a stand alone computer. For Domain Admin password resetting procedures please see the Related Articles section at the bottom of this page.

Note: I’d like to put together all the info you have about these issues. If you have any tips, recommended links or any ideas about how to figure out a lost password – please e-mail me and I’ll get back to you .

Windows Password recovery

http://www.loginrecovery.com

This site provides a tool to recover lost Windows XP passwords. It works for administrator and user accounts, it doesn’t change the password just tells you the old one. It works with encrypted files (EFS) and password hashes. It even works if no passwords at all are known for the machine (as long as you have another computer with internet access to view this website with).

Author claims it also works with Windows NT and Windows Server 2003 and Windows Longhorn, but the BEST thing about it is the fact that it won’t reset your passwords, but simply reveal them for you to remember and then use.

Give it a try. The author would like to receive feedback. There is a free service as well as a priority service that will retrieve your passwords within minutes. The fee for the priority service is very cheap, and is really just to cover server costs.

Note: You’ll need a blank floppy to run the process.

Update: Author now offers the same tool as a CD image for those of you who do not have a floppy in their computer.

Usage, instructions and additional information can be found at

http://www.loginrecovery.com

Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (v060213 – February 2006)

Petter Nordahl-Hagen has written a Windows NT/2000/XP offline password editor:

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd

• This is a utility to (re)set the password of any user that has a valid (local) account on your Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 system, by modifying the encrypted password in the registry’s SAM file.

• You do not need to know the old password to set a new one.

• It works offline, that is, you have to shutdown your computer and boot off a floppy disk or CD. The boot-disk includes stuff to access NTFS partitions and scripts to glue the whole thing together.

• Works with syskey (no need to turn it off, but you can if you have lost the key)

• Will detect and offer to unlock locked or disabled out user accounts!

Caution: If used on users that have EFS encrypted files, and the system is XP or later service packs on W2K, all encrypted files for that user will be UNREADABLE! and cannot be recovered unless you remember the old password again!

Download links:

• cd060213.zip (~3MB) – Bootable CD image with newer drivers

• bd050303.zip (~1.1MB) – Bootdisk image, date 050303.

• sc050303.zip(~1.4MB) – SCSI-drivers (050303) (only use newest drivers with newest bootdisk, this one works with bd050303)

To write these images to a floppy disk you’ll need RawWrite2 which is included in the Bootdisk image download. To create the CD you just need to use your favorite CD burning program and burn the .ISO file to CD.

Support and Problems? Don’t call me! Talk to the creator of this great tool. He also has a good FAQ set up covering most of the day-to-day questions. Read it right HERE

Author claims that this tool was successfully tested on NT 3.51, NT 4, Windows 2000 (except datacenter), Windows XP (all versions) and Window Server 2003. Notice that it is NOT compatible with Active Directory.

Need to change Windows NT/2000 Domain Admin password? This tool, however useful, will only reset the local administrator’s password (e.g. the one found in the local computer’s SAM). To reset a password of a domain administrator (or any other user for that matter) you must perform the routine that is described in the following page: Forgot the Administrator’s Password? – Reset Domain Admin Password in Windows 2000 AD.

Note: The above trick will probably not work under Windows Server 2003 due to service account security changes. To work around these limitations please read the Forgot the Administrator’s Password? – Reset Domain Admin Password in Windows Server 2003 AD page.

John the Ripper (v1.7.0.1)

John the Ripper is a fast password cracker, currently available for many flavors of Unix (11 are officially supported, not counting different architectures), DOS, Win32, BeOS, and OpenVMS. Its primary purpose is to detect weak Unix passwords. Besides several crypt(3) password hash types most commonly found on various Unix flavors, supported out of the box are Kerberos AFS and Windows NT/2000/XP LM hashes, plus several more with contributed patches.

Read more at http://www.openwall.com/john

Download links:

John the Ripper 1.7.0.1 (1.32mb)

A Pro version also exists on the author’s site, however that one costs money.

EBCD – Emergency Boot CD (v0.61 – October 2004)

EBCD is a bootable CD, intended for system recovery in the case of software or hardware faults. It is able to create backup copies of normally working system and restore system to saved state. It contains the best system software ever created, properly compiled and configured for the maximum efficient use.

EBCD will be very useful when you need to:

• Copy/move files (with long names, not necessary in CP437 encoding) from/to the disk but OS which can handle them (windows, Linux…) cannot boot. In particular, you may create a backup copy of normally installed and configured Windows and later restore Windows from such backup copy. So, in the case of fault OS itself and all software and its settings can be restored in 5-10 minutes.

• Perform emergency boot of Windows NT / 2000 / XP. When the loader of this OS on the hard disk is damaged or misconfigured, you are able to load OS using another, standalone loader from this CD.

• Recover master boot record of HDD. This allows to boot OS after incorrect uninstallation of custom loader (LILO, for example), which made all OS on your PC not bootable.

• Delete, move, copy to file (image) and re-create partition from file. Image transfer over network is also supported: so you may configure one PC and then make contents of hard disks of other PCs same as contents of the hard disk of the first one.

• Change password of any user, including administrator of Windows NT/2000/XP OS. You do not need to know the old password.

• Recover deleted file, even file re-deleted from Windows Recycle Bin, and, in contrast, wipe single file or a whole disk so that it will be impossible to recover it in any way.

• Recover data from accidentally formatted disk. Sometimes it helps to recover data from the disk, damaged by a virus.

• Recover data from a floppy disk, which is not readable by OS. Format 3.5″ disk for 1.7 Mb size.

Also the disk includes full set of external DOS commands, console versions of the most popular archivers/compressors.

Moreover, emergency boot CD includes minimal Linux distribution (Rescue Linux distribution) which may be very useful to a professional user.

Read more at http://ebcd.pcministry.com

Download links:

EBCD Pro distribution (18mb)

Related articles

You may find these related articles of interest to you:

• Change Recovery Console Password

• Change User Password from a Remote Computer

• Change User Password from the Command Prompt

• Forgot the Administrator’s Password? – Alternate Logon Trick

• Forgot the Administrator’s Password? – Reset Domain Admin Password in Windows 2000 AD

• Forgot the Administrator’s Password? – Reset Domain Admin Password in Windows Server 2003 AD

• How to Recover a Lost Password on a Cisco Switch

• Recover Protected Office Documents

• What’s the Password Reset Disk in Windows XP?

New:

• You can also discuss these topics on the dedicated Petri.co.il Forgot Admin Password Forum.

Links

Changing the Administrator password if you have forgotten it (Windows NT 4.0 only)

Lost your Administrator password and need the ultimate hack? (Windows NT 4.0 only)

Recover Lost Windows NT Administrator Password

Password Recovery Resources

BSOD Blue Screen Of Death – Memory Stop Codes

Everyone just loves those “blue screens”. Here are 7 of the most common stop errors and the corresponding troubleshooting information. For a more detailed analysis of the error, please fill out the troubleshooting form located here. If your error is not listed here, call 604-537-0463 to talk to a NTCP technician.

1.) STOP_0x0000000A IRQL_NOT_LESS_EQUAL

2.) STOP 0x0000001E KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED

3.) STOP 0x00000024 NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM

4.) STOP 0x0000002E DATA_BUS_ERROR

5.) STOP 0x00000050 PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

6.) STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

7.) STOP 0x0000007F UNEXPECTED_KERNAL_MODE_TRAP

Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Error

SYMPTOMS

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If you installed security update 873333 (MS05-012), you may experience one or more of the following problems:

•	You may receive the following error message after you start the computer: Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Error Note This problem only occurs in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
•	File names are not displayed in e-mail messages that include file attachments when the following conditions are true: • The file name contains double-byte character set (DBCS) characters. • The file name is longer than 42 characters. Note This problem only occurs when the e-mail message format is Rich Text.
•	An application that implements the IMallocSpy debugging interface may experience heap corruption after you install security update 873333. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 894194 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894194/) An application that implements the IMallocSpy debugging interface may experience heap corruption after you install security update 873333

For more information about security release MS05-012, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

873333 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873333/) MS05-012: Vulnerability in OLE and COM could allow remote code execution

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RESOLUTION

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Hotfix information

loadTOCNode(2, ‘resolution’);A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. For Windows XP SP2, the Generic Host Process error can potentially occur on any system at any time. Although you receive the error message shortly after system startup, the actual error occurred during the previous system shutdown. Because of the broad nature of this issue, this hotfix was made available through Windows Update and distributed to users who have Automatic Updates enabled to eliminate this problem on Windows XP SP2 systems. For Windows XP SP2, you may experience one last Generic Host Process error upon restart after you install this hotfix. This is from the previous system shutdown before the new version installation was completed.

For Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2000, this hotfix is only intended to correct the problems that are described in this article. Only apply this hotfix to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows service pack that contains this hotfix. To resolve this problem immediately, download the hotfix from the following locations.

Full Microsoft KB posting here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894391

For Windows XP Users as of 11/2006 Click the following hyperlink for your HOTFix:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A87B44B9-7A6A-49B6-BD89-AFAD4E049C48&displaylang=en