| You probably experienced a few occasions when | | | | up your computer with its mini operating system |
| accessing your Windows account on your | | | | and doesn't access your computer's operating |
| computer and come up blank when trying to recall | | | | system. If your computer doesn't boot from the |
| your password. You try all means to jog your | | | | CD, you'll need to change the booting configuration |
| memory with dates, names, events, colors, foods | | | | in your computer and set CD as top of the order. |
| but nothing pops into mind. Short of seeking | | | | After the initial booting phase, select ophcrack to |
| hypnosis to dig into the deep recesses of your | | | | automatically run. If the ophcrack menu doesn't |
| subconscious, you now have the option to find | | | | come up, it's possibly due to incorrect burning of |
| out more on how to use ophcrack to recover | | | | CD. |
| your Windows password and regain access to | | | | A small window appears confirming that ophcrack |
| your computer. At first glance of the name, you | | | | has found the password information on your hard |
| may be wondering whether ophcrack is a | | | | drive. Don't worry if you don't see it as |
| recreational drug. Fret not, it's free software | | | | everything is a blur with lines of text running all |
| created by someone who probably experienced | | | | over your screen. The next screen is the |
| one too many a memory breakdown and decided | | | | application itself, listing all user accounts in your |
| to do something about it. | | | | computer and their corresponding passwords. |
| Ophcrack comes to the rescue when you have | | | | Search for your account and corresponding |
| sole access to your computer or you share the | | | | password. Slap your forehead and write down |
| computer with other users who have access but | | | | your password on a piece of paper before you |
| insufficient privileges to reset your password. | | | | forget again. Try to avert your eyes from other |
| Either way, you need the services of a computer | | | | accounts' passwords which don't concern you. If |
| with internet access and a CD burner. Open the | | | | passwords are listed as empty, this means their |
| browser and go to the ophcrack download site. | | | | accounts (if enabled) are accessible without the |
| Select the operating system of your computer | | | | need to enter any password. If ophcrack can't |
| (to which you're attempting to retrieve your | | | | find your password, it's possibly your password is |
| Windows password). Download time depends on | | | | too complex, i.e. more than 14 characters in |
| your internet speed and bandwidth as the file is | | | | length, a combination of alphanumeric and special |
| fairly large. Since the ophcrack software is | | | | characters. You can resort to other password |
| downloaded as an ISO file (equivalent to an image | | | | recovery tools to overcome these constraints. |
| of a complete CD or DVD), follow the instructions | | | | Close the application and remove the CD. Restart |
| to burn ophcrack into a CD else you may | | | | your computer and enter your account with your |
| encounter problems when running it later. | | | | recovered password. To avoid future need for |
| Assuming all is well, let's proceed on how to use | | | | ophcrack, it's recommended to use a password |
| ophcrack on your computer. | | | | that's easy to recall yet not easily guessed by |
| Load the CD (also known as Ophcrack LiveCD) | | | | others. Else keep your password in a safe place |
| into your computer's CD drive and restart your | | | | or create a password reset disk and store it well. |
| computer. Being a bootable CD, ophcrack starts | | | | |