windows

access built-in windows license from linux

# strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/msdm

factory reset

"the computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error…"

  • shift + f10 to open cmd
  • > regedit
  • hkeylocalmachine > system > setup > status > childcompletion
  • change setup.exe from 1 to 3

password reset

if you're logged in as admin user

  • open computer management -> local users and groups -> users
  • right click on a user and choose set password
  • you can disable any users that you are unfamiliar with
    • don't delete them in case they are needed for scripts, programs, etc.

if you're not logged in

  • sticky keys hack
    • boot into a live os, mount the windows filesystem, and change the program that 5 shifts is bound to from sticky keys to cmd.exe
    • another way to do sticky keys without any external devices needed:
      • power off computer, then power it on
      • when you see the windows logo, immediately power it off to force your computer to go into recovery mode
      • when you boot into recovery mode, wait for your computer to try to fix the isses
      • if a window pops up asking if you want to use system restore, click cancel
      • wait until the window pops up saying "startup repair cannot repair this computer automatically"
      • click the black triangle by "view problem details", scroll to the very bottom, and click on the file that is linked (x:\windows\system32\en-us\erfflps.txt)
      • you are now in notepad. click file > open, navigate to c:\windows\system32 and rename utilman.exe to utilman1.exe and rename cmd.exe to utilman.exe. make sure you are viewing all files as the type of files instead of just .txt
      • reboot, click on the accessibility icon, and then run net users to list users. use net user /add <username> to add a user and net user <username> * to change a password.
  • use chntpw to overwrite the sam database