Hackosis

Have you ever changed or forgotten your Windows password? Fear not because I have the solution for you - and its completely free.

The following method works on Windows XP and Vista.

All you need is a Linux live CD (that auto mounts Windows partitions - ex. Ubuntu, Backtrack, Fedora, openSUSE).

Save the .iso and burn it to a disc.

Boot from the CD and follow these simple instructions - these instructions are assuming your are using backtrack, but should be similar for other Linux distributions:

1. Open a Linux terminal and enter the following commands:
2. cd /mnt
3. ls (Take note of the folders listed here. You might need them in the next step.)
4. cd sda1/Windows/System32/ (If this didn’t work you might have the wrong hard drive, try replacing ’sda1′ with sda2, hda1, or hda2)
5. mv utilman.exe utilman.old && cp cmd.exe utilman.exe
6. reboot (and remove the CD)
7. Once rebooted, at Vista or XP log in screen, Press Windows key + U to run CMD with system privileges. Replace username below with the one of your choice - it must not already exist!
8. c:\>net user username mypassword /add
9. c:\>net localgroup administrators username /add
10. Log in with the new admin account!

After completing don’t forget to copy the utilman.old back to utilman.exe or you will leave your system vulnerable - this is very important!!

I hope this helped in regaining access into your XP or Vista PC and if you know of any other tips like this please let us know in the comments.

UPDATE: Here is a backtrack video tutorial that covers the instructions.

Windows Steady State runs on XP and Vista and provides a way to “freeze” your system among other things. You can choose an option to run your system in a cached mode and any changes are discarded upon reboot.

SteadyState also provides options for updates and computer restrictions.

Seems like it would be perfect for experimenting with spyware and viruses. Also turn this on if you have any kids - no more worries about them wiping out your music collection.

Get Windows SteadyState from the Microsoft site. [via downloadsquad.com]

EDIT: This seems to be a hoax as confirmed by Gizmodo. My apologies.

Are you running Windows Vista? Chances are you are also sporting a dual core CPU.

Did you know that Vista doesn’t take advantage of more than one core during boot? Go Microsoft!

Fortunately, you can easily change this using the system configuration editor.

1. Open the run box by pressing the Windows button + R.

2. Type ‘msconfig’ in the run box:

3. Click on the Boot tab, then click the Advanced options… button:

4. Click the check box next to Number of Processors and select the total number of cores that you wish to use:

Nice! Let us know how much this decreases your boot time in Windows Vista.

image via link

Why open 14 explorer Windows when you can do it all in one with QT TabBar? This program is plain and simple; it adds tabs to Windows Explorer with folder grouping, history and more.

QT TabBar has been tested on Vista and XP. Enjoy this and anyone know why Microsoft didn’t implement this in the first place?

QT TabBar Homepage | QT TabBar Download | QT TabBar Plugins

Serdar Yegulalp at Information Week talks about how Microsoft is doing away with WGA and how Vista will not require you to activate after three days — Vista will just nag you every hour and have a 15 second delay at login. [sarcasm]Those guys at Microsoft have some really ingenious ideas. Gosh[/sarcasm]

Introducing Windows Vista, Freeware Version

image via link

Remember nLite for XP? vLite is the same thing, just for Vista. vLite allows you to strip unnecessary components from the Vista installation disk before installing the OS on your PC.

From the site:

vLite is a tool for customizing the Windows Vista installation before actually installing it.

Main features are:

• hotfix, language pack and driver integration
• component removal
• unattended setup
• tweaks
• split/merge Vista installation CDs
• create ISO and burn bootable CD/DVD

Windows Vista from Microsoft takes a lot of resources, we all know that. vLite provides you with an easy removal of the unwanted components in order to make Vista run faster and to your liking.

This tool doesn’t use any kind of hacking, all files and registry entries are protected as they would be if you install the unedited version only with the changes you select.

It configures the installation directly before the installation, meaning you’ll have to remake the ISO and reinstall it. This method is much cleaner, not to mention easier and more logical than doing it after installation on every reinstall.

Homepage | Features and Screenshots | Download

Open source InfraRecorder is just what the doctor order when I was looking for an open source Nero replacement this morning. It works well for me so far. Supports 2000/XP/Vista.

Features from the site:

• Create custom data, audio and mixed-mode projects and record them to physical discs as well as disc images.
• Supports recording to dual-layer DVDs.
• Blank (erase) rewritable discs using four different methods.
• Record disc images (ISO and BIN/CUE).
• Fixate discs (write lead-out information to prevent further data from being added to the disc).
• Scan the SCSI/IDE bus for devices and collect information about their capabilities.
• Create disc copies, on the fly and using a temporary disc image.
• Import session data from multi-session discs and add more sessions to them.
• Display disc information.
• Save audio and data tracks to files (.wav, .wma, .ogg, .mp3 and .iso).

Download:

http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/?page_id=5

One of the things that Windows does not have built in like Linux is virtual desktop. This is a downfall.

From the site:

Download here:

http://www.codeplex.com/vdm/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=6819

Having trouble with Automatic Updates or WGA? Use AutoPatcher to keep your system up to date without phoning home. 2000, 2003, XP, and Vista.

http://autopatcher.com/