How To Reset Windows Password With Chntpw And Linux Live CD

Forgot your Windows password? Don’t panic. You don’t need to reinstall Windows or pay for expensive tools. All you need is a Linux Live CD and a powerful little utility called chntpw. This guide walks you through the exact steps to reset your Windows password safely and for free.

⚠️ Warning

This guide is for educational purposes and intended for use on systems you own or have permission to access. Don’t use it to break into someone else’s computer.

What You’ll Need

A Linux Live CD or USB
Access to another computer to create the bootable media
Basic command line familiarity

✅ Need help creating a bootable USB? Check out this step-by-step guide:
Install and Create a Live USB with Ventoy on Linux

Step 1: Boot Into Linux

Insert the USB into the locked Windows computer.
Boot from the USB (you may need to change the boot order in BIOS/UEFI).
Choose “Try Ubuntu” to load the live session.

Step 2: Install Chntpw

Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install chntpw

This installs the tool you’ll use to reset the password.

Step 3: Mount the Windows Partition

Find your Windows drive:

sudo fdisk -l

Look for a partition with NTFS type and enough storage (likely your main drive). Let’s say it’s /dev/sda2.

Now mount it:

sudo mkdir /mnt/windows
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/windows

Step 4: Navigate to the SAM File

cd /mnt/windows/Windows/System32/config

This is where Windows stores user account data, including passwords.

Step 5: Reset the Password

Run:

sudo chntpw -i SAM

You’ll see a prompt listing user accounts. Type the username you want to reset, then follow the instructions:

Type 1 to clear the password.
Type q to quit.
Confirm changes by typing y when asked to save.

Step 6: Reboot and Login

Now reboot the system:

sudo reboot

Remove the USB drive when prompted. Windows should boot up, and you’ll be able to log into the account with a blank password.

Troubleshooting

“SAM file not found” – Double-check the partition and path.
BitLocker Encryption? – This method won’t work. You’ll need the recovery key.

Final Tips

After logging in, set a new password through the Windows control panel.
For added safety, back up your data after regaining access.

Need help with a specific error during the process? Drop it in the comments or reach out—I’ll help troubleshoot.