Need help to unlock a notebook computer

[Santa Cruz Armory]

Hey everyone.

A friend found a newer Dell notebook and case in a parking garage and has placed found ads on CL, etc. and haven't had any responses. So she wants to try and get info off the computer but it's password protected. It's running windows and has a password to start. Is there any way to override the password protection?

TIA

[Jeepers]

yes, just heading out with the kids, so cant look at my bootdisk right now , but if none gets back to you b4 i get back i will take a look, but the simple answer is yes you can most of the time pull the passwords with a bootdisk

[meaty-btz]

Are we talking drive password? (bios controled locking of a drive from being bootable via a chip on the drive, good way to "brick" a drive. You need the manufacturers backdoor code to unlock in those cases. Does not always work)
or
Bios Password (reset bios)
or
Windows Log-on User Password. You don't even need to crack the windows passwords. Boot into linux live cd and browse every file on the drive.

Note, that average end users do not tend to lock drives. Businesses and government do. So if its locked, chances are it belongs to a buisness or school or government institution. Those usually have an inventory control tag/sticker of some kind. Barcode usually. If it looks like there is a spot where such a sticker was removed then its a stolen laptop or a retired laptop (not if its new). Do not crack a business or .gov computer, sensitive information may be present and you open yourself up to some bad things if you do.

[HarrisonS004]

I have something that will work. Its just the windows login password, correct? Do you have a blank CD to burn a file to if I send it to you?

[Santa Cruz Armory]

I think it's just the Windows log on password...

[HarrisonS004]

what os is it? XP, Vista, or 7?

[Santa Cruz Armory]

what os is it? XP, Vista, or 7?

Lemme find out.

[Santa Cruz Armory]

The OS is Windows 7 Ultimate N

[thrasherfox]

Have him contact Dell and tell dell they found a laptop. all you need to do is give them the Service tag and they can find out who it was sold to.

If it is a government computer you dont want to get into the files. You dont know what you would find and what kind of crap you might get into.

As I said, Dell can get the laptop to the rightful owner. that would be the right thing to do.

[HarrisonS004]

Download the file that says for windows vista here:

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/download.php?type=livecd

Your gunna need to burn it to a cd so its bootable. If you dont know how to do this, here is the link to a guide with pics.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ss/ophcracksbs_1.htm

[johnthomas]

Have him contact Dell and tell dell they found a laptop. all you need to do is give them the Service tag and they can find out who it was sold to.

If it is a government computer you dont want to get into the files. You dont know what you would find and what kind of crap you might get into.

As I said, Dell can get the laptop to the rightful owner. that would be the right thing to do.

Best advice yet.

[Santa Cruz Armory]

Thanks Thrasher. Good Idea.

Harrison, will that file work for Windows 7?

[HarrisonS004]

Thanks Thrasher. Good Idea.

Harrison, will that file work for Windows 7?

Yes, the vista file will.

[Tripper]

Yah, call Dell and do what's right, if government it might even be lowjacked

[badfish2]

Must be a pretty nice machine to come with 7 ultimate. I'd call dell and turn it in.