Window users who are not tech savvy fail to recover (or crack) their password once they forget it. One can get out of this situation without doing things like reformatting and re-installing the OS. Windows password recovery tool is basically a software which cracks the password. The term ‘crack’ is used in relevance with hackers who use these software to crack the windows log in passwords but at heart these software are used to recover lost passwords. Here is a list of 5 freeware software programs that will help you recover your forgotten windows password.
1. Ophcrack
Ophcrack is the easiest and the best windows password recovery software which provides most successful and one of the fastest password recovery options. To use this program, you simply has to visit the site and download the free ISO image, then burn it to a CD and boot from the CD. It will automatically start and then locate the window user accounts and finally proceeds to recover the passwords. For the users who don’t have separate windows user account, this software comes as a boot-able disc image for them.
- Our Rating:
- Download Ophcrack
- Home Page
- Pros: No software installation required for password recovery, Knowledge of existing password not required
- Cons: Recovery limited to passwords of 14 characters, Could get identified as malware mistakenly
- OS: Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
2. Offline NT password and Registry Editor
The Offline NT Password & Registry Editor password cracker software is one of the quickest free Windows password recovery tool. This software requires no knowledge of previous password and is open source. User will have to burn a CD and choose a few options in a menu. Then one can hack into the computer with this free software. Delete the password in no time by downloading the free ISO file and then burn it to a CD. After that, user will be able to access Windows without a password at all or can set a new password
- Our Rating:
- Download Offline NT password and Registry Editor
- Home Page
- Pros: Very small ISO image, Recovers passwords very fast.
- Cons: Before resetting the password, ISO image should be burned to the CD.
- OS: Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
3. PC Login Now
The PC Login Now password cracker is very fast and free windows password cracking tool. Like ophcrack password recovery tool, PC Login Now doesn’t exactly recover your password but deletes your password, allowing access to Windows without a password at all. PC Login is comparatively easier to use though it works more or less like Offline NT password and registry editor.
- Our Rating:
- Download PC Login Now
- Home Page
- Pros: Just a few clicks and passwords are deleted, Fast password recovery
- Cons: A possible hard drive issue while resetting password.
- OS: Windows 2008, Vista, XP, 2003
4. John The Ripper
John the Ripper is again a very fast and popular free password recovery tool that can be used to find Windows account passwords.The application uses both paid and free word list files which it requires to operate.
- Our Rating:
- Download John The Ripper
- Home Page
- Pros: Open source software
- Cons: Bit difficult to install
- OS: Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, UNIX
5. Cain & Able
Cain & Abel is a fast, free and effective Windows password recovery utility. Cain & Abel requires administrator account access to Windows. It can’t hack without account.
- Our Rating:
- Download Cain & Able
- Home Page
- Pros: It is fast and effective
- Cons: Can be a bit complicated to use
- OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista
