Recover Windows Server 2003
Posted by ken zheng on May 7, 2008
I accidently deleted a unsaved file for VPC, so when I start the VPC get: the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
The following steps I did to get windows running for data
1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.
Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the “Welcome to Setup” screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:
md tmp
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software c:\windows\tmp\software.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\security c:\windows\tmp\security.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\default c:\windows\tmp\default.bak
delete c:\windows\system32\config\system
delete c:\windows\system32\config\software
delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam
delete c:\windows\system32\config\security
delete c:\windows\system32\config\default
copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system
copy c:\windows\repair\software c:\windows\system32\config\software
copy c:\windows\repair\sam c:\windows\system32\config\sam
copy c:\windows\repair\security c:\windows\system32\config\security
copy c:\windows\repair\default c:\windows\system32\config\default
6. Type exit to quit Recovery Console. Your computer will restart.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545
xicohtl said
I always used Ophcrack to recover forgotten password on Windows Operating System
Just for the sake of the topic here is how to recover forgotten password of Windoes OS in VirtualPC
How to break/recover Windows Server 2003/Windows XP password in VirtualPC
======================================================================+==
1. First, go to where your virtual machines are stored, in my case it is at:
C:\Documents and Settings\OSC049\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\fabrikam
2. Second, you have to remove all the “.vmc” and “.vud” files; in my case
under the fabrikam folder, except the virtual hard drive “.vhd” file(s).
3. After that, download Ophcrack from “http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/”
and burn onto a cd.
4. Run your VirtualPC console and open your virtual machine, from the console
in the title menu choose CD > Use Physical Drive D: (or whatever your cd rom
letter is…
a).NOTE: It is very important that you do this quickly before the Windows OS
starts booting. Just let it run; at the end it will show you your
password. Depending on the speed of your machine and the size of
the virtual hard drive, it may take between 15 to 40 minutes or so.
b). In some Computers when you run the Ophcrack, the graphical mode some how
freezes the console. So you have to choose the text mode instead.
5. Finally, be pacient and cross your fingers.
It works for me !!!!