So here I am in a Corp Mgr pissing match.
Essentially, I need admin access to a PC to actually do my job. And while I am sure that my mgr will eventually be able to get it, I need it now. Sadly, I can not go into too many details.

Long story short....I have already tried multiple ways to get the admin password and none have worked.
This is Windows 7 pro.
It is a corp install and is protected by Sophos.
I tried the Trinity Rescue kit but it could not find the Windows install.

So how do I get into this thing?

6/30/2011 2:54:17 PM

Quote :

"It is a corp install and is protected by Sophos."

If the disk is encrypted, you won't be able to get in using Trinity or other such programs. Sounds like it is encrypted due to Trinity not being able to see the installation...

In short, I think you're SOL.

6/30/2011 2:57:41 PM

Yeah..kinda afraid of that. Might have to wait for the mgmnt chain to fight it out

6/30/2011 3:20:27 PM

ntpasswd?

6/30/2011 3:26:17 PM

deltree c:

6/30/2011 3:28:33 PM

If you need admin rights to do your job, by far the best option you have is to backup your data and wipe the machine to do a clean Windows install where you can make yourself the admin.

Of course that will likely boot you from the network and domain access, but if you need admin, you can get admin.

6/30/2011 6:11:08 PM

Quote :

"If you need admin rights to do your job, by far the best option you have is to backup your data and wipe the machine to do a clean Windows install where you can make yourself the admin."

I'm thinking that wiping a company machine is probably out of the question...that and he probably needs access the windows installation/software installed, and wiping it would be counter productive to that effort

7/1/2011 9:12:28 AM

If you can boot from an install disc, you can clear the safe mode admin password by editing the registry. Search google for safe mode password reset registry and you should find some links.

7/1/2011 9:32:27 AM

OP, do you have to type in a password when the computer first boots, way before windows starts up? is that how you get past the sophos?

7/1/2011 9:47:37 AM

Will KonBoot work for you? I don't really know what Sophos does to a PC.

7/1/2011 10:58:42 AM

sound like it encrypts the hard drive, among other things...

7/1/2011 3:40:08 PM

yeah you might be able to blank the password for the local admin but you still won't get access to the domain user and any encrypted files still cannot be accessed.

7/1/2011 4:10:10 PM

Sophos provides many security products, including anti-virus and drive encryption.

7/1/2011 5:27:33 PM

Is this local admin access to the PCs disks?

Or admin access to your network domain?

7/5/2011 8:52:36 AM

Why would you be held accountable for not doing something that the company didn't give you the access rights to do? You've asked for the admin rights and explained why you need them, at this point if your job doesn't get done it's not your fault.

Corporate IT departments usually don't take it very well when you take drastic measures to circumvent their security policies. If you manage to get admin rights without permission and something later goes wrong with the computer, even if it isn't your fault, guess who they're going to blame? You would be turning a situation where you have zero liability into one where your ass is potentially on the line. Just ask for the admin rights and then it's out of your hands.

7/8/2011 6:03:05 PM