Hack a Windows 7/8/10 Admin Account Password with Windows Magnifier

Maybe you forgot or lost the password to your Windows Admin account, this guide will help with that. If you are trying to hack the computer lab at school then you will need a different method .

Disclaimer: This is for use on a PC that you own. Breaking into someone else’s PC is considered a serious crime in most places. If you make a mistake or change something else, your Windows may become a non-boot. If so, just undo whatever you changed outside of the hack shown here, and it will back to normal. Need I say this is for Educational Purposes! You are responsible for your own thoughts and actions.

Prerequisites:

• Any Linux/WinPE Live CD/DVD/USB with Live option (ex. Ubuntu Live, Linux Live, Kali, WinPE, etc.).
• Ability to use said Linux/WinPE CD/DVD/USB.
• Basic understanding of Windows file structure. i.e. can navigate.
• The desire to modify user account(s) on said Windows boxen.
• Physical access to said Windows box.
• Ability to use BIOS if needed.
• Ability to use command line and basic understanding of net user commands.

Things to Note:

• If you are trying to hack a coworker / boss / job / school / customer / friend / spouse’s account, you are screwed because they won’t be able to use the old password anymore—try explaining that.
• This hack works on Windows 7, 8, 10 and basically any that have “Ease of Access”.
• Servers require “net user Administrator blabla /domain”.
• This will destroy all data encrypted with EFS on the account if it’s enabled (you have to enable it first).
• If you do not undo the hack after you change the password, you will get the magnifier every time you use cmd or nothing at all.
• If you modify or delete any other files in Sys32, your next boot up is doomed (maybe).
• Scared? You should be. Now let’s get hacking.

1. Boot Some Flavor of Linux/WinPE Live CD

Insert CD/DVD into drive and reboot the machine. Start your Live DVD. You may need to go into the BIOS screen and change the boot-up order to CD/DVD drive first, HDD second.

2. Navigate to Sys32

Use the file browser in your Linux environment, navigate to %windir%/system32/. You may have to right-click and mount the Windows partition/drive first or use the NTFS-3G command.

3. Rename Magnify.exe

Find and rename magnify.exe (Magnifier file) to magnify.old.

4. Rename cmd.exe

Find and rename cmd.exe to magnify.exe.

5. Shut Down Linux/WinPE & Reboot Windows

Logout, remove DVD, and reboot into Windows.

6. Get CMD Prompt Modify Accounts

When Windows reboots, click on the ease of access button in the bottom left corner.

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Click magnify and hit apply. You have a system level command prompt. At this point is where we will only change the Admin password and not any of the 1000 other things that could be done at this point!

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Tip: You can right-click on cmd.exe and click run as administrator inside of Windows for escalated privileges. To edit files, it would never be allowed at basic admin level (caution).

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As the photo above shows, type net user to get a list of accounts. To the point type: net user administrator *

Your Options (Choose One That Applies):

Change Password:
net user username new_password
When you do so, the password changes without prompting you again.

Add an account:
net user username password /add
Tip: If your username has a space, like John Doe, use quotes like “John Doe”.

Admin that:
net localgroup administrators username /add

Delete that:
net user username /delete

Remote Desktop Users Group: (just in case)
net localgroup Remote Desktop Users UserLoginName /add

Net User Syntax Reference:
net user commands
Domain i.e. Servers:
net user for domain

Reboot Linux/WinPE & Fix magnfiy.exe

Now you should insert your Linux/WinPE Live CD/DVD and rename the files back to original names or you will have issues later.

1. Repeat Step 1
2. Repeat Step 2
3. Rename magnify.exe back to cmd.exe
4. Rename magnify.old back to magnify.exe
5. Log out, take out CD/DVD USB, reboot into Windows

Recommended Resources:
Kali Linux
CreateLive USB Sticks Rufus