The Bottom Line
The Ophcrack Windows password cracker is the best free Windows password recovery tool available. It's fast and easy enough for a first time password cracker with basic Windows skills.
In a Hurry?: Read my review below or skip to the complete step-by-step guide to Ophcrack LiveCD.
Save time and energy by skipping the other tools (even the expensive "professional" password recovery software programs) and download, burn and use the LiveCD version of Ophcrack.
After just a few minutes of running the software, Ophcrack will find all of your passwords and display them on screen! Yes, it's that easy!
Pros
- Software is freely available for download online
- Passwords are recovered automatically using the LiveCD method
- No software installation is necessary to recover passwords
- No knowledge of any existing passwords is necessary
- Ophcrack works with Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
Cons
- 400MB+ (XP) / 500MB (7/Vista) LiveCD ISO image must be downloaded
- LiveCD ISO image must be burned to a CD before being used
- Some antivirus software may mistakenly flag Ophcrack as malware
Description
- Ophcrack can recover 99.9% of passwords from nearly any Windows installation in seconds.
- The Ophcrack LiveCD option allows for completely automatic password recovery.
- LiveCD method requires no installation in Windows, making it a safe alternative to many other password recovery tools.
- No Windows passwords need to be known to use the Ophcrack LiveCD to crack your Windows passwords.
Guide Review - Ophcrack v3.3.0 (LiveCD v2.3.0)
Ophcrack v3.3.0, in its LiveCD form (currently at v2.3.0), is the all-around best password recovery tool available today. Its nearly fool-proof setup, automatic password recovery, and overall speed puts Ophcrack in a league of its own. This comparison isn't made only against other free Windows password recovery tools. Ophcrack is number one among all of these programs, free or not, that I've ever used.
To get started, visit the Ophcrack site and click on the Download ophcrack LiveCD button. On the next page, click on either the XP or Vista link to download the correct ISO image file for your operating system. Choose the Vista version for Windows 7 as well. This file is large so it may take some time to download.
An ISO file contains everything that should go on a CD or DVD in a single file. The Ophcrack LiveCD ISO file contains a copy of the Linux operating system, the Ophcrack software, and other files needed to recover passwords. Don't worry about the details - the Ophcrack LiveCD is fully automatic - no Linux experience required.
After downloading, burn the ISO image to a CD. Burning an ISO file is a little different than burning a normal file. If you need help, check out How to Burn an ISO Image File to a CD or DVD.
After burning, boot to the CD by rebooting your PC with the disc still in the drive. Linux will load, Ophcrack will start, and the password recovery will begin.
Ophcrack will immediately locate the users on your Windows system and begin cracking their passwords. The process is automatic - you don't have to run any programs or even type or click anything! When the passwords are displayed on screen, write them down. Remove the CD, reset your computer and log on to Windows with your newly recovered password when complete.
The Ophcrack LiveCD requires some preparation but this password recovery tool is by far the best!
