Use the Live Ubuntu CD to boot into the live version of the OS.

Go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager.

Then Settings>Repositories

Once the ‘Software Sources’ window appears, make sure you select ‘Software restricted by copyright or legal issues’, then click close.

Click reload on synaptic package manager.

Click Search, and type in ‘chntpw’.

Once the ‘chntpw’ app is found, right-click on it and ‘mark for installation’.

Click “Apply on Summary Window” and also to confirm changes.

Next, we must mount the Windows drive. In Ubuntu, go to Places> Select the appropriate drive.

The final step of the process is actually resetting the password via the Linux terminal.

In Ubuntu go to Applications>Accessories>Terminal.

Type ‘cd /media/disk/WINDOWS/system32/config/’ in the terminal window.

Type ‘sudo chntpw SAM’

This by default will change the Administrator password. If you would prefer to change a particular user. Type ‘sudo chntpw -u username SAM’.

Afterwards, you’ll see a long display of information, most of which can be ignored.

The next step is to actually reset the windows password. It is recommended to make the password blank with an asterisk * .

You’ll then have to confirm the change with a Y, and reboot.