PowerCLI

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  • 1.  Login to VM without password

    Posted Jan 25, 2020 07:35 AM

    Hi,

    In order to recover a Windows VM password, I was just able to remove the password through a third party VM and Powercli!
    Now, I can log in to the Windows and change the password manually, But the PowerCLI is not able to connect VM because there is not any password!
    any solution for this?


    Also, Is there any other way to recover/reset the Windows VM password auto?



  • 2.  RE: Login to VM without password

    Posted Jan 25, 2020 10:38 AM

    Since Invoke-VMScript which uses the GuestOperations it relies on the VMware Tools.

    The VMware Tools have some rules/requirements.
    When you try to use the GuestOperations without a password you receive VIX error 3033, which is VIX_E_EMPTY_PASSWORD_NOT_ALLOWED_IN_GUEST

    Afaik there is no option to disable this check by VMware Tools.
    Changing the Local Security Policy on the target station doesn't seem to work either.

    Question: I don't know which tool you used to remove the password, but can't you set the password to a known value instead of removing it?



  • 3.  RE: Login to VM without password

    Posted Jan 25, 2020 11:51 AM

    Thank you for your reply LucD,
    Actually, I'm using a tool in Linux (chntpw) to change the password, yes it has an option to set a password, but since it is an old tool, it won't support the newer versions of windows. I can just set password for Windows XP and 7 through this tool.
    https://opensource.com/article/18/3/how-reset-windows-password-linux
    Btw, I guess this is not a safe and functional method to recover Windows password! I just looking and investigating for a better method! do you have any suggestions? (for Auto windows VM recover password over VCenter)



  • 4.  RE: Login to VM without password

    Posted Jan 25, 2020 01:58 PM

    The issue here is that nothing in the vSphere environment (vCenter or ESXi node) really cares about the Guest OS running in a VM.

    There are no vSphere features to recover a lost Windows password.
    If there are such methods, you will have to look at solutions in or with the Guest OS.
    In 6 Ways to Reset Forgotten Windows 10 Password there are a number of these solutions for Windows 10 mentioned.



  • 5.  RE: Login to VM without password

    Posted Jan 25, 2020 03:18 PM

    Hi,

    How To Reset Windows 10 Password – 10 Easy Solutions

    https://productkeysdl.com/how-to-reset-windows-10-password/

    ARomeo