chntpw not working for me

when I type #chntpw -i /dev/sda2/Windows/System32/config/SAM the output is

chntpw version 0.99.5 070923 (decade), (c) Petter N Hagen
openHive(/dev/sda2/Windows/System32/config/SAM) failed: Not a directory, trying read-only
openHive(/dev/sda2/Windows/System32/config/SAM) in fallback RO-mode failed: Not a directory
closing hive /dev/sda2/Windows/System32/config/SAM
Unable to open/read a hive, exiting..

but when I type #chntpw -i /dev/sda2 the output is

chntpw version 0.99.5 070923 (decade), (c) Petter N Hagen
openHive(/dev/sda2): File does not seem to be a registry hive!


<>========<> chntpw Main Interactive Menu <>========<>

Loaded hives: </dev/sda2>

1 - Edit user data and passwords
2 - Syskey status & change
3 - RecoveryConsole settings
- - -
9 - Registry editor, now with full write support!
q - Quit (you will be asked if there is something to save)


What to do? [1] ->

can somebody tell me what am I doing wrong .

your problem is most likely that you are using /dev/sda and not /media/sda or /mnt/sda.
/dev is the raw device.
The hard drive should be mounted under either /mnt or /media.

Also, this may help you some:
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I know this thread is old but since it's one of the first in the google search maybe this can help a lot of people.
I solved the problem above by simply mounting the partition of Windows (the one that says "OS") then typing [ chntpw -i /media/OS/Windows/System32/config/SAM ].
Notice that typed "OS" instead of "sda3" which is my Windows partition.
Hope it helps.

regards

That's all fine and dandy as long as you have done mkdir /media/OS ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ThePistonDoctor

That's all fine and dandy as long as you have done mkdir /media/OS ;)

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Hi
Well, it was there by default (at system menu/storage media)!
I just installed BT4 R2! :cool:

And don't forget to actually apply the changes, that bit me in the butt first time I tried....