Windows Important Files
Files that can yield passwords or other intel about the system, network or users.
| File | Description / Importance |
|---|---|
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\pagefile.sys |
This file is used by the operating system when there is not enough RAM (memory) in the system. It is a large file, but contains spill over from RAM, usually lots of good information can be pulled, but should be a last resort due to size. |
%SYSTEMROOT%\repair\SAM %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\RegBack\SAM |
These files store the LM and NTLM hashes for local users. Using Volume Shadow Copy or Ninja Copy you can retrieve these files. |
%SystemDrive%\inetpub\logs\LogFiles |
IIS 7.x web server log file location. |
%USERPROFILE%\LocalS~1\Tempor~1\Content.IE5\index.dat |
Internet Explorer web browser history file (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322916) |
%USERPROFILE%\ntuser.dat |
User-level Windows registry settings (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc758618(v=WS.10).aspx) |
%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts |
System hosts file for local translation of host names to IP addresses. |
%WINDIR%\debug\NetSetup.log |
Shows issues when computers are joined to a domain. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc961817.aspx |
%WINDIR%\iis[version].log where [version] = 6, 7, or 8 |
Internet Information Service (IIS web server) log files. |
%WINDIR%\repair\sam%WINDIR%\repair\system%WINDIR%\repair\software%WINDIR%\repair\security |
System registry hives. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Registry |
%WINDIR%\system32\CCM\logs\*.log |
Windows SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) log files (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb892800.aspx) |
%WINDIR%\system32\config\AppEvent.Evt%WINDIR%\system32\config\SecEvent.Evt |
Windows Event Logs. |
%WINDIR%\system32\config\default.sav%WINDIR%\system32\config\security.sav%WINDIR%\system32\config\software.sav%WINDIR%\system32\config\system.sav |
Backup Windows registry files (http://forensics.wikia.com/wiki/Windows_registry_entries) |
%WINDIR%\system32\logfiles\httperr\httperr1.log |
IIS 6.x web server error logs. |
%WINDIR%\system32\logfiles\w3svc1\exYYMMDD.log where YYMMDD = year month day |
Web server log files. |
unattend.txt, unattend.xml, sysprep.inf |
Used in the automated deployment of Windows images and can contain user accounts. |