Where is the Windows Security Accounts Manager (SAM) file typically located?

Where is the Windows Security Accounts Manager (SAM) file typically located?

• A. C:\windows\system32\Boot\SAM
• B. C:\windows\system32\drivers\SAM
• C. C:\windows\system32\config\SAM
• D. C:\windows\system32\con\SAM

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that the Windows SAM file is a registry hive that stores user account information and password hashes used by the Local Security Authority. It sits in the Registry hives folder within the Windows system directory: C:\Windows\System32\Config\SAM. It isn’t located in the boot or drivers directories, and the path with con is not a real file location. The SAM file is loaded into memory during boot and is protected, so access typically requires offline analysis of a disk image or offline registry access.

The main idea here is that the Windows SAM file is a registry hive that stores user account information and password hashes used by the Local Security Authority. It sits in the Registry hives folder within the Windows system directory: C:\Windows\System32\Config\SAM. It isn’t located in the boot or drivers directories, and the path with con is not a real file location. The SAM file is loaded into memory during boot and is protected, so access typically requires offline analysis of a disk image or offline registry access.