If you are the administrator and have access to the original installation package, you can use the command-line utility to bypass or reset the password.
Ensure that command-line control ( DFC.exe ) is configured during deployment, allowing administrators to issue local script commands via elevated command prompts if the GUI fails.
Go to the physical workstation, open the Deep Freeze login dialog ( Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F6 ), enter the OTP, and switch the status to Boot Thawed . meltdown deep freeze password recovery updated
Because Deep Freeze blocks any modifications to the operating system directories, you cannot use the Windows "Reset This PC" feature from within the settings menu. Insert a standard Windows installation ISO/USB. Boot into the Windows Setup environment.
Go to the root folder of the drive or check the C:\Program Files\Faronics\ directory. Locate the configuration file—traditionally named Persi0.sys . Change the extension of this file to something else (e.g., Persi0.sys.bak ). If you are the administrator and have access
Meltdown simplifies what is otherwise a complex manual process of reading and decrypting data from Persi0.sys . For many IT professionals, Meltdown is the tool of choice because it provides the password, allowing access to the Deep Freeze control panel, rather than just disabling the protection.
: After resetting the password, reboot your system to ensure that Deep Freeze is engaged with the new credentials. Because Deep Freeze blocks any modifications to the
Because Deep Freeze blocks formatting or modifying the OS partition while Windows is running, you must overwrite the drive from an outside deployment environment. Use a network deployment tool (like Microsoft Deployment Toolkit or SmartDeploy) or a local recovery drive to wipe the partition and re-image the machine. While this removes all data on the system drive, it completely strips away the locked Deep Freeze installation in under 20 minutes.