Where is the SAM database located?

Where is the SAM database located?

• A. The system registry
• B. Active Directory database
• C. Windows Registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SAM
• D. On the network

Answer: (A)

The SAM database is stored in the Windows system registry. It’s not a separate file you point to on disk or a network resource. The Security Accounts Manager keeps its data in a dedicated hive inside the registry, loaded at boot, and used to authenticate local user accounts. The registry location is the SAM hive under the key for the local machine (the path is typically described as HKLM\SAM). This is why the system registry is the correct answer: it’s the local store for local account information and password hashes. In contrast, the Active Directory database (NTDS.dit) holds domain accounts on domain controllers, not local SAM data, and saying it’s “on the network” isn’t accurate for how local authentication works.

The SAM database is stored in the Windows system registry. It’s not a separate file you point to on disk or a network resource. The Security Accounts Manager keeps its data in a dedicated hive inside the registry, loaded at boot, and used to authenticate local user accounts. The registry location is the SAM hive under the key for the local machine (the path is typically described as HKLM\SAM). This is why the system registry is the correct answer: it’s the local store for local account information and password hashes. In contrast, the Active Directory database (NTDS.dit) holds domain accounts on domain controllers, not local SAM data, and saying it’s “on the network” isn’t accurate for how local authentication works.