Windows stores user passwords in the Security Accounts Manager database (SAM), or in the Active Directory database in domains. Passwords are never stored in clear text; passwords are hashed and the results are stored in the SAM.

NTLM and LM authentication protocols are used to securely store a user's password in the SAM database using different hashing methods.

The SAM file in Windows Server 2008 is located in which of the following locations?