Windows Server 2003 Admin Password

[Sikh]

So I'm working on a server that none of the people in this office have access too. The server password the old IT guy gave them last time worked when I was here last time fixed everything changed the password gave it to the manager and left.

Now they have an employee leaving and idk who did what but I cannot get into the server. Instead of me setting up the server correctly last time they just wanted me to fix it. The old tech had it set so the computer user account credentials have to match the ones on the server.

I'm use to setting it up so there's the user on the server and you load it from the remote machine. But anyway they changed all the computer passwords and have lost all network access so most of there software does not work. I can't get into the server and we don't knw of they have a backup.

How can I reset the password for the admin account or what options do I have?

[Brandon H Supervisor]

I've used the Offline NT password/registry editor to reset passwords on standard windows before, I haven't tried it on the server version though, you could give that a try

[n_K]

Unless it's EFS doing as brando said is fine.

[Sikh]

I tried Offline NT and no luck. It attempts to reset it but I restart the server let it boot and nothing...

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

Try Kon-Boot: http://www.piotrbania.com/all/kon-boot/

You should be able to use the free version if the server is running a 32bit OS.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

  On 08/05/2012 at 18:45, InsaneNutter said:

Try Kon-Boot: http://www.piotrbani...m/all/kon-boot/

You should be able to use the free version if the server is running a 32bit OS.

what's the difference between that Kon-Boot and this one? http://www.kryptoslogic.com/area02/item02/index.html

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

  On 08/05/2012 at 18:50, Brando212 said:

what's the difference between that Kon-Boot and this one? http://www.kryptoslo...em02/index.html

It looks to be the same, just a different website selling it?

I believe the site i linked to is the official website for Kon-Boot.

[Mando]

  On 08/05/2012 at 18:29, Brando212 said:

I've used the Offline NT password/registry editor to reset passwords on standard windows before, I haven't tried it on the server version though, you could give that a try

Ive used it successfully also, youll need direct access onsite to use it though, but it will work fine (server 2003 R2 and 2003STD SP2 x86.

Boot off the ISO/CD clear the password to blank then boot into windows, login using the account and set a new password.

[Sikh]

I'm onsite with disk in hand. Cleared rebooted nothing. It reads and writes SAM fine but that's it

[evacc44]

Try Microsoft Dart (MSDart). It's free, but not openingly available. I'm sure you can find it if you look at the right sites though.

[sc302 Veteran]

hirens usually works for me. (ntpwedit)

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

don't forget to hit save after you are done.

if you need the domain admin password reset

http://www.petri.co....ver_2003_ad.htm

[xbamaris]

I dont know why Offline NT wouldnt work.

Make sure to follow through with the entire thing, theres an extra step that I kept forgetting at one point that you have to press to WRITE the changes. even if it looks like it said it changed it, make sure you complete the step of writing the changes.

[Detection]

Would encryption stop it working ?

I think someone made a legal respin of hirens boot cd that has a load of password reset programs on it

[sc302 Veteran]

  On 08/05/2012 at 19:52, Detection said:

Would encryption stop it working ?

If there were drive encryption he wouldn't see the sam database at all. If there were drive encryption, he would have to format the drive and start from scratch. Drive encryption would stop it from working, it would stop it from even starting.

  On 08/05/2012 at 19:52, Detection said:

I think someone made a legal respin of hirens boot cd that has a load of password reset programs on it

see my post above.