Question

NT Server - Reset Local Admin Password

Asked by: fraunkd

I have a VM of a cloned NT server.  The source NT server has failed altogether.  The VMs NIC is not working properly at the moment.  When I logon, I am logging on with cached credentials as the VM obviously can not see the domain controllers.

Im just now realizing that the local administrator password does not match our standard password for servers  the password is unknown.  Because the server is not on the network, I can not reset the password from another computer.  

I remember very little from my NT days and am unsure of how to change local passwords from the server itself  let alone view local accounts.  Something is telling me that I need to download and install an NT Server-related application.  From what I remember, User Manager for Domains only gives access to network accounts  but I could be wrong.

A little direction would be great.  Thanks.

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Asked On
2009-08-28 at 12:06:58ID24690824
Tags

nt

,

nt server

,

reset local password

Topics

Windows NT Operating System

,

Windows NT Setup

,

Windows NT Networking

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: joefreedomPosted on 2009-08-28 at 12:13:57ID: 25210729

This tool is very helpful for resetting local passwords.  I've never personally used it on an NT machine but it has worked everytime i've used it for XP and 2000 machines.

http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/

As long as you can boot to a CD, or in your case you may have to make an image and use a virtual drive if you are using VM's, but you should be good to go.

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-08-28 at 12:14:22ID: 25210733

You can simply use User Manager from Start Menu > Programs > Administrative Tools.
If the User Manager for Domains has been installed on this machine, run this and use the "Change domain" (or similar, don't remember exactly) entry from somewhere in the start menu to set the domain to the computer name.
Or open a command prompt and enter
net user *
You'll be prompted for a new password.
net user TopSecret
will work as well, but then don't use any characters with special meaning in the command line, like
< > | % ^ & "

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-08-28 at 12:16:13ID: 25210747

"start menu" in the sentence about the User Manager for Domains above should of course have been "User Manager's menu bar" ...

 

by: fraunkdPosted on 2009-08-28 at 12:16:30ID: 25210750

I've seen a lot of password reset tools - but I would like to look into those only as a last resort.  Surely there is a way to change local passwords on an NT server from the server itself?

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-08-28 at 12:19:23ID: 25210775

Oh, and the command above should of course have been
net user Administrator *
or
net user Administrator TopSecret
Maybe I should shutdown my machine and just go to bed ...
And while I'm at it: replace "Administrator" with the localized name, if applicable.

 

by: joefreedomPosted on 2009-08-28 at 12:21:06ID: 25210799

Or take 5 minutes to boot your machine using the tool posted and be done with it.  IMHO, thats the easiest route, but regardless oBdA's solution should work fine for ya then.

Best Luck

 

by: fraunkdPosted on 2009-08-28 at 12:23:31ID: 25210811

Very Nice!  Thanks oBda.  When I opened User Manager for Domains, it would error and say that it could not contact any domains.  I did not realize I could manually enter the server name to see the local accounts.  Very helpful.  Thank you!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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