SusanPK
asked on
Windows 2003 Server Admin Password Recovery?
I find myself in the unenviable situation of trying to figure out and take control over a multi-server, brand new Windows 2003 server network that has lost its original administrator – and with it every administrative password to the kingdom. There is no one else who can do more than show me the actual servers and the former admin’s office, which looks like a tornado went through it and provides sparse clues. Nothing was documented, no CDs can be found, and there don’t appear to be any other accounts with admin rights, either.
Before I throw in the towel and resign myself to rebuilding the whole thing from scratch, does anyone here have ANY suggestions of how I might wrestle the admin account password from these servers? Though other posts of this nature here looked promising, links went nowhere or they addressed earlier OSs and so did not help.
Many thanks for any input you can provide.
Susan K.
Before I throw in the towel and resign myself to rebuilding the whole thing from scratch, does anyone here have ANY suggestions of how I might wrestle the admin account password from these servers? Though other posts of this nature here looked promising, links went nowhere or they addressed earlier OSs and so did not help.
Many thanks for any input you can provide.
Susan K.
Use Google with search words: 2003 password recovery
ASKER
Good grief. So sorry. I realize it's a gray area but it is a desperate (and absolutely legitimate) situation. No offense intended.
I will check Google.
I will check Google.
I don't consider a request for ideas on how to recover a lost password an admission for instructions on how to hack.
I believe it is possible that someone might actually end up in that scenario.
Based off of this believe, I'm posting this link for some ideas to try:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm
Hope this helps!
:o)
Bartender_1
I believe it is possible that someone might actually end up in that scenario.
Based off of this believe, I'm posting this link for some ideas to try:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm
Hope this helps!
:o)
Bartender_1
I agree, its not always a malicious reason for wanting those passwords :)
There is a fantastic program available called ERD commander, its big dollars but awesome for situations like this...though saying that, the link above has some ideas that can take you a long way, I purchased ERD commander and its not far off making its money back already
There is a fantastic program available called ERD commander, its big dollars but awesome for situations like this...though saying that, the link above has some ideas that can take you a long way, I purchased ERD commander and its not far off making its money back already
ASKER
What about something called Windows Password Expert by Atlantis Mind? http://www.atlantisminds.com
I've never used it.
However, it does come with an unconditional money back guarantee. So for $17.00 it might be worth it for the peace of mind.
:o)
Bartender_1
However, it does come with an unconditional money back guarantee. So for $17.00 it might be worth it for the peace of mind.
:o)
Bartender_1
ASKER
OK. We have been battling this all morning now. There is some sort of issue with this server's video drivers that crashes out jsut about every recovery utility we have (turns out a fellow staffer on our team actually has quite a bit of experience retrieving lost passwords). We finally managed to follow these instructions:
http://www.petri.co.il/reset_domain_admin_password_in_windows_server_2003_ad.htm
However, when the server reboots with the new service installed, it takes a very long time and the new password still does not work. There is an error about a service failed to start, but, of course, we don't know which one. We can only assume it's this one. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this and, if so, what issues did you have to overcome?
Many thanks again,
Susan K.
http://www.petri.co.il/reset_domain_admin_password_in_windows_server_2003_ad.htm
However, when the server reboots with the new service installed, it takes a very long time and the new password still does not work. There is an error about a service failed to start, but, of course, we don't know which one. We can only assume it's this one. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this and, if so, what issues did you have to overcome?
Many thanks again,
Susan K.
ASKER
PS: This is the Enterprise version of Windows 2003 Server.
Ok, so you have local admin password?
Did you try following the steps individually, or did you download the script and run it?
Did you try following the steps individually, or did you download the script and run it?
ASKER
Apparently the local admin password is... blank! (very lucky break!)
No, tried this manually.
No, tried this manually.
ASKER
I should really think before I submit... one more thing. The domain admin account was renamed. When configuring the service, should we use Administrator or the rename value?
Use the rename value.
ASKER
Yep. That's what we did. No luck. Also, local account login is disabled. The only way we can get in with the local admin account is in directory services restore mode.
If you download the script, and edit the "resetpass.cmd" script to match your account and password, then you should be able to launch the change-admin-passed.cmd script and have it do everything automatically for you.
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"When bees detect the presence of explosives, they simply stick their proboscis out,"
Hmmmmm......
Hmmmmm......
Wrong thread... sorry.
this was supposed to go in the lounge.
this was supposed to go in the lounge.
ASKER
Thanks bunches Bartender! The script does it a little differently than the manual insturctions, but that made all the difference. I am happy to report that the network once again belongs to its rightful owner -- and the police is on its way to the former admin's home.
Life is fair after all. Good night all and very happy holidays!
Susan K.
Life is fair after all. Good night all and very happy holidays!
Susan K.
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