<div>
No need for SSMS or SQL Browser (unless you are running a SQL Server named instance), you can reset it from the DOS command line using SQLCmd and a single System Stored Procedure, provided you have a login that belongs to the sysadmin role. &nbsp;If you don't it gets more complicated.
</div>


<div>
Alright, &nbsp;I stand corrected. &nbsp;Good to know that you can create users as long as you have access to the sql box. &nbsp;Pretty weak security IMO.
</div>


<div>
<blockquote>
Why would you say that? &nbsp;Why is using SQLCmd make it qualify for &quot;weak security&quot; in comparison to using SSMS (your suggestion)? 
</blockquote>
I'm not saying sqlCmd is weak security. &nbsp;The fact that you can create a sys_admin role account without being an authorized user to me is weak security. &nbsp;I agree that physical access is always a security concern, but I wouldn't imagine for one to have a backdoor like that. &nbsp; Sure you could always just rip the MDF and LDF files to a new instance, but that would require more resources (of having another SQL server installed somewhere). &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Real world example: &nbsp;<br />
A server admin being able to login to a sql server to retrieve sensitive company data. &nbsp;In a larger firm where you have dedicated roles, a nefarious admin could run this while doing other routine maintenance (windows patches for instance). &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<br />
I would have the ability to get at the data would be more difficult. &nbsp;Just my two cents.
</div>


<div>
<i>The fact that you can create a sys_admin role account without being an authorized user to me is weak security. </i><br />
I don't think anyone said that. &nbsp;In fact I specifically stated: &nbsp;<i>you can reset it from the DOS command line using SQLCmd and a single System Stored Procedure, <b>provided you have a login that belongs to the sysadmin role.</b></i>
</div>


<div>
I refer you to:<br />
<a href="https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28327754/need-to-get-SA-password.html?anchorAnswerId=39747023#a39747023" rel="ugc">https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28327754/need-to-get-SA-password.html?anchorAnswerId=39747023#a39747023</a><br />
<br />
it's possible to create a sys admin account without logging in as a sys admin yourself.
</div>


<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
sql 2005<br />
no studio installed and I can't install it at this time.<br />
I need to either reset the sa password or figure out the current one<br />
either will do<br />
2008 r2
</div>
</div>


sql 2005
no studio installed and I can't install it at this time.
I need to either reset the sa password or figure out the current one
either will do
2008 r2

need to get SA password

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning. It includes support for managing XML data and allows a database server to be exposed over web services using Tabular Data Stream (TDS) packets encapsulated within SOAP (protocol) requests.