Resetting password in Windows 2008 Server

Hi,

Easier to login with a backup admin, and reset the password of the account that they have looked out.

Alan.

Agree with Gregory. And maybe then after this is over, perhaps recommend that your customer create a fail-safe / backdoor account that is kept secret for just such an event. :-)

I will watch youtube and report back.

If it is an Active Directory password, the boot disk method won't work.  It does work in the case of local (Workgroup) passwords, though.

The trick that I've used is to boot to a CD or USB stick, rename \windows\system32\utilman.exe to something else (remember it as you'll rename it back when done), and copy cmd.exe to utilman.exe.

When you reboot, click on Windows Key + U to run the utilman, which is now cmd.exe.  At the prompt, type: net user password <whatever password you want>
This should reset the administrator password.  Reboot, confirm that it worked, then repeat the first steps to put utilman.exe back.

Details can be found here: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/70fd1483-fdd1-49a5-8a74-d8eb22c5965d/how-i-reset-windows-server-2012-administrator-password-without-installation-cds?forum=winserver8gen

Since I have not set up the server, I am not sure if it is set up as a domain controller or just work group server. I will find out tomorrow when I go onsite.
What I know is that it is a stand-alone server (not VM).
Question about YoutTube video,..
Do I need to boot the server from the W2008 DVD or just press [F8] when starting?

@Gregory
I followed the steps shown in youtube video and I was able to add a new account with admin privilege.

@CompProbSolv
"Reboot, confirm that it worked, then repeat the first steps to put utilman.exe back."  --> Now I can log in to the server with new admin account, should I do something about utilman.exe that I have renamed to utilman.exe.old during the process of adding new account?

Hi Sglee,

Yes - as per CompProvSolv's post above, rename the utilman.exe.old back to utilman.exe.

Alan.

You MUST use another boot source with the utilman trick - F8 still potentially boots into the OS, locking files so you can't do it.   If the drive is bitlockered, then you're stuck. (odds are it's not though it should be).

I prefer scorpion software's Cred the cred series that talks about cracking the domain admin password - see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxq4ifyr8_w
Note: this trick works REGARDLESS of domain controller or standalone machine.  I've used it probably 2 dozen times and it has never failed me.

@Lee
Is scorpion software's Cred free software?

@Alan,
 I deleted utilman.exe and renamed the utilman.exe.old back to utilman.exe.
When I rebooted the server and clicked "Ease of Access" button on Logon screen, it does not open "C:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe" window anymore.

Thank you for you help!

Scorpion Software is the company that put together the video - there's no software involved beyond your Windows Install media.  Watch the video to see what I'm talking about - it's 5 minutes or so long... not a huge time investment.

@Lee,
Got you. I will watch the video.

Question.
Back in the day, I created this Password Reset CD that allows me to change/erase existing administrator account in Windows 7 PC. When I booted Windows 2008 PC with this CD in, it gave me the prompt where I can select the partition where OS is installed, but it fails to respond to any input from the keyboard.
Is this because it is not compatible?
Is there a new free version of software like this that allows me simply erase/replace existing administrator password?

There's no reason to use those kinds of disks.  Just watch the video and use your own Windows boot media.  The entire process takes 5-10 minutes depending on how fast things boot.

ok