Reset Windows Server Admin Password

 

Unfortunately, today you’ve forgot the windows server password but good news is, Microsoft make it easy for you to reset the admin password. All you need is the Windows Server CD.

I tried on my test VM, which is a domain controller, and it works too! As this a test VM, this is the only domain controller server.

 

 

1. Boot off the Windows disk and select the “Repair your computer” option from the lower left-hand corner.

2. Follow through until you get to the option to open the Command Prompt

 

3. Backup and move the utilman.exe file with the command below,

Note: for some system, you may change the c: to d:, you’ll need to know where is the windows file.

# MOVE C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe.bak

4. Now copy the cmmd.exe and rename it Utilman.exe:

# COPY C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe

5. Reboot your machine. When its done booting up again and you are at the Logon screen, click on the Ease of access icon.

 

6. At the command prompt, to change the password type:

# net user administrator *

7. Once you press enter you will asked to set a new password and then confirm it, when entering your new password don’t worry if you can’t see them as you type, they are invisible, they are however being saved.

 

 

8. Once you’re logged in again,  go to C:\Windows\System32\, delete the Utilman.exe and then rename Utilman.exe.bak back to plain old Utilman.exe.