forgot my win2003 password... but now with a twist

[xyyz]

i finally got my replacement MB for my server... and now another problem

i used my trusty password reset utility to try to reset the password, but i hit another problem.

i disabled the "administrator" account in favor of another separately-named administrator account.

now, when i use the tool, i'm able to reset the password for the "administrator" account, but since that account is disabled, it's not doing anything for me.

the odd thing is that this tool, doesn't see the administrator account as disabled.

so, i'm really in a bind here. i mean this is a great security practice for any unauthorized souls, but right now it's really preventing me from doing anything.

 

[imported_Phil]

You'll be wanting this then.

 

[xyyz]

that's exactly the tool i was talking about....

unfortunately, it sees the "administrator" account as active, when it's not. previously i disabled it.

is there any other way to enable the account?

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: xyyz
that's exactly the tool i was talking about....

unfortunately, it sees the "administrator" account as active, when it's not. previously i disabled it.

is there any other way to enable the account?

It should allow you to modify accounts, i.e. locking/unlocking etc? If so, try disabling it, rebooting and then enabling it again.

Failing that, you'll need to find something called "Winkey" (hard to find, and it's commercial).

You could also try the Recovery Console, and see if the "net user" command is available, as that'll allow you to make an admin-class account which can unlock the Administrator account.

 

[djdrastic]

I kinda had the same problem with a windows 2000 server and had to use ultimate boot cd , andf launched a tool to create my own admin user in the sam file . Booted into windows ands then reset the password on that account.

 

[RBBRMADE]

Not sure if this will help, but I have noticed whenever using NTpassword, that you MUST reboot into normal mode following running the tool or it will not work. If you try to boot to Safe mode first, it will not make the changes.
Ron

 

[xyyz]

what is this "ultimate boot cd"?

i wonder why i can't use the machine administrator account? i'm assuming this is the account the offline NT password and registry editor changed.

if i can get into the system with that account, i can use what is outlined here

 

[xyyz]

this process is a bastard and a half.

well i remembered the local administrator password

and there is no "net user" in the recovery console. i tried running the process outlined in that procedure, but it failed to work.

is there any command line command that will enable a disabled account?

hell, is there anyway to enable a disabled domain account?

talk about some really tight security... i wonder if the folks at msft designed it like this.

EDIT....

problem solved... i wasn't putting the registry entries in the right places.