2003 Local Admin Password 1

[dljohnson19]

I have an 2003 Server image from last month I rolled back to and it doesn't seem to want to take the local admin password I distinctly remember setting up. Does anyone know of a way to change or retrieve this from a 2003 Server?

 

[markdmac]

Is it a DC? Or a member of a domain? If so then you can log in as the domain admin and change the local password.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[dljohnson19]

It is a member of a domain but that is why I need the local admin password so that I can rejoin it to the domain. If these images aren't used within a few days I have to always remove them and readd them to the domain. BUT unless I have the local admin I cannot do that.

 

[SeanAIX430]

I've never tried it on Server 2003, but it works on windows 2000 and XP. Ntfsboot.exe, find it online and try to change the password with it.

 

[PScottC]

How was the server imaged? RIS, Sysprep?

You try the password with the caps lock turned on? ^_-

PSC

Governments and corporations need people like you and me. We are samurai. The keyboard cowboys. And all those other people out there who have no idea what's going on are the cattle. Mooo! --Mr. The Plague, from the movie "Hackers

 

[dljohnson19]

It is a virtual (VMWare) image. Should be handled pretty much the same way though if anyone knows how to bypass or retrieve a local admin password on 2003. I'd rather not pay for unlock utility either if possible.

 

[TheGrey]

this looks like what you are after? :

http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password_alternate_logon_trick.htm

i have tried this one:

http://www.nobodix.org/seb/win2003_adminpass.html

and it worked for me

 

[dljohnson19]

The first link you supplied says it won't work for server 2003. The 2nd link you sent is for resetting the DOMAIN admin password. It states you must have the local admin password and that is the one I need. I need to get or bypass the LOCAL admin password on a 2003 server. Anyone....anyone...Buellar.

 

[PScottC]

Have you tried a Knoppix boot CD?

PSC

Governments and corporations need people like you and me. We are samurai. The keyboard cowboys. And all those other people out there who have no idea what's going on are the cattle. Mooo! --Mr. The Plague, from the movie "Hackers

 

[SeanAIX430]

Did you try my suggestion? It's free

 

[dljohnson19]

Yes I did....the weird thing is that none of these boot utilities saw an OS to connect to. I tried Knoppix, Trinity Home and Winternals ERD Commander and none saw an OS to mount to even though this machine was booted up to a login screen. Appears to be corrupted vm config files on the ESX server. Once I removed those at the Linux level, deleted and rebuilt the virtual machine it worked fine. Thanks for all the suggestions, you folks are great!

 

[djtech2k]

The best solution is WinPE or Barts PE. Get that and you are gold on ANYTHING.

-DJ

 

[dljohnson19]

Although this problem turned out to be config corruption and not much could be done other than recopying the image I would like to thank all for their suggestions. A special kudos to djtech. I downloaded the Barts PE and that is a SWEET utility. Load it with the ERD Commander plugin (if you have licensing for it) and no longer will you ever be locked out of a PC. Awesome utilty for admins. Thanks!!

 

[djtech2k]

Glad I could help. I got PE with all the plugins and it is a life saver.