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Forgot Password Reset Windows Server Password

Aparna | Nov 26, 2010 |

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Access to Windows XP Server even if you forget the Password

If you have forgotten the password of the Windows Server there is nothing to worry about. Some very useful and effective methods are discussed in this article to pull you out of the annoying situation. To move to the next step, our primary requirement is to have access to the local account of the server.

Once you have access to the local account, boot the system and press F8 to get the boot options. Select the "Directory Service Recovery Mode". This will allow starting the system without any Active directory support.

When the logon screen is displayed, login as administrator with blank password. If there is password set on the administrator account, you can login by help of the recovered local account password. The administrator account or the local administrator account does not have the ability to change anything related to Active directory. After you have logged in, run 'regedit.exe' to open the windows registry. Move to HKEY_USERDefaultControl PanelDesktop. In this key, change the value of scrnsave.exe to cmd.exe. Then change the ScreenSaveTimeout value from 900 to 15 and finally change value of ScreenSaveActive to 1. After doing all these settings, boot the system. When you are prompted to hit Ctrl-Alt-Del, wait to automatically move to command prompt. In the prompt, run the command MMC DSA.MSC. MMC is the executable for Active directory console. When you run this command, Active directory console will open. You can manage your user accounts in this console options. Change the password of the desired account. After this step, move out of the command prompt using the exit command. Your system will restart again. In the logon dialog box choose to login domain administrator account using the new password.

Now that you have successfully logged in, restore the changes that you have made in the windows registry. Restoration of these changes is necessary otherwise you will always get command prompt as the logon screen.