Reset Windows Server 2012 Password

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  2. How To Reset Windows Server 2012 Password In Vmware

Forgetting a Windows password can be frustrating especially if it is your domain administrator password for your server. With a few simple steps, you can easily reset this password and regain access to your machine. This method should work on several other Windows versions as well. I’m going to cover all issues you will encounter to make this is the only resource you need to complete the entire process.

How to Reset Forgotten Windows Server 2012 Domain Administrator Password Step 1: Step 1. Locate and Load Your Installation Media. Step 2: Step 2. Locate and Open Command Prompt. Step 3: Step 3. At the Command Prompt, Run the Following Commands. Step 4: Step 4. Reboot the Server. Close the command.

https://blog.watchpointdata.com/how-to-reset-forgotten-windows-server-2012-domain-administrator-password

5 Steps total

Step 1: Step 1. Locate and Load Your Installation Media

You will need the installation media that was used to install the operating system. If you do not have it you can download an evaluation copy here from Microsoft.Download the .iso file and burn it to a disc. (skip this step if you have the media)Insert disc in drive and reboot the server.When prompted press any key to boot from the installation media.

How to override administrator password

Step 2: Step 2. Locate and Open Command Prompt

From the Windows Setup menu, click 'Next'.Select 'Repair your computer'.Click on 'Troubleshoot'.Under Advanced options, click 'Command Prompt'.

Step 3: Step 3. At the Command Prompt, Run the Following Commands

c:cd WindowsSystem32ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.oldcopy cmd.exe Utilman.exe
Step 3 can be a bit tricky. If you cannot locate C:WindowsSystem32Utilman.exe then Windows has used another drive letter instead of C:.

To determine what drive letters are in use on the server run this command.

Dell Servers

wmic logicaldisk get caption,description,filesystem
Make note of the drive letters presented in the command prompt and search each drive until you find WindowsSystem32Utilman.exe

Change

If Utilman.exe is located on another drive letter, substitute that letter for C: going forward. Easy wordship 2009 fernando simangunsong 3.

Step 4: Step 4. Reboot the Server

Close the command prompt.Reboot the Server.Wait for the login screen then press Windows Key + U at login screen.

Step 5: Step 5. Reset the Password

At the command prompt run the following command to reset password to Password123.

net user administrator Password123

7 Comments

How To Reset Windows Server 2012 Password In Vmware

  • Thai Pepper
    Jason1121 Jan 11, 2017 at 04:38pm

    I have used this on a standard pc and it works, but I've never been able to get it to work on a domain controller.

    Have you tested this on a domain controller?

  • Thai Pepper
    MHunt Jan 11, 2017 at 05:02pm

    This looks like the instructions I followed to reset the Domain Administrator password on a Windows 2012 R2 server.

  • Mace
    Neally Jan 11, 2017 at 05:07pm

    That is for a local admin password, not a domain password.
    A DC does not use the local account database so thus this does not work
    The only way I'm aware of to work around that is to use the Directory Services Restore Mode
    EDIT: Nope, tested it, it works just fine.

  • Serrano
    Chris (WatchPoint Data) Jan 11, 2017 at 08:04pm

    Neally..I updated the title back. As I started to think about it..the whole reason I wrote the article months ago is because we had a former employee who didn't document the domain admin password to a new domain controller he was setting up for our new WatchPoint domain. I had to research how to reset the password and I wrote this article based on the work I did to reset the domain admin password and gain access to the new domain controller. Prior to that I had no documentation to go by. Hence..former employee.

  • Mace
    Neally Jan 11, 2017 at 10:20pm

    Wow, I stand corrected. That did not use to work on DCs. Just tested it on a 2016 DC and works just fine. Well, learned something new. Thanks!

  • Sonora
    nevillet Feb 24, 2017 at 12:50pm

    This tutorial is a life saver worked like a charm. it was confusing at first because not every one understands the c:cd at the beginning of the command, for any one having this issue use the following;

    c: WindowsSystem32ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.oldcopy cmd.exe Utilman.exe

  • Chipotle
    pingtest Feb 27, 2019 at 04:52pm

    Do you know of a good step-by-step like this one that includes Slipstreaming for adding a dell raid controller?