Monday, January 21, 2013

reset domain administrator password on a win2k8r2 DC

Forgot your domain admin password? Whoops.

On a Win2k8r2 domain controller:

  • Boot with the installation media (or any other WinPE kind of media)
  • Go to the System32 directory
  • ren utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
  • copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
  • Reboot the system
  • At the logon screen, press Windows Key + U. A command prompt will start.
  • net user Administrator "!mynewpass123"
  • Log in, start a command prompt.
  • del utilman.exe
  • copy utilman.exe.bak utilman.exe

done :-)