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Resetting a lost Windows 2012 R2 Administrator Password
Posted by Will Kruss on 02 September 2016 04:32 PM
  • Login to the VPSBlocks portal and go to VPS Management
  • Select the Windows Standard 2012 Server DVD
  • Load the console on a separate browser window
  • Reboot the server, and in the console make sure you press a key to boot from the DVD
  • From the Windows Setup menu, click "Next".
  • Select "Repair your computer".
  • Click on "Troubleshoot".
  • Under Advanced options, click "Command Prompt".

At the command prompt, run the following commands:

c:
cd Windows\System32
ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.old
copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe
  • Close the command prompt, remove DVD/ISO and then reboot the system.
  • The server should now boot and present the logon screen (or send the ctrl-alt-del button to see the login screen).
  • Press the accessibility icon in the lower left corner.

At the prompt you can change the password, by typing the following command:

net user administrator Password123

This will set the password for the Administrator user to be Password123 (case sensitive).

Now repeat the DVD/ISO boot steps and open command prompt above and run the following to set it back:

c:
cd Windows\System32
del Utilman.exe
ren Utilman.exe.old Utilman.exe

Reboot the system and you can now login using the password you set.

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