How to Reset Lost Domain Admin Password in Windows Server 2012

In my previous post I’ve shown you how to install Active Directory in Windows Server 2012. During the procedure of promoting your server to a domain controller, you’ll be prompted to set a strong password for the administrator account in case the password is blank. What to do if you forgot the domain administrator password after installation?

As system/network administrator, you are usually confronted with the problem of forgetting domain admin password. Even if you don’t have to reset a password now, you should get acquainted with this issue. In this tutorial we’ll show you the easiest way to reset a lost domain administrator password in Windows Server 2012.

How to Reset Lost Domain Admin Password in Windows Server 2012?

1. Download and install Password Recovery Bundle on another computer that you can log in.
2. Prepare a blank CD and insert it into the computer.
3. Launch Password Recovery Bundle and click on Windows Password button, it will display the ISO burning dialog.
4. Choose the CD you’ve plugged in and then click on Start Burn button to create a Live CD.
5. After you have the Live CD, put it into the CD drive of your locked server PC whose password you want to reset.
6. Turn on the server and have it boot from the Live CD. You may need to go into BIOS and set CD/DVD as the first boot device.
7. After booting from the Live CD, it will load the Windows PE operating system inside the Live CD and start the Reset Windows Password program.
8. Choose the Active Directory NTDS.dit database, it will display a list of domain user accounts inside the NTDS.dit database.
9. Choose the administrator account from the list, then click on Reset Password button, the program will replace the forgotten/unknown administrator password with the new password: Password123.

Reject the Live CD and restart the server. You can then log in to the domain administrator account with the new password. It’s so easy to reset a lost domain admin password in Windows Server 2012!