How to Reset Windows Server 2003 Administrator Password

"I've forgotten my administrator password for an old Windows Server 2003, I want to use the server for another project and have lost my password list in a site relocation move. How can I recover and reset the administrator password without having to reinstall the whole operating system?"

Forgot Windows Server 2003 administrator password and can't get past the login screen? Disgruntled employee locked the server and will not give up the password? If you can't log in with another administrative account, then you need to resort to a Windows password recovery software.

Reset Windows Password is the right software that can help you reset Windows Server 2003 password on local admin and domain admin accounts easily. Follow the steps below to reset your forgotten Windows Server 2003 administrator password with ease:

Part 1: Burn a bootable CD/DVD or USB flash drive

1. Download and save the Reset Windows Password self-extracting ZIP file to an accessible PC, then decompress the ZIP archive which there should be an ISO image file: ResetWindowsPwd.iso inside.
2. Insert a blank CD/DVD or USB flash drive into the computer.
3. Download and install the ISO2Disc utility, launch the program.
4. Click the Browse button to locate your ISO image file, then click the Start Burn button to burn the ISO image to your CD/DVD or USB flash drive.

Part 2: Change BIOS Settings

1. Turn on your locked computer. When it is powered on, check the boot-screen for setup key (i.e. DELETE key, F8 key, F2 key) to enter BIOS Setup Utility.
2. Use the arrow keys to select the BOOT tab, then change the Boot Device Priority: Set CD/DVD as the 1st boot device so you can boot off the CD, or set Removable Device if you want to boot from USB flash drive.
3. Press F10 to save your changes. Now your computer is able to boot from CD/DVD or USB flash drive.

Part 3: Reset Windows Server 2003 Administrator Password

1. Insert the newly burned CD/DVD or USB flash drive into your locked computer, then restart the computer.
2. The computer will load the operating system inside the CD/DVD or USB drive. After one or two minutes, it will launch the Reset Windows Password program.
3. You can reset both Windows local administrator password and domain administrator password easily. While resetting Windows Server 2003 password, the program will also unlock/enable the administrator account in the background if it is locked out or disabled.

Option 1: Reset Windows Local Administrator Password

Simply select the Windows SAM registry hive from the list, the program will display a list of Windows local user accounts. Choose the administrator account and click Reset Password button. It will remove your forgotten password instantly.

Option 2: Reset Windows Domain Administrator Password
Simply select the Active Directory database file (ntds.dit), the program will list all domain accounts for your Windows 2003 domain controller. Select the administrator account and click the Reset Password button, the password will be changed to Password123.

4. Click the Restart button to reboot the computer and remove the CD/DVD or USB drive, you can then log in to Windows Server 2003 administrator account successfully.

In addition, Reset Windows Password utility also enables you to reset forgotten Windows password on Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2008 and 2000, including both 32-bit and 64-bit operating system.

How to Reset Windows Server 2003 Password on Local and Domain Account

Forgot the administrator password on Windows Server 2003 and none of the users have administrative rights? How do you go about resetting the administrator login on Windows Server 2003 while you keep getting the password is incorrect? It is either that the password you have entered is incorrect or the administrator account is locked out or disabled.

With Password Recovery Bundle you can solve all of these problems above.  The software can help you reset lost or forgotten passwords to any local admin and domain admin account on Windows Server 2003, unlock any Windows account which is locked out, disabled or expired. This article mainly explains how to create a password reset disk (CD, DVD or USB stick) with Password Recovery Bundle, then use it to reset Windows Server 2003 password on local and domain account. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Create a Password Reset Disk

Download Password Recovery Bundle and save it on another computer you have admin access to. Install and launch Password Recovery Bundle, then click Windows Password button,  the pop-up dialog enables you to create a password reset disk  (CD, DVD or USB stick) .

Step 2: Set Your PC to Boot from Password Reset Disk

To make your locked computer boot off the password reset disk,  head over to the computer’s BIOS and make some changes: Set CD-ROM as the 1st boot device if you need to boot the computer from CD/DVD; or set Removable Device as the 1st boot device if you want to boot from USB stick.

Step 3: Reset Windows Server 2003 Password

1. Insert the password reset disk you’ve created into your locked computer. Restart the computer. You’ll notice the boot screen is not the same as usual because it is loading from the password reset disk now.
2. It takes a while to load some necessary files and launch the Reset Windows Password utility. On the main screen of Reset Windows Password utility, you can see the Windows SAM database file and a list of Windows local accounts on Windows Server 2003.
   
   There are two recovery options: Reset Local Admin/User Password and Reset Active Directory Password. If you forgot local user account passwords or Directory Services Restore Mode password, please choose the Reset Local Admin/User Password option; Or choose the Reset Active Directory Password option if you want to reset domain administrator password on Windows 2003 domain controller.
   
   Here we’re going to reset Windows local administrator password, so we choose the first option.
   
3. Choose a user account whose password you forgot, then click Reset Password button. The program will reset your forgotten password and unlock the user account if necessary.
4. Remove the password reset disk and restart the computer.

Now you’ve reset the forgotten Windows Server 2003 password. You can then successfully log on and regain full control over your computer.  With this password reset CD, you’ll never be bothered by a forgotten Windows Server 2003 password!