STH How To: Reset Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Password
This is a how to guide for resetting a lost Windows Server 2012 Administrator password without downloading any potentially dangerous 3rd party software.
Unlike some other methods, we are completing this guide on a system in a remote data center. No physical access to the machine is required.
We are using an evaluation Windows Server 2012 ISO directly from Microsoft’s Evaluation center as boot media.
The commands you will need upon booting to the repair/ troubleshooting command line are:
copy d:windowssystem32sethc.exe d:windowssystem32sethc-old.exe
copy d:windowssystem32cmd.exe d:windowssystem32sethc.exe
After you reset the password, if you cannot use a command (via administrator command prompt) such as:
copy c:windowssystem32sethc-old.exe c:windowssystem32sethc.exe
Then you will re-boot to the repair command prompt and use the command:
copy d:windowssystem32sethc-old.exe d:windowssystem32sethc.exe
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