We have lost the administrator password of a Windows Server 2003 machine which is used in our lab.
Is there any way to reset or recover the password without reinstalling Windows?
Administrator Password lost for a Win 2003 Server machine
passwordwindows-server-2003
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Best Answer
There is a linux live CD that contains an utility for changing the password. I managed to reset my lost administrator password that way. Here is the link: http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/
Edit: if the server is a domain controller (i.e. you are not able to log in to "local machine") you can always login as "local" admin in domain recovery mode (accesible by pressing F8 during startup), there is a step-by-step guide how to reset W2k3 domain admin password here: http://www.petri.co.il/reset_domain_admin_password_in_windows_server_2003_ad.htm