Unable to log on - Unknown Admin Password

[StDunstans]

Hi

To explain the situation, we currently have a Windows Storage Server 2003 R2
which has been reporting errors of ‘Windows cannot determine the user or
computer name’. This has been experienced previously and overcome by adding
the server to a Workgroup, rebooting, logging on to the server locally, then
reconnecting the server to the domain.
However, unfortunately the particular server in question was configured by a
contractor who, predictably, never gave us the local password. Therefore I
currently have a Storage Server which is no longer on our Windows 2000 domain
and which I am unable to log onto to reconnect to the domain. As i'm sure you
will agree it is a bit of a problem!

So my questions are:

a) is there any way to reconnect the server to the domain without logging on
locally?
b) if the answer to the above is no, what is the best way to recover the
local administrator password?
c) Any other suggestions?

I would be very grateful for any advice anyone could give me with this.

Many thanks

James

 

[Malke]

StDunstans wrote:
> Hi
>
> To explain the situation, we currently have a Windows Storage Server 2003 R2
> which has been reporting errors of ‘Windows cannot determine the user or
> computer name’. This has been experienced previously and overcome by adding
> the server to a Workgroup, rebooting, logging on to the server locally, then
> reconnecting the server to the domain.
> However, unfortunately the particular server in question was configured by a
> contractor who, predictably, never gave us the local password. Therefore I
> currently have a Storage Server which is no longer on our Windows 2000 domain
> and which I am unable to log onto to reconnect to the domain. As i'm sure you
> will agree it is a bit of a problem!
>
> So my questions are:
>
> a) is there any way to reconnect the server to the domain without logging on
> locally?
> b) if the answer to the above is no, what is the best way to recover the
> local administrator password?
> c) Any other suggestions?

No, you need the local administrator password. I'm not familiar with
"Storage Server" but see theses link for Server 2003:

http://www.jms1.net/nt-unlock.shtml - Unlocking WinNT/2k/2k3 domain
controllers
http://www.nobodix.org/seb/win2003_adminpass.html - Seb's page on
resetting domain admin. Win2k3 server


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Jon Holvoet]

I would say, get a copy of the SAM database, which can't be difficult since
you have physical access to the server, and either reset or crack the PW.
There are plenty of tools and whitepapers available for this.
Since I am fairly new to this particular newsgroup and have no idea if it's
allowed to give this information, I will not post direct links.

--

Jon Holvoet

"StDunstans" <StDunstans@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:841D488C-A9BF-4CA8-B71A-FF5EDD17681D@microsoft.com...
> Hi
>
> To explain the situation, we currently have a Windows Storage Server 2003
> R2
> which has been reporting errors of 'Windows cannot determine the user or
> computer name'. This has been experienced previously and overcome by
> adding
> the server to a Workgroup, rebooting, logging on to the server locally,
> then
> reconnecting the server to the domain.
> However, unfortunately the particular server in question was configured by
> a
> contractor who, predictably, never gave us the local password. Therefore I
> currently have a Storage Server which is no longer on our Windows 2000
> domain
> and which I am unable to log onto to reconnect to the domain. As i'm sure
> you
> will agree it is a bit of a problem!
>
> So my questions are:
>
> a) is there any way to reconnect the server to the domain without logging
> on
> locally?
> b) if the answer to the above is no, what is the best way to recover the
> local administrator password?
> c) Any other suggestions?
>
> I would be very grateful for any advice anyone could give me with this.
>
> Many thanks
>
> James
>