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Resetting Windows Administrator Password

Follow these steps to reset your Windows server password:

  1. Put your Windows VPS into Rescue Mode.
  2. Open the Server Console (refer to this article for help with accessing your server).
  3. Select "Troubleshoot" (see screenshot).
  4. Select "Command Prompt" (see screenshot).
  5. In CMD, enter the following (see screenshot):
    • c:
    • cd Windows\System32
    • move utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
    • copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
    • net user administrator /active:yes
    • shutdown -r -t 0
  6. Leave Rescue Mode.
  7. While the server is rebooting, press and hold the F8 key to bring up the Boot Menu, and select "Safe Mode" from the options. After the server finishes starting, unlock the home login screen and click on the Ease of Access button (see screenshot). This should execute the Command Prompt. Enter this command to set new password (see screenshot):
    • net user administrator your-new-password
    • exit
  8. Your new password has been set. However, you need to rollback your changes with utilman.exe. Repeat steps 1 to 4 and enter the following in CMD to rollback utilman.exe (see screenshot):
    • c:
    • cd Windows\System32
    • del utilman.exe ren utilman.exe.bak utilman.exe
    • shutdown -r -t 0
  9. Leave Rescue Mode. After the server reboots, on the home login screen, you should now be able to login with your new password.

Figure 1

Choose an Option

Figure 2

Advanced Options

Figure 3

Command Prompt

Figure 4

Ease of Access Button

Figure 5

Your New Password

Figure 6

Restoring utilman.exe