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HELP! Lost Administrator password

Question
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Help! I installed WHS on a test machine over the weekend just to get it set up. I then powered it down until I could get some things set up on my PCs before installing the client software. I turned on WHS machine this evening and found that it won't accept the Administrator password.
Should I just bite the bullet and re-install the software again? Will I get to use the activation code I had used, or will I need a new activation code?
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 3:39 AM
Answers
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Bite the bullet and re-install, if you use it on the same hardware you should be able to use the same code.
Remember your password, or write it down someplace.Wednesday, March 14, 2007 6:40 AM -
You will have to re-install. If you have not yet activated WHS, you can re-use your product key. If you have activated, you'll need to obtain a new product key. I believe you can get up to 5 keys.Wednesday, March 14, 2007 2:46 PMModerator
All replies
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Bite the bullet and re-install, if you use it on the same hardware you should be able to use the same code.
Remember your password, or write it down someplace.Wednesday, March 14, 2007 6:40 AM -
You will have to re-install. If you have not yet activated WHS, you can re-use your product key. If you have activated, you'll need to obtain a new product key. I believe you can get up to 5 keys.Wednesday, March 14, 2007 2:46 PMModerator
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I have had to use WindowsKey for client machines. I have not used it with WHS but I have used it with Server2003 so it should work. It works with all flavors of Windows. Check it out here: http://www.lostpassword.com/windows-xp-2000-nt.htm
But, I would just re-install if at all possible unless you just can't and have the money for the program, but it does work great.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 6:31 PM -
Ken Warren wrote: You will have to re-install. If you have not yet activated WHS, you can re-use your product key. If you have activated, you'll need to obtain a new product key. I believe you can get up to 5 keys. It's 4 keys, I believe.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 7:24 PM -
Here is a free alternative. I have used it many, many times on Win 2000 and Win XP, but have never tried it with W2k3 Server.
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
It is actually Linux that gets into the SAM files. Works well and is free. :)
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 11:50 PM -
Did you change the name of the admin account??? I did, and I found I was unable to open the WHS console from a remote computer. I could log in to the console via Remote Desktop, but the WHS console would not open from a workstation. I changed the account name back to administrator, and voila! the WHS console opens just fine from my workstation. It's considered a good security practice to rename standard accounts...that shouldn't break the WHS console...Thursday, March 15, 2007 1:05 AM