Get yourself a copy of ERD Commander. It has a function that will allow you
to boot off a floppy and reset the administrator password without actually
having to authenticate under the context of local or domain administrator
(assuming that this is not a DC but merely a stand alone or member server).
I believe there is trialware for the product.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Martin L. Drury Jr. [SMTP:mdruryads-corp.com]
> Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 1:05 PM
> To: focus-mssecurityfocus.com
> Subject: Retrieving NT 4 Administrator password
>
> Hello all,
> First, if this is not the appropriate place for this, my apologies.
>
> I'm in need of a little bit of help. Roughly 4 years ago, while
> working
> for a non-profit community network, I set up an NT 4.0 based LAN (no
> internet access) for a Library. There were two accounts that had
> Administrative access, mine, and the Administrator. Under normal
> operations, no one was ever logged into the server, and the accounts used
> by
> the workstations did not have administrative access.
>
> Now, 4 years later, they needed to update some software that is
> installed
> on the server, and apparently no one remembers the Administrator account
> password (they said they had it written down, but apparently they didn't,
> all they managed to do was lock themselves out of the account). I have
> long
> since forgotten the password I used (given enough tries, I'm sure I could
> remember it, but well, I don't want to lock out my account as well). Is
> there an easy way to retrieve/reset the administrator password without
> damaging the data stored on the server?
>
> I believe at most the machine has SP3 installed on it. The copy of
> NT was
> installed off of a Back Office CD, but I don't recall whether or not it
> had
> Service Packs or not. All the information I had concerning the machine
> was
> given to the non-profit when I left there 3 years ago, and since then,
> they
> have conviently lost it. Any pointers anyone could give me on what steps
> I
> need to take would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance,
>
> Martin L. Drury Jr.
> Advance Data Systems, Inc.
> 502-228-3396 x117
> mdruryads-corp.com
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