How to reset administrator password on Windows Server 2019

This guide will help with resetting the Administrator’s password on Windows Server 2019

Requirements

• Before you start, you need to download Windows Server 2019 ISO:
  https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2019?filetype=ISO
• Please check our guide – How to access IPMI through VPN:
  https://console.clouvider.co.uk/index.php?cmd=knowledgebase&action=article&id=1
  If you don’t have access to VPN/IPMI to your server, please create a ticket with IPMI/VPN request and our engineers will be happy to create one for you.

Step 1 – Access IPMI #

Please follow the guide – How to access IPMI through VPN – Run Java Console and mount your Windows Server 2019 ISO

Step 2 – Enter Boot Menu with F11  #

Reboot your server, and with the F11 key, go to the boot menu:

Step 3 – Installation Window #

When the installation window opens, click Next to continue.

Step 4 – “Repair your computer” #

Select the “repair your computer” option.

Step 5 – “Troubleshoot” #

Select the “troubleshoot” option.

Step 6 – “Command Prompt” #

Select “command prompt”.

Step 7 – CMD #

Inside CMD please type:

d:
cd Windows
cd System32
move utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
net user administrator /active:yes
shutdown -r -t 0

Step 8 – New Password #

After server reboot, on the home login screen, please press the Win+U combination. Inside CMD window, please type:

net user Administrator your-new-password
exit

Step 9 – Rollback #

Your password has been reset. However, you need to rollback your changes with utilman.exe.
Just reboot your server, and repeat this guide. Inside CMD window in Windows Recovery mode, please type:

d:
cd Windows
cd System32
del utilman.exe ren utilman.exe.bak utilman.exe
shutdown -r -t 0