Changing the administrator password on a Windows Server 2012 R2 is essential to enhance security and protect your system from unauthorized access. Whether you want to update the password due to security concerns, a forgotten password, or a new team member joining your organization, the process is relatively simple. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to change the administrator password on Windows Server 2012 R2.
Step 1: Press the "Ctrl + Alt + Del" keys simultaneously on the keyboard. This will bring up a menu with several options.
Step 2: From the menu, select "Change a password." This will open the "Change Password" window.
Step 3: In the "Change Password" window, enter your current password in the "Current password" field.
Step 4: Next, enter your new password in the "New password" field. Make sure to create a strong and secure password that includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Step 5: Re-enter your new password in the "Confirm new password" field to ensure it matches the password you entered in the previous step.
Step 6: Optionally, you can provide a password hint in the "Password hint" field. This hint can help you remember your password in case you forget it in the future. However, make sure the hint is not too obvious or easily guessable.
Step 7: Once you have entered all the required information, click on the "Change password" button to save the changes. If the new password meets the required security criteria, it will be successfully changed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Enhances security and protects your system from unauthorized access. | 1. If the new password is forgotten or lost, it may result in restricted access to the system. |
| 2. Allows you to regularly update passwords for better security practices. | 2. Changing the password frequently can lead to potential forgetfulness if not properly managed. |
| 3. Helps you maintain control and manage user access within your server environment. | 3. In case of forgotten or lost passwords, password recovery or resetting procedures may be required. |
Video Tutorial: What is the default Administrator password for Server 2012?
How to change administrator account in Windows Server 2012?
To change the administrator account in Windows Server 2012, follow these steps:
1. Log in to the Windows Server 2012 using an account with administrative privileges.
2. Open the "Server Manager" by clicking on the icon in the taskbar or by searching for it in the Start menu.
3. In the Server Manager window, click on the "Local Server" option from the left-hand side menu.
4. On the right-hand side, you will see various details about the server. Look for the "Properties" section and click on the "Change" link next to the "Computer name" field.
5. The System Properties window will open. In the System Properties window, click on the "Change" button next to the "To rename this computer or join a domain, click Change" option.
6. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes window, select the "Workgroup" radio button if you want to change the administrator account to a local account or select the "Domain" radio button if you want to change it to a domain account.
7. If you selected the "Workgroup" option, enter a new name for your computer in the "Workgroup" field. If you selected the "Domain" option, enter the domain name in the appropriate field.
8. Click the "OK" button to apply the changes.
9. Windows will prompt you to restart the server to complete the process. Save any open files or documents and click on the "OK" button to restart the server.
10. After the restart, you will need to log in to the new administrator account you have set up.
By following these steps, you can successfully change the administrator account in Windows Server 2012.
How to rename domain administrator account in Windows Server 2012 R2?
To rename the domain administrator account in Windows Server 2012 R2, follow these steps:
1. Log in to the Windows Server with an account that has administrative privileges.
2. Open the "Active Directory Users and Computers" management console by clicking on "Start," selecting "Administrative Tools," and then choosing "Active Directory Users and Computers."
3. In the left pane of the "Active Directory Users and Computers" window, expand the domain tree and navigate to the "Users" container.
4. Locate the domain administrator account that you want to rename in the right pane.
5. Right-click on the domain administrator account and select "Rename" from the context menu.
6. Type the new desired name for the domain administrator account and press Enter.
7. A dialog box will appear, asking if you want to click "Yes" to update the name everywhere it appears in the Active Directory. Confirm by clicking "Yes."
8. Close the "Active Directory Users and Computers" management console.
9. Restart the server for the changes to take effect.
Following these steps will allow you to rename the domain administrator account in Windows Server 2012 R2 without any issues. Make sure to consider the implications of changing the account name and update any necessary documentation or scripts that reference the old name.
How to reset your forgotten domain admin password on server 2012 R2?
Resetting a forgotten domain admin password on Server 2012 R2 requires following a few steps. Here’s a guide on how to do it from a professional perspective:
1. Restart the server: Begin by restarting the server and booting it into the Advanced Boot Options screen. To do this, you can press the F8 key repeatedly during the startup process until the screen appears.
2. Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt: From the Advanced Boot Options screen, select the "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" option using the arrow keys. Press Enter to proceed.
3. Access Command Prompt: After the server finishes booting into Safe Mode, log in using the administrator account if prompted. This will open the Command Prompt window.
4. Identify the correct drive letter: To ensure you work with the correct drive letter, type the command "wmic logicaldisk get caption" in the Command Prompt and press Enter. Look for the drive letter associated with your operating system.
5. Access Utilman.exe and CMD.exe backups: Enter the appropriate commands to navigate to the System32 directory by typing the drive letter identified in the previous step followed by ":\Windows\System32" (e.g., C:\Windows\System32) and pressing Enter. Once in the directory, rename "Utilman.exe" to "Utilman.exe.bak" by executing the command "ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.bak" and press Enter. Then, copy "cmd.exe" and rename the copy to "Utilman.exe" by typing the commands: "copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe" and press Enter.
6. Restart the server: Restart the server by typing the command "wpeutil reboot" and press Enter. This will initiate a reboot.
7. Log in to Windows: Once the login screen appears, click on the "Ease of Access" icon located in the bottom-right corner. This will open Command Prompt since we replaced Utilman.exe with CMD.exe.
8. Reset the domain admin password: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command: "net user [your username] [new password]" and press Enter. Replace "[your username]" with the appropriate domain admin username and "[new password]" with the desired password.
9. Verify the password reset: Close the Command Prompt window and log in using the newly set password to ensure it was successfully changed.
Note: It’s important to emphasize that these steps should only be performed on your own systems for which you have proper authorization. Resetting passwords on systems you don’t own or without proper authorization is illegal and unethical.
How do I change my Windows Server administrator password?
To change your Windows Server administrator password, you can follow these steps:
1. Log in to the Windows Server with an existing administrative account.
2. Press the "Ctrl+Alt+Delete" keys simultaneously and click on "Change a password" from the options menu.
3. Type in your current password and then enter the new password you want to use. Make sure to create a strong password that includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
4. Retype the new password in the confirmation field to confirm it is correct.
5. Click on the "OK" or "Change password" button to save the changes.
6. You will receive a confirmation message informing you that your password has been successfully changed.
It’s worth mentioning that for security purposes, it is advisable to change passwords regularly and avoid using easily guessable information, such as personal details or dictionary words. Additionally, it is essential to remember your new password or keep it securely stored to prevent unauthorized access to your Windows Server account.
What is the default admin password for Windows Server 2012 R2?
As a tech blogger, I can provide you with information regarding the default admin password for Windows Server 2012 R2. Here are the steps you can take to find or set the default admin password:
1. During the installation process: When setting up Windows Server 2012 R2, you should have been prompted to set an Administrator password. It is recommended to set a strong and unique password during the installation process.
2. Lost password: In case you have forgotten or lost the Administrator password, you can try the following methods:
a. Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS): LAPS is a Microsoft tool that allows organizations to manage local account passwords. If your system is managed by LAPS, you can request the Administrator password through the appropriate channels in your organization.
b. Third-party password recovery tools: There are various third-party tools available that can help you recover or reset the Administrator password. However, the use of such tools may have security implications, so proceed with caution and ensure that you are using a reputable tool from a trusted source.
3. Resetting the password: If you have physical access to the server and need to reset the Administrator password, you can follow these steps:
a. Boot the server from a Windows Server installation media or a bootable USB drive.
b. Choose the appropriate language and keyboard layout, and click "Next".
c. Click on "Repair your computer" instead of installing Windows.
d. Select "Troubleshoot" and then "Command Prompt".
e. In the Command Prompt, run the following commands:
"`
copy C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe C:\
copy /y C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe
"`
f. Close the Command Prompt and restart your server.
g. At the login screen, press the "Shift" key five times to open a Command Prompt.
h. In the Command Prompt window, enter the command to reset the Administrator password, such as:
"`
net user Administrator NewPassword123
"`
i. Close the Command Prompt window and log in using the newly set password.
Please note that it’s essential to take appropriate security measures to safeguard your server and its password, and always follow the best practices recommended by Microsoft and other cybersecurity experts.