Sql Server Password Retrieve

itHighway · February 27th, 2006, 09:27 AM

Hello,

A few weeks back I installed sql server on my local mechine and entered a password for default user 'sa'.
But now, I forgot it's password. How can I retrieve or change the sql server password?

Any Idea..
Any Help...
Will really be appriciated....

Regards,
Zeeshan Ahmed

P.S: The sql server is installed on my local computer which has Windows 2003 Server.

SQLScott · February 27th, 2006, 11:00 PM

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that there is no way to retrieve the 'sa' password. However, the good news is that this is fixable without reinstalling, and it only takes a couple of steps. The first thing to do is to open up SQL Server Enterprise Manager and register the same server using Windows Authentication. Once the server has be registered, you can expand the Security node and open the properties of the sa account and change the 'sa' password.

Just a note: The windows account you register the SQL Server with must have admin privledges.

Hope this helps.

Scott

itHighway · February 27th, 2006, 11:43 PM

Hello Scott,

Thanks for quick response. Is there any possibility to change the password using some other option. I have all the admin privilages and have access to control panel options.

Regards,
ZA

SQLScott · February 28th, 2006, 09:49 AM

Not unless you have another SQL account that has admin priveledges and can log in with that account. Other than that, no.

Your only other alternative is to physically copy the databases you want to keep to another location (you might need to stop the SQL Server service to do this) then uninstall/reinstall SQL. Then reattach your databases.

Scott