What is the default administrator password?

security windows-server-2003

63,303

Solution 1

The correct password is Evaluation1. Just look in the readme file

Solution 2

You haven't put any work into modifying the system, so just start over. You'll probably spend more time trying to find a password solution than just reinstalling the OS.

As an aside, I suggest making a copy of your virtual disk after a fresh working install, so you don't have to actually install if you do want a fresh machine.

Solution 3

Free password recovery tools:

Windows Password recovery - Can retrieve forgotten admin and users' passwords in minutes. Safest possible option, does not write anything to hard drive.
Petter Nordahl-Hagen's Offline NT Password & Registry Editor - A great boot CD/Floppy that can reset the local administrator's password. See the FAQ for more info.
Openwall's John the Ripper - Good boot floppy with cracking capabilities.
EBCD – Emergency Boot CD - Bootable CD, intended for system recovery in the case of software or hardware faults.

But as others have said, you have nothing invested in this install -- easier to just blow it away and start over.

Solution 4

During the Windows Server 2003 installation process you are required to enter an Administrator password. If the installation was interrupted part way through, I suggest that you just re-install it.

Solution 5

you could always use ERDCommander from Microsoft to 'reset' the administrator password, it is a free program and works great.

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63,303

Author by

Jason Baker

I'm a developer on Google's Cloud Console.

Updated on June 23, 2022

Comments

Jason Baker less than a minute

Sorry if this is an overly simplistic question, but I'm a bit stuck here.

I need a Windows machine for me to do some programming for class. Since I have my Macbook with me everywhere I go, I figured that it would be easiest to install a VM. Since I can get a copy of Windows Server 2k3 for free via dreamspark, I thought I'd try to do that.

Here's what happened though: I installed Windows Server (disk one). When the system booted up, VMware automatically installed VMWare tools and prompted me to restart. There was also a prompt to start the installation of disc 2, but I figured it would be better to restart before doing that.

When the machine came back up, I was prompted to log in as the administrator. The problem is that I wasn't prompted to make an administrator account or password. Is there a default password I can use? I've tried all the obvious ones (blank, password, etc) and Googling, but I didn't come up with anything.
- Powerlord over 13 years
  
  This is old now, but since it was just bumped... Dreamspark now has Server 2008.
BCS almost 14 years

I've been playing with MS's VirtualPC and they have a "difference virtual HDD" thing that lets you leave the old VHDD alone and only store what you change. It would be smaller than a full copy.
Gulzar almost 14 years

can you pls provide a link?
Admin over 13 years

google.it/…
Admin almost 12 years

Evaluation1 worked for me in setting up the Win2k3 image I grabbed from vmware. Thanks.