Reset Windows 2008 R2 administrator password

This is the old trick of overwriting any app accessible at login screen (e.g. screen saver) with a command shell to reset the password


In this case I am going to use the "Utility Manager", that little accessibility button at the lower left corner that says in the tooltip: Ease of access

I first booted from the Windows 2008 R2 setup cd to launch System Repair, you can use Linux or any bootable cd that will give you write access to the NTFS file system. All you need to do is a couple of rename and copy operations.

Lanch System Repair and choose your windows installation

Browse to your System32 directory and run the following

ren Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.bak
copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe

Next restart and boot your windows instead of the cd.
At the login screen click the accessibility button or press Win+U

Now you have a command shell with SYSTEM privileges, reset the password with the net user command.

net user administrator eshta!

That's it.
Login and don't forget to restore the original Utilman.exe back