Locksmith from Winternals works really well.

http://winternals.com/products/repairandrecovery/locksmith.asp

Andre A.

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Ritchey [mailto:rritchey (at) eods (dot) com [email concealed]]
Sent: August 13, 2004 5:56 PM
To: focus-ms (at) securityfocus (dot) com [email concealed]
Subject: Windows 2000 Administrator lockout

Hello All,

The network that I have is rather small. 1 server, and 4 workstations.
I inherited the systems. There has been no administrator working there
for a little over a year. What administrator that was there, was very
much non-technical.

When the network was built whoever built the server installed everything
they possibly could. This system now how few main functions:
1. File server
2. Internet Gateway
3. Symantec Virus manager

Nobody knows any of the passwords for anything on the system. Any of
the passwords that are in use are not allowed administrator access. I
do mean for anything! I can't even get Symantec to update virus
signatures, as I do not have a password to do the update with. The
signature is like 2003 date.

It is just very frustrating!

I am looking for options, before I have to go and reformat and rebuild.
This would in some ways make life simpler, there are wrinkles in that
all of there operational data and other services are on the server. We
are currently moving foreword with a plan to rebuild. This will happen;
I would rather pick the time to do it. Rather than have it forced on
me.

Does anyone know of any other way to take control of this machine and
network.

Thanks for your time and any ideas will be appreciated.

Robert Ritchey

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