retrieve / recover sa password

  • Hi all!

    We just finished installing our new server with SQL Server 2005.

    One of our older applications is apparently using the sa login to connect to on of the databases on the server. Not only that, the password is hard coded

    As no one knows the actual sa password on the old server (SQL 2000) is there a way to retrieve / recover /transfer the sa password to the new server?

    Thanks,

    Yoel

     

  • If you can do a packet trace, that's the easiest way. Otherwise you'd need a tool like SQLCrack or SQL Squirrel (from NGS Software) on the old server. If you can get a packet trace from your network guys when the application logs in, you can find the password fairly easily (assuming no encryption is going on for the connection):

    An article I wrote takes you through the process of decrypting the password step-by-step:

    SQL Server Security: Login Weaknesses

    If you want to see the original references that detailed the weakness and how to utilize it, see the references at the bottom of the article.

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • Did you try SA with a blank password or SA with sa password?

    Are you sure that nobody actually knows the SA password for the server?

    Did you run the profiler to make sure that it is SA who is logging to the database?

    What is the application code? Is it a web application, VB application? MS ACCESS? Excel? I actually know how to get the password from the Excel front end in some cases.

    Did you search the server folders for the file with the word "password" ? Some developers and sysadmins document their work and the installation description or maintenance document could be actually present on the server. Also, there could be a configuration file in the application directory that contains the connection string.

    Did you actually try to locate the previous support person and call him or her?

    Regards,Yelena Varsha

  • I tried BKellys advice and it worked great! SQLCrack gave me the password in less than 5 mintues.

    Thanks all for your help!

    Yoel

     

  • 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.

  • amjadpathan, while I'm sure your intentions are good, you do know you've responded to a thread that's been dormant for 30 months, don't you?

    -- You can't be late until you show up.

  • tosscrosby (7/17/2008)


    amjadpathan, while I'm sure your intentions are good, you do know you've responded to a thread that's been dormant for 30 months, don't you?

    Good reply.

    SQL DBA.

  • It's never too late to post something. Here I am in 2012, reading these. And running SQL Server 2000 too!

  • 2013 and this thread is still working for those who still use SQL Server 2000

  • Hey,

    If you want recover your SA account password in SQL server then there are two manual ways by which you can recover. Both the methods are very easy but require little technical knowledge. You can perform these methods by following steps given in this link: http://belanalavade.blog.com/2014/04/22/simple-manual-techniques-to-recover-lost-sa-password-in-microsoft-sql-server/

    Helpful blog post to recover your lost password.

    Thanks.

  • Open the SQL Server Management Studio.

    Open a New Query.

    Copy, paste, and execute the following:

    GO

    ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH DEFAULT_DATABASE=[master]

    GO

    USE [master]

    GO

    ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH PASSWORD=N'NewPassword' MUST_CHANGE

    GO

    where NewPassword is the password you wish to use for the sa account.

    SSMS Expert

  • 🙂 hopefully this will help

    SSMS Expert

  • Basically there are two ways to recover SQL SA password: either by creating a new SA account using SQLCMD or configure SQL Server by User mode. This processes involve some basic steps to implement it. Fore reference, you can read the solution from this post - http://sonikarawat.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/simple-manual-techniques-to-recover-lost-sa-password-in-microsoft-sql-server/

  • USEFUL Post

  • This was removed by the editor as SPAM

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