Wondered how to reset your Windows Server 2008 / 2008R2 Administrator password password (or any other user) by using the Windows Server DVD?

Have no fear!  Instructions below...

1.   Have you Windows Server DVD ready in the drive
2.   If your system uses a RAID card that is not detected by Windows Server 2008, have those drivers handy (the .inf file along with the other files - not .zip or .exe files!) on a USB flash drive
3.   Reboot the server from the Windows Server installation DVD
4.   After selecting language etc, on the next screen where you would select "Install", look a bit further down.  There is an option for "Repair".  Select that.
5.   On the next screen, you should see you O/S in the list.  If not, you will need to load the RAID drivers.  Select "Load Drivers", insert the USB flash disk, then select your drivers.  Once installed, you will see your Windows Server installation in the list.  Select that one and click Next.  Note the drive letter!!!
6.   On the next screen, select "Command Prompt"

The Command prompt will now open.

7.   Change to the drive letter of your Windows Server installation as noted above (c:, enter)
8.   Change to c:\windows\system32 (cd c:\windows\system32, enter)
9.   Move Utilman.exe to Utilman.exe.bak (move Utilman.exe Utilman.exe.bak, enter)
10. Copy cmd.exe over Utilman.exe (copy cmd.exe Utilman.exe, enter)
11. Exit, then reboot your server normally

With your server restarted and at the login screen


12. Press CMD+U together.  You will now see the command prompt

13. Reset the desired user password (net user username newpassword)
14. Once reset, exit Command Prompt and log in with the new credentials.  Voila!

I leave that hack in place for future use by my clients if required.  Just make sure that physical access to the server is restricted if you are paranoid.