Windows Server 2003 R2 Reset Activation

  • Windows Server 2003 Standard R2 Activation crack. This is an article from the official Dell Support Knowledge Base and contains information and troubleshooting assistance for.
  • Windows 2003 R2 are activated indeed. However, the activation period still exists and, once expired, you get a 'Windows are not activated. Click Yes to activate Windows, No to logoff, Cancel to shutdown' message.
  • To force Windows to attempt an online activation, run the following command. If you’re using a retail edition of Windows, this will force Windows to attempt online activation with Microsoft’s servers. If the system is set up to use a KMS activation server, it will instead attempt activation with the KMS server on the local network.
  • An admin wants to know if there is a way to change the activation code for a Windows Server 2003.
  • Windows Server 2003 may need to be separately activated. (Volume and OEM versions of Window Server 2003 do not require activation.) It is also important to note that the KMS service for Windows Server 2003 and the corresponding KMS key only support the activation of volume editions of the Windows Vista operating system.

'unfortunately We have lost the administrator password on a Windows Server 2003 computer which is always used in our school. Is there any way to recover the lost local admin password without reinstalling system?' - A customer.

Windows Server 2003 or any other Windows server version is the most favorite operating system for all the users who likes to work VPNs and other routing networks. The clashes with IP tables and protocols are actually protected in Windows Server 2003, so you won't have setting up your own virtual networks. Like any other Windows operating system, you can and you should protect your system with a lock screen password so that no intruders or trespassers can hack into your account. Now, if you are protecting your computer with very secure strong passwords then there's no wonder that you might end up misplacing your password and lock yourself out. This can be a disastrous moment considering all the important apps and software installed inside your computer will be inaccessible if you don't remember your password.

SLMgr Commands and Options for Windows Product Key / KMS / Token / AD Activation. SLMgr.vbs can also be used to input or change 25-character product key that determines which Windows OS edition allowed to install and activate, and which also tells the Setup program whether you’ve purchased a full or upgrade license. To activate online or against KMS server, users or Windows GUI need to make use of the SLMgr module too.

Thankfully, you can easily reset your Windows Server 2003 local and domain administrator password by following the solutions shared in this guide.

Method 1: Try to Re-install Windows Server 2003

Windows Server 2003 R2 Reset Activation Key

If you have a complete backup of your computer then you can easily remove the password from your computer by formatting the primary hard disk and install the operating system all over again. This would totally get rid of the password but please keep in mind that all the data and applications will be removed from the primary disk as well.

Step 1. Insert the bootable disc to your Windows 2003. Reboot the system and wait for the Windows to load its files on the startup screen. ws Server 2003 disc on your locked computer.

Step 2. Reboot the system and wait for the Windows to load its files on the startup screen.

Step 3. Check where to install the operating system and hit 'Install Now'.

Step 4. It may take some time to install the operating system and remember not to turn of your PC during the process to avoid any disturbance.

Cons –

  • All unsaved documents and apps will be lost.
  • Not recommended method.
  • This method has no any graphical interfaces which might not be good for most of new users.

Don't miss: How to Reset Windows 10 Password without reset disc.


Method 2: Reset Password on Windows Server 2003 With Ophcrack

Ophcrack is an old password recovery tool that can actually recover simple passwords by running brute force simulation attacks. Please remember, it can only crack up to 6 characters passwords and works perfectly with all Windows Server operating systems.

Step 1. Download the ISO image of Ophcrack from its official website and burn the file on a USB driver.

Step 2. Use the bootable flash drive on your protected PC and Ophcrack should appear on the main screen.

Step 3. Select 'Ophcrack Graphical Mode – Automatic' and press Enter.

Step 4. Ophcrack will now start the brute force attack to crack your password and it may take several hours depending on the strength of your password. Once it is cracked, your password will appear on the main interface of the program.

Cons –

  • Outdated tool and cannot crack passwords more than 6 words. and quite time-consuming.
  • Doesn't work with latest Windows 8 and Windows 10.
  • 649MB / 425MB LiveCD ISO image must be downloaded.
  • Some antivirus programs mistakenly identify Ophcrack as a Trojan or virus.

Also Read: How to reset Administrator domain password on Windows Server 2008

Method 3: Bypass Windows Server 2003 with Password Recovery Tool

Apparently, the above methods have its certain limitations that are hard to overcome. Luckily, we are saving the best solution for the last. In this part, we will be taking help from iSeePassword Windows Password Recovery (Advanced Version) to reset Windows Server 2003 administrator password without losing any data and reinstalling system. The program is widely used for unlocking password protected Windows computers even if you can't remember your password. Basically, it helps to reset Windows lock screen password by creating password reset disk with USB thumb drive and CD/DVD. It also can reset Microsoft Account passwords as well. Exclusively available with the advanced version.

Top Features of iSeePassword Windows Password Recovery Advanced
  • Unlock any kind of Windows computer with just 3 simple steps without losing data.
  • Two ways to create bootable reset disk with CD/DVD or USB flash drive.
  • Reset local, administrator and guest account passwords.
  • Perfectly compatible with all Windows versions such as Windows 7/8/10/98/95/2000/NT and also with Windows 2003/2008/2012/2016.

1Download and Install Windows Password Recovery on Another Working Computer

Borrow a Windows computer or laptop from anyone and install the Windows password recovery tool on their computer. It's just because you can't access your PC right now. Launch the tool and plug in a USB thumb drive. (Preferably with at least 1 GB)

2Create a Bootable Password Reset Disk

Click on 'Burn USB' from the main interface of the program, it will take a few seconds to burn and will show a 'Burning Successfully' in the a box. Then your USB drive has now become a bootable password reset disk.

3Insert the USB to Your Locked Windows 2003 Computer and Boot PC from USB

Insert the newly-created USB reset disk to your locked Windows Server computer. To make your PC is boot from USB. You need make to some settings in BIOS. You need to change the BIOS boot order so the USB device option is listed first. Reboot your computer and type Del, F12, F2 or other certain keyboard to enter into BIOS settings.

4Start to Reset Your Password, then Reboot Your Computer

After settings USB as the first boot order in the BIOS, then reboot your computer. Wait for the program to appear on the monitor then choose the username that you wish to unlock. Next, hit on 'Reset Password' and then simply reboot your PC.


All Set! Your computer is now unlocked, you may now access it normally.

Conclusion

Windows Server 2003 is rather an older operating system that might be hard to unlock if you don't know the right tricks. Thankfully, iSeePassword Windows Password Recovery Advanced can actually reset your computer password without effecting any data inside your PC. No need to take your computer to any repair center who may overcharge you but rather take charge yourself and unlock your PC with Windows Password Recovery program.

Dec.06, 2017 17:18:33 pm / Posted by Vicky Tiffany to Windows 7

Related Articles & Tips

Windows activation is designed to be as foolproof as possible, so Microsoft’s graphical tools keep it simple. If you want to do something more advanced like remove a product key, force an online activation, or extend the activation timer, you’ll need Slmgr.vbs.

This command line tool is included with Windows, and provides options unavailable in the standard activation interface provided on the Update & Security > Activation screen in the Settings app.

First: Open an Administrator Command Prompt Window

RELATED:How Does Windows Activation Work?

To use this tool, you’ll want to launch a Command Prompt with Administrator access. To do so on Windows 8 or 10, either right-click the Start button or press Windows+X. Click the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option in the menu that appears. On Windows 7, search the Start menu for “Command Prompt,” right-click it, and select “Run as Administrator.”

Note: If you see PowerShell instead of Command Prompt on the Power Users menu, that’s a switch that came about with the Creators Update for Windows 10. It’s very easy to switch back to showing the Command Prompt on the Power Users menu if you want, or you can give PowerShell a try. You can do pretty much everything in PowerShell that you can do in Command Prompt, plus a lot of other useful things.

View Activation, License, and Expiration Date Information

To display very basic license and activation information about the current system, run the following command. This command tells you the edition of Windows, part of the product key so you can identify it, and whether the system is activated.

To display more detailed license information–including the activation ID, installation ID, and other details–run the following command:

View the License Expiration Date

To display the expiration date of the current license, run the following command. This is only useful for Windows system activated from an organization’s KMS server, as retail licenses and multiple activation keys result in a perpetual license that won’t expire. If you haven’t provided a product key at all, it’ll give you an error message.

Uninstall the Product Key

You can remove the product key from your current Windows system with Slmgr. After you run the below command and restart your computer, the Windows system won’t have a product key and will be in an unactivated, unlicensed state.

If you installed Windows from a retail license and would like to use that license on another computer, this allows you to remove the license. It could also be useful if you’re giving that computer away to someone else. However, most Windows licenses are tied to the computer they came with–unless you purchased a boxed copy.

To remove uninstall the current product key, run the following command and then restart your computer:

Windows also stores the product key in the registry, as it’s sometimes necessary for the key to be in the registry when setting up the computer. If you’ve uninstalled the product key, you should run the below command to ensure it’s removed from the registry as well. This will ensure people who use the computer in the future can’t grab the product key.

Running this command alone won’t uninstall your product key. It’ll remove it from the registry so programs can’t access it from there, but your Windows system will remain licensed unless you run the above command to actually uninstall the product key. This option is really designed to prevent the key from being stolen by malware, if malware running on the current system gains access to the registry.

Set or Change the Product Key

You can use slmgr.vbs to enter a new product key. If the Windows system already has a product key, using the below command will silently replace the old product key with the one you provide.

Run the following command to replace the product key, replacing #####-#####-#####-#####-##### with the product key. The command will check the product key you enter to ensure it’s valid before using it. Microsoft advises you restart the computer after running this command.

You can also change your product key from the Activation screen in the Settings app, but this command lets you do it from the command line.

Activate Windows Online

To force Windows to attempt an online activation, run the following command. If you’re using a retail edition of Windows, this will force Windows to attempt online activation with Microsoft’s servers. If the system is set up to use a KMS activation server, it will instead attempt activation with the KMS server on the local network. This command can be useful if Windows didn’t activate due to a connection or server problem and you want to force it to retry.

Activate Windows Offline

Slmgr also allows you to perform an offline activation. To get an installation ID for offline activation, run the following command:

You’ll now need to get a a confirmation ID you can use to activate the system over the phone. Call the Microsoft Product Activation Center, provide the installation ID you received above, and you’ll be given an activation ID if everything checks out. This allows you to activate Windows systems without Internet connections.

To enter the confirmation ID you’ve received for offline activation, run the following command. Replace “ACTIVATIONID” with the activation ID you’ve received.

Windows Server 2003 R2 Reset Activation

Windows Server 2003 Activation Key

Once you’re done, you can use the slmgr.vbs /dli or slmgr.vbs /dlv commands to confirm you’re activated.

This can generally be done from the Activation screen in the Settings app if your PC isn’t activated–you don’t have to use the command if you’d rather use the graphical interface.

Extend the Activation Timer

RELATED:You Don’t Need a Product Key to Install and Use Windows 10

Windows 2003 R2 Activation

Some Windows systems provide a limited time where you can use them as free trials before entering a product key. For example, Windows 7 offers a 30-day trial period before it begins complaining at you. To extend this trial period and reset it back to 30 days remaining, you can use the following command.As Microsoft’s documentation puts it, this command “resets the activation timers.”

This command can only be used several times, so you can’t indefinitely extend the trial. The number of time it can be used depends on the “rearm count,” which you can view using the slmgr.vbs /dlv command. It seems different on different versions of Windows–it was three times on Windows 7, and it seems to be five times on Windows Server 2008 R2.

This no longer seems to work on Windows 10, which is very lenient if you don’t provide it a product key anyway. This option still works on older versions of Windows and may continue to work on other editions of Windows, such as Windows Server, in the future.

Slmgr.vbs Can Perform Actions on Remote Computers, Too

Slmgr normally performs the actions you specify on the current computer. However, you can also remotely administer computers on your network if you have access to them. For example, the first command below applies to the current computer, while the second one will be run on a remote computer. You’ll just need the computer’s name, username, and password.

The Slmgr.vbs command has other options, which are useful for dealing with KMS activation and token-based activation. Consult Microsoft’s Slmgr.vbs documentation for more details.

Windows Server 2003 R2 Reset Activation

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