How to Reset SQL Server Password Quickly

As a database administrator, I guess many people would have the same problems like me. We would forget our administrator password when didn't operate with it for a few days, such as come back from a long holiday. And as we all know, the database administrator password is so important for us, we would lose the precious user data in such circumstance.

That's totally not what we expect, we need to recover the lost password, we hope there is some tool could help us solve the headache problem. Finally I find a cure for this.

Install the password unlocker tool

Search in the google and download the SQL Server Password Unlocker to our PC, install it like other program.

Import the Master.mdf file

After installation, open the tool by double click the icon on your desktop, Click the Open button to import the file of master.mdf. 

Note: As different MS SQL Server version would have different location for the master.mdf, you need to find it firstly. As for me(MS SQL Server 2005), the master.mdf is under \Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\master.mdf.

Select the account you want to reset

After import the master.mdf file, all the user names of your MS SQL Server will be displayed. There are two kinds of MS SQL Server password will displayed on the table.

Unknown means you have a password for the user name, maybe you lost it.

Empty means you do not have a password for the user name, you can login the account without password.

Simply select the SA account(which is the Super Administrator account) or other account need to reset. 

Reset the New Password

After select the account, click the "Change Passowrd" button and there would be a popup window comes out, input your new password in it and click "OK" button. OK, Done! You could use the new created password to login SQL Server.