Is there a way to change the local administrator password while still on a domain?

You can perform that using user (local or domain one) that is member of the local admin group. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner 2010 / 2011 Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuring Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator

what?

He means that you login to the computer with an administrator account and then go into Control Panel -> Administrative tools -> Computer Management then go to local users and right click on the administrator account and change password. Let me know if anything is unclear. AleksandarMCITP

I do not have a local users section.

Hello, thanks Aleksadar for explanation. Run mmc and then add Local Users and Groups snap-in and then reset the password. Use a local admin to perform that. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner 2010 / 2011 Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuring Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator

Are you suggesting I do this while logged in locally? I cannot do that at this time. I have ran mmc and tried to add Local Users and Groups but the computer I am running is a DC and it will not let me add it. I'm sorry I should have explained that the local password that I want to change is on my DC server.

So, there is no local accounts on DCs. In DCs, there is only domain accounts. To reset them use dsa.msc. If you want to reset DSRM password:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322672 This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner 2010 / 2011 Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuring Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator

Setting up my server I had to create a local admin account. After that I added AD DC and became the domain. Once everything got situated I wanted to restructure my password scheme. I am running a database that is being used all the time and would prefer not shutting down, so I was wondering if there was a way to change the local admin password (the one I creatred when first setting up my server).

Hi, no once you promote the server as a DC all accounts are managed through ADUC. There are no local accounts as Mr X stated above. AleksandarMCITP

So If i were to transfer Dc to another server and remove all roles from this server and switch to a workgroup there will be no account on the server for me to log in? Sorry for all the questions I'm just clearing my head.

When you decommission a domain controller it will prompt you to enter a password for the admin account during the process. You can use that password for the admin account once the domain controller has been demoted.

Hello, If your server remains part of the domain but not as a domain controller you may still login using an account on the domain. If you want to change the password of local accounts on a domain computer, run the following commands on a elevated command prompt: net user (SERVERNAME)\Administrator (PASSWORD) Replace (SERVERNAME) and (PASSWORD) with your servers name, and the password you wish to set. Regards, Andrew

Thank you all for your help.