Sorry I do not have the DSRM password. I have heard stories like this one but it never happended to me. This really stinks! Whenever I left my postion for another I always provided the password or made myself available to the next admin, regardless of how the company and under what conditions I left. If I don't find somthing in the next day or two I will have to format and restart fresh. Thanks for all those that contributed above. Microsoft really should create somthing for situations like this. I'm sure it happens enough that it warrants a product.

Check the similar thread... How can I recover DC administrator pwd? http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverDS/thread/31074135-0494-49d6-a0e5-2161327e022e

I just took over for a Sys Admin he I have not idea what the Server 2008 R2 Admin password is. The Sys Admin left without telling anyone the password and no one has admin rights. Is there any software I can boot to CD like ERD or DART 6.5 that will walk me through resetting the password?

do you have directory service restore mode password?Darshana Jayathilake

Hello, refer to that: http://www.petri.co.il/reset_domain_admin_password_in_windows_2000_ad.htm Hope that at least you have the DSRM administrator password. 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 Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Trainer

to make your life easier better ask the previous admin. i don't think there's a third party software to help you out. if you have the DSRM password, then you're fine.Every second counts..make use of it.