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Format command as code and add link to the PsExec download.
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edit approved Aug 2, 2016 at 15:22
James Skemp
edit approved Aug 2, 2016 at 15:22
James Skemp
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Here is another workaround:

  1. Run the SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. This can be done easily with the PsExec program. Download PsExec from SysinternalsPsExec from Sysinternals website. Extract the PsExec.exe program and save it to a folder on your computer such as C:.

  2. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the following command:

    C:\PsExec.exe -s -i "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tool\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"C:\PsExec.exe -s -i "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tool\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"

  3. It will start SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. You’ll see that the username is shown as "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM". Simply choose the Windows Authentication mode and click on the Connect button.

  4. Once you connect, you can reset SA password with ease.

If this also doesn't work, the last resort is try some third-party software such as SQL Server Password Changer, or reinstall your SQL Server.

Here is another workaround:

  1. Run the SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. This can be done easily with the PsExec program. Download PsExec from Sysinternals website. Extract the PsExec.exe program and save it to a folder on your computer such as C:.

  2. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the following command:

    C:\PsExec.exe -s -i "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tool\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"

  3. It will start SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. You’ll see that the username is shown as "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM". Simply choose the Windows Authentication mode and click on the Connect button.

  4. Once you connect, you can reset SA password with ease.

If this also doesn't work, the last resort is try some third-party software such as SQL Server Password Changer, or reinstall your SQL Server.

Here is another workaround:

  1. Run the SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. This can be done easily with the PsExec program. Download PsExec from Sysinternals website. Extract the PsExec.exe program and save it to a folder on your computer such as C:.

  2. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the following command:

    C:\PsExec.exe -s -i "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tool\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"

  3. It will start SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. You’ll see that the username is shown as "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM". Simply choose the Windows Authentication mode and click on the Connect button.

  4. Once you connect, you can reset SA password with ease.

If this also doesn't work, the last resort is try some third-party software such as SQL Server Password Changer, or reinstall your SQL Server.

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user37727
user37727
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  • 1
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Here is another workaround:

  1. Run the SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. This can be done easily with the PsExec program. Download PsExec from Sysinternals website. Extract the PsExec.exe program and save it to a folder on your computer such as C:.

  2. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run the following command:

    C:\PsExec.exe -s -i "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tool\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"

  3. It will start SQL Server Management Studio as the system account. You’ll see that the username is shown as "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM". Simply choose the Windows Authentication mode and click on the Connect button.

  4. Once you connect, you can reset SA password with ease.

If this also doesn't work, the last resort is try some third-party software such as SQL Server Password Changer, or reinstall your SQL Server.