Administrator account disabled in SBS 2008 but password is now kn

I have a 240 day evaluation set for Small Business Server 2008 meant for
demonstrating to a very high value customer. First installed in late December
2008 but then this customer was not ready. Did not try to log in again until
mid March when the customer showed some interest but I had forgotten the
passwords for both my user account and the Administrator account. Did not
realize that excessive failed attempts to log in could cause accounts to be
disabled. I believe both accounts were disabled then but as the customer
quickly put this project on the back burner again I did not worry too much.
Now that the customer is hot on this I have made a very serious attempt to
log back in and finish up the server installation and to install Exchange,
etc.

I finally figured out the password for the Administrator account and used it
to get into Safe mode with networking through which I am submitting this post
now. However, I can now see that this is a catastrophe- I can not get a
successful log into normal mode with the same password that worked in safe
mode but instead I get an account disabled message. I have tried everything I
can think of to reenable the Administrator account when I am in safe mode. I
get messages to the effect that the domain controller can not be located and
there are no users defined. The Server service is disabled. I can not create
a new user account either. I am debating whether my real problem is a
disabled Administrator account or an expired evaluation period. I get access
denied when I try to run the VB script to extend the evaluation period. Is
there any way to log into normal mode so I can get this install of SBS 2008
working again at least through the July 4th weekend after which the client
wants to make a decision on a new Server that would be his inhouse mail
server or will I need to reinstall from the beginning? If I start all over it
may lessen the likelihood that I will meet his time requirements. First his
foot dragging precipitated my forgetting the passwords and now when I'm stuck
he wants to move fast.

 

If you have little setup on it (the new install that is), it's surely a
*relatively* trivial task to start over with a fresh install again. No?

 

I think it may have expired. If in December, then that would be 6 months
now. Are you sure in late December? When did you complete the install?

Safe Mode has limited functionality. Most things won't run. I agree with
Duncan that you may as well go ahead and reinstall it. After all, you said
Exchange and other things were not installed yet, correct?

When does the customer expect you to demo it? Not tomorrow, I hope?

--
Ace

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and
confers no rights.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSA Messaging, MCT
Microsoft Certified Trainer


For urgent issues, you may want to contact Microsoft PSS directly. Please
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"Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right
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http://twitter.com/acefekay

 

I have decided to follow the advice of Duncan and Ace to reinstall from the
beginning. Actually Exchange had been installed but not set up yet to demo.
No matter, since none of the three posts gave me any clue as to how to
recover and only one concluded the troubles were due to expiration but no
means were offered to get it extended. Russ only questioned how I was using
the server. I clearly stated there were no production accounts on it but it
was to be used to demo for a mail server sale to a valued customer whose file
server and network I already maintain. This demo must occur in the next three
weeks or he is likely to nix it altogether.

I guess I wanted help to repair mainly because I strongly disagree with the
policy that caused this situation, namely disabling the administrator account
because of a temporary lapse in remembering the password and preventing the
extension of a trial installation which expired due to non-use when there
should be about two months use still available to it - from the installation
date of 12/15/08 until now is less than 6 months and this trial should be
good for 240 days.

 

I believe you aree in a catch 22 situation where the account is disabled,
and the trial has ended, therefore you can't get into to reset or unlock the
account because of the expiration, or even get into run whatever script you
had to do it. It would have probably taking you longer or wasting time to
try to fix something such as a trial installation that has expired instead
of simply reinstalling it.

I think a fresh start will work well. Besides, three weeks is plenty. I can
have that box up in one day, albeit a long day, but one day. It will also
allow you to customize it just for the customer.

Good luck, and I hope your customer goes for it!

Ace

 

Ah, the fine print read as follows;

"When you download or order the 60-day trial software (renewable for a total
evaluation time of 240 days), ..."

Actually it's not all that fine of print, but perhaps a misundertanding or
misinterpretation.

and lastly, disabling the deafult administrator account is just a default
action of the installation and following in published best practices. If you
disagree with that, you have the option to re-enable the admin account after
the setup is complete. Personally, I insist on having at least two active
account with administrative priviledges but I'm content with just creating
an additional one and leaving the built in disabled. - but that's just my
call.

So, you didn't renew your trial in one of the four available 60 day time
trial periods and it expired. Lesson learned. Rebuild.

Two, you opted not to re-enable the built-in admin or create an additional
one. - Your choice, but you have the option.

It's a learning experience and I'm sure in the end both you and your
prospects will benifit from your increased skills and knowledge, and
experience.