When you install or reinstall a Windows operating system, you are provided with a password for administrative access. We strongly recommend that you change this initial password. In case you have lost your admin password, it needs to be reset using rescue mode via a VNC connection.
Topics
- Recovering a User Password in WinRescue Using VNC
Recovering a User Password in WinRescue Using VNC
To recover your user password, first log into the OVHcloud Control Panel. Click Bare Metal Cloud at the top of the page and then click Dedicated servers on the left-hand sidebar. Select your server from the ensuing drop-down menu.
On the following screen, choose Boot in rescue mode and then select WinRescue from the drop-down menu. Enter an email address to which your WinRescue credentials will be sent.
Click Confirm and then reboot your server when you have confirmed the information is correct.
Next, use the credentials you received in the email and a VNC client to access your server. In our example we use, MacOS's native Screen Sharing app, but any VNC client will work.
Once connected via VNC, click the Password icon on the Desktop to open NTPWEdit.
Next, click (Re)open and select the user whose password you wish to recover from the ensuing list. Then, click Change password.
Type your new password and verify it in the ensuing window. Click OK when you are finished. Finally, click Save changes.
Set the server back to the default "Boot from hard disk" setting and then reboot it.
Conclusion
Having read this article, you should be able to recover a Windows user password using WinRescue and a VNC connection.