Reset SA Password in SQL Server 2008 R2

How to Reset Lost SA password in SQL Server 2008 R2

Have you ever forgotten SA password in SQL Server2008 R2? Do you know how to reset SA password in SQL Server 2012? Not a few of my friends once forgot their SA password and reinstalled SQL Server at last, because at that time they failed to find some methods to solve the problem. In order to help you out when you encountered the same situation, I sort out some methods to recover SA password on SQL Server 2008 R2.

For Computer Novices: Use SQL SA password Recovery to retrieve SA password in SQL Server 2008 R2?

If you are a new user of SQL Server 2008 R2, I highly recommend you to use third party software ― SQL 2008 SA Password Recovery. It is easy-to-understand and safe for newbie of SQL Server. You even don't need to install SQL at all to performance SQL password recovery.

Here to download free trial version of SQL SA Password Recovery, Then follow the steps below:

Download SmartKey SQL Password Recovery:

Step 1: Click "open" to load mater.mdf file on your computer to this software.

Note: The default master.mdf file location is as follow:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER08\MSSQL\DATA

Step 2: Select SA account and click "Change Password".

Step 3: Type a new password for SA account and click "Ok" to finish the process.

Now, you have successfully reset SA password in SQL Server 2008 R2. You can use new SA password to enter your SQL Server.

For Advanced Users: How to Unlock SA password in SQL Server 2008 R2?

If you are an advanced user of SQL Server 2008 R2, you may want to change SA password in SQL Server 2008 R2 all by your own. Then the following two methods are available for you.

Way 1: Use Query Windows in Management Studio

Step1. Open SQL Server Management Studio

Step2. Open a new query

Step3. Type the follow commands and execute:

GO

ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH DEFAULT_DATABASE= [master]

GO

USE [master]

GO

ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH PASSWORD=N'NewPassword' MUST_CHANGE

GO

Way2. Recover SQL Server 2008 R2 SA password with Windows Authentication

• 1. Login into SQL server 2008 R2 using Windows Authentication.
• 2. In Object Explorer, open Security folder, open Logins folder. Right Click on SA account and go to Properties.
• 3. Type a new SA password, and confirm it. Click OK to finish.

Next time when you or your friends forgot SA password in SQL Server 2008 R2, you can reset SA password SQL Server 2008 R2 with the mentioned methods above.

Tips: What is SA and What is the Default password for SA in SQL Server 2008 R2?

When we mention SA, we have to understand what MS SQL Server is first. MS SQL Server is one of the most widely used relational database system produced by Microsoft Corporation. While SA (abbreviation for "System Administrator") is the password associated with a Microsoft SQL Server. It is typical term used to refer to the database administrator.

The default SA password for SQL Server 2008 R2 should be a blank password.

Download SmartKey SQL Password Recovery:

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