We've all been there - that moment when the server reboots after a power outage and your muscle memory fails to recall the admin credentials. On production servers running critical services, this becomes a genuine disaster scenario. Let me walk through some proven methods to regain access.

Before diving into third-party tools, check these built-in options:

# Using Installation Media Recovery Console
1. Boot from Windows Server 2012 installation media
2. Select "Repair your computer" > "Troubleshoot" > "Command Prompt"
3. Navigate to system32 directory:
   cd /d c:\windows\system32
4. Backup Utilman.exe:
   copy utilman.exe utilman.exe.bak
5. Replace with cmd.exe:
   copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
6. Reboot and click Ease of Access icon

When built-in methods fail, these tools have proven effective in enterprise environments:

• Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (free/open-source)
• PCUnlocker (paid, $39+)
• Lazesoft Recovery Suite (free for basic use)

If you have another admin account, try this PowerShell script:

# PowerShell admin password reset
$adminAccount = Get-LocalUser -Name "Administrator"
$newPassword = ConvertTo-SecureString "NewComplexP@ssw0rd!" -AsPlainText -Force
Set-LocalUser -Name $adminAccount.Name -Password $newPassword

Advanced method requiring physical access:

1. Boot from Linux live CD/USB
2. Mount the Windows partition
3. Navigate to SAM registry file location
4. Use chntpw tool to edit registry:
   chntpw -i /mnt/windows/Windows/System32/config/SAM
5. Select admin account and clear password

Once you regain access, implement these safeguards:

• Configure automatic admin account logging via Group Policy
• Store emergency credentials in secure password manager
• Set up secondary admin accounts with different credentials
• Document password rotation in your change management system

For organizations managing multiple servers, consider:

# Example DSC configuration for emergency access
Configuration EmergencyAccess {
    Node "SERVER2012" {
        User Administrator {
            UserName = "Administrator"
            Password = $creds.Password
            Description = "Emergency access account"
            Disabled = $false
            PasswordNeverExpires = $true
        }
    }
}

We've all been there - that moment when the UPS beeps during a power outage, and suddenly you're staring at a login screen with no recollection of your complex 14-character password. Windows Server 2012 doesn't make this easy, but there are reliable technical solutions that don't require nuclear options like OS reinstallation.

The market is flooded with utilities claiming to reset Windows passwords, but most fail on Server 2012 because:

• They don't handle NTFS permissions correctly for server environments
• They lack support for Server 2012's specific SAM database structure
• They can't bypass Enhanced Security Configuration defaults

The most reliable approach uses the open-source Offline NT Password & Registry Editor. Here's the technical workflow:

# Boot from USB/CD containing Offline NT tool
1. Download bootable image from pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/
2. Create bootable media: 
   dd if=usb140201.img of=/dev/sdX bs=1M

# Walkthrough of critical steps
1. Select correct disk partition containing Windows
2. Navigate to path: /Windows/System32/config/
3. Choose password reset option (not registry edit)
4. Select administrator account
5. Set new blank password: 
   [y/n] y
   [blank pass] y
6. Write changes (lowercase 'q' to quit)
7. Reboot and login with blank password

For environments where third-party tools aren't permitted, this built-in technique works:

# From recovery console or installation media:
1. Access command prompt
2. Navigate to System32:
   cd c:\windows\system32
3. Backup utilman.exe:
   copy utilman.exe utilman.bak
4. Replace with cmd.exe:
   copy cmd.exe utilman.exe
5. Reboot normally
6. At login screen, click Ease of Access icon
7. In spawned cmd:
   net user Administrator *
   [enter new password twice]

After regaining access, immediately:

• Rotate all service account passwords
• Verify no backdoors were created (check useradd.exe timestamps)
• Consider implementing LAPS for future admin password management

If the system won't boot after password changes, use Windows Server Backup:

wbadmin get versions
wbadmin start recovery -version:MM/DD/YYYY-HH:MM -itemtype:App -items:AD -backuptarget:\\nas\backups