The Disaster Recovery Mode (DSRM) is used to restore Active Directory (AD) by allowing you to start your Domain Controller (DC) without loading the Active Directory Services thereby taking them offline. It is also used in a Windows 2003 server environment when you execute the DCPromo utility.
This password along with the local and domain administrator’s passwords is a very important account and password and should be changed on a regular basis.
To access DSRM when your server starts press the F8 key on your Windows 2003 (Or 2000) server(s) and you will see it listed along with the safe mode options, VGA modes and the last known good commands.
Follow the steps below to reset the DSRM password on the local server:
1. From a command prompt type Ntdsutil and press ‘Enter’.
2. At the Ntdsutil: prompt enter Set DSRM Password and press ‘Enter’.
3. At the Reset DSRM Administrator Password: prompt enter Reset Password On Server Null and press ‘Enter’.
4. From the Please type password for DS Restore Mode Administrator Account: prompt enter your new password and press ‘Enter’.
5. Reenter your password at the Please confirm new password: prompt and press ‘Enter’.
6. After you have received the successful message Password has been set successfully. Type Quit to exit the password utility.
7. Type Quit once again to exit the Ntdsutil utility and finally close your command prompt.
Note: For remote servers at step 3 enter Reset Password On Server Server_Name.
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