Server 2012 R2 lost admin permission after deprecating from DC/AD

Question

I had to deprecate this server from a DC/AD back to a workgroup since the software that has a SQL Server DB would not function correctly after the promotion. Unfortunately, during the deprecation, I missed the screen to "Enter the new Administrator password". Now I can't seem to figure out how to re-establish Admin control. Any known remedies for this?

MTIA

Answer 1

This thread started out with server "lost admin permission" which seems to have been sorted out. I'd suggest closing this one by marking answer then open a new thread here about SQL permissions.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/topics/sql-server-general.html

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 2

You can try the steps found here.
https://www.howtogeek.com/222262/how-to-reset-your-forgotten-password-in-windows-10/

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 3

Thanks for the reply. However, I can sign in with the Admin password, I just don't have Admin rights over most areas. Ex. I had other users set up and now I am not even given the option to sign in under any of those profiles, nor can I set up a fax server. I am told I do not have the necessary permissions.

Answer 4

Understood, your only hope is to follow the steps in doc I linked to create a new user as local administrator.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 5

Method 1:

Login to an Admin account on the system and follow the below steps to change the status of the main account.

Steps:-

1. Right click on the Start menu and select Control Panel.
2. Click on User Accounts and select Manage another account.
3. Double click on your user account.
4. Now select Administrator and click save and ok.

Method 2:

In case you do not have another Admin on the computer, enable the built in admin account from the Windows Recovery Environment, login to that account and then change the status of the present account from Standard to Administrator. You may get an error when you try to enable the hidden admin account as the command only runs on an Elevated command prompt, i.e., an admin Command prompt. As you can’t access that on your system, I suggest you to go to Windows Recovery Environment and use the Command Prompt there, which is elevated.

Follow the below steps:-

1) Press Shift and Restart from the power icon (together)

2) Select Troubleshoot.

3) Go to Advanced Options.

4) Select Command Prompt.

5) Type "net user Administrator /active:yes"

6) Hit Enter.

A user account with the name Admin will be created. Log in with that account and you will be able to access Admin privileges. You can also create and change the status of other accounts with that account.

Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.