How do you reset the SA password?

Question

How on earth do you reset the sa password? I know how to go into the dialogs and reset a password. That\'s now what I\'m asking about. It runs a little deeper than just clic

Answer 1

The simplest method I've found so far is to run SQL Server Management Studio / SQL Express under the SYSTEM context with Sysinternals PSEXEC app. After installing (copying psexec.exe to your computer, running it and accepting the EULA), you can type the following to invoke a system-context instance:

psexec -s -i 

You can use the GUI and don't require single-user mode to effect changes. I had problems with an unknown client tying up the snigle-user connection and this saved me.