How to Recover SA Password in SQL Server 2008

Introduction

Recovering the SA (System Administrator) password in SQL Server 2008 can be a daunting task, but it is possible with the right approach. Here are the steps to recover the SA password in SQL Server 2008:

Steps to Recover SA Password in SQL Server 2008

1. Stop the SQL Server service.
2. Start the SQL Server in single-user mode by using the -m flag.
3. Connect to the SQL Server using the SQLCMD utility with Windows Authentication.
4. Use the following T-SQL script to reset the SA password:
   ALTER LOGIN sa WITH PASSWORD = 'new_password';
5. Restart the SQL Server service normally.
6. Connect to the SQL Server using the new SA password.

It is essential to ensure the security of the SA password to prevent unauthorized access to the SQL Server.