Windows: Unable to reset Windows Administrator Password using EC2Rescue OR EC2Launch

Question

I have a common issue of 'Password not Available. Instance was launched from Custom AMI'. So, I tried to reset password first using EC2Rescue. I got a message that EC2Launch should be installed. Then, I installed EC2Launch. I tried to run EC2Launch and got a message 'You need to open cmd.exe and run it from there’. So, I ran EC2Launch from 'cmd as administrator'. EC2Launch ran. From this, how can I recover the Windows Administrator Password', as I did not get any screen to change any settings or any other option. What am I missing?  I have screen-shots but I don't see any option to attach screen-shots. Thanks in advance.

Accepted Answer

The instructions can be found here:
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/WindowsGuide/ResettingAdminPassword_EC2Launchv2.html

Answer

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the pointer to the document. Sorry for the late reply. Our office is resetting entrance access systems, throwing us off our schedule. We are back on schedule now.

I tried the document you pointed to, but no luck. Of course, saomething is not right.

Meanwhile, I ran the problem by my lead. He could login to the instance with administrator user & password. How? Well, the newly created instance was from a snapshot of a production instance. So, my lead could login using the production user (administrator) and production password. This solved the problem, but not quite, if you see my point.

Anyway, upon logging-in, I reset the password for administrator account, so it is different from that of production. Although the instructyions in the guide did not work for me, I am on my merry way.

Again, sorry for the late reply and thanks for responding fast!

Answer