Directory recovery console password

niallo32

I moved a Windows 2003 Server Primary Domain Controller from one premises to another and when I rebooted, I got an error message before the OS loaded -

Windows NT could not start because of an error in the software.
Please report this problem as :
load needed DLLs for kernel.
Please contact your support person to report this problem

I dont know the Directory Services recovery password, so I cant access the Recovery Console.

There is no backup Domain controller, so I cant login to the Domain

I tried a password reset disk, but it's for Windows 2000 Server

I'm tearing my hair out - can anyone help???

Thanks

seamus

Afaik, the recovery password should just be your domain admin password.

Have you googled the specifics of the error message?

niallo32

I tried the Domain controller password - no joy

I know how to fix the specfics of the password, but I cant do that unless I can access the Recovery Password!

Any ideas???

niallo32

Anyone???

seamus

It appears that this is a separate password set up when the DC is initially promoted. Do you know who set up the machine?

It may be a matter of cracking the SAM file unfortunately.

shayser

Looking at the first few paragraphs of this article, it seems to address the problem you are having:

http://www.mcpmag.com/Columns/article.asp?EditorialsID=1369

Hope it helps.

CraggyIslander

Was anything else done to the server? Like a system restore maybe?

according to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914049 a mismatched hal.dll and ntoskrnl.exe produce that error