If  you do a web search of available software to reset a windows password the search will return a number of sites, but most do not have a phone # to actually call to order or talk with tech support.  It is just an email address.  To minimize problems, I recommend if you can not find the address of company and an actual phone number to contact them, leave the site immediately and find another.  There are plenty of sites that have very fancy designs, but no phone # and/or physical address.  After hours of searching , these were the only legitimate sites I could find.

This site has been recently updated with a new version, which is a good sign.  The author does not accept money or donations.  My initial reservation was that there would be no real support offered, but then again he is a tech like me and does this all for free.

http://www.petri.co.il/reset_domain_admin_password_in_windows_server_2003_ad.htm The author explains how to change the password for a domain admin account.  Several blogs reference this site so I had confidence that the steps were legitimate.    Again, the author does not charge anything.  He does reference a site that you can pay for software that is supposed to reset the password – Spotmau’s PowerSuite 2010.  I bypassed their pay link and went directly to the manufacturer website.  I sent an email to their support asking if the software could reset the admin password and the response did not make any sense.  Basically it said ‘we’re sorry the software didn’t work’, when I was asking if it would work.  Probably answered by a person from another country that was using some kind of translation software.  I said no to that option.

http://www.lsoft.net/pwch.aspx Active Password Changer.  This software used to be free in the older version of Hiren’s Boot CD 10.0  Now you can not find it in his package because he only puts free software in there.  At least this gives me confidence that the software must work if a tech used it back in the day.  They have a phone # and email to contact plus an actually physical address.  They wanted $50 for the software but I was able to find a coupon so I only paid $30.  This was the only software I purchased.  I did first try the older free dos version, but it didn’t work for me.  Said it reset password, but upon reboot it still didn’t work.  It was 2.0 version I believe and now company is upto 4.0

Finding the software is step 1 – then comes actually going through the process of resetting the passwords.

First I opened up the computer and reset the bios password.  I was hesitant at first to do this since the server was setup as a mirrored raid and there was no controller card so it could be setup in the bios.  I consulted two other friends that also run computer companies and they both agreed that this should be safe to do.  I used the motherboard’s jumper and voila reset the password.  I was now able to get into it.  I checked its settings and nothing looked out of order.  I was hoping for USB boot support, but unfortunately that was not the case.  I then saved and rebooted to make sure the Server would still boot properly.  It did and I could move on. (You can not reboot a server properly without knowing the admin password.  So I had no no choice but to press the reset button or turn off/on).

I put Active Password Changer 4.0 into the CD Drive and rebooted the server.  The computer seemed to see the disc but then would go to the boot screen to actually run the server.  Did I burn the disc wrong?  I put it into my own computer and rebooted and it could see if fine.  It is very unusual to have a bad DVD/CD drive in a computer, but having spent hours on this issue before, I knew to check for it.  I replaced the DVD/CD IDE drive with another known good and this time the server booted from the disk.   I used the software per the manufacturers documentation which was well written.  It said the password was reset to blank and so I rebooted and tried logging into the local Admin account.  Guess what?  It didn’t work.  I did look at the manufacturers website for any FAQs or support about this issue, but I couldn’t find it.

I then used Offine Windows Password & Registry Editor. Again the document was written well and software said it reset the administrator password.  http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/It also mentioned that account was already blanked out.  Maybe Active Password Changer did work?  I rebooted the computer and again I couldn’t gain access to the local domain account.  (I forgot to mention that when the server boots up, if you hit CTRL ALT DEL twice, it is suppose to use the local user account vs domain user account.)  There was some debate if this was working properly so I used a suggestion mentioned in my research and used the F8 key at computer startup to access  Directory Service Restore Mode.  Again it did not work with blank password.  I re-read the docs for Offline Windows Password and noticed it mentioned option 4 – Unlock and enable user account.  I ran the utilitiy again and it mentioned on the screen that the account was locked.  So I unlocked it with option 4 and reset the password again for good measure.  Booted up using Directory Service Restore Mode again and I was finally able to get into the local administrator account.

Now I was in the Server Local Admin account but I still needed access to the Domain Admin Account.  I then followed the directions step by step laid out on the  www.petri.co.il website.  The exact web link is http://www.petri.co.il/reset_domain_admin_password_in_windows_server_2003_ad.htm When it asked for the password, I did use the P@ssw0rd as suggested.  No reason not to assume the domain is set to complex password.  Once I completed the instructions I was in the domain admin account.  I then reset the password to something else and will give that information to the customer.

I spent 10+ hours on researching this issue and coming up with a solution.  I actually finished the project at 3:30am on Saturday.  Yes I’m that dedicated.  Hopefully this will help future techs if they have this issue.  If you are not a computer professional, please hire one as you could seriously damage your server if you mess up.  I would like to thank all the resources I mentioned above because without them, I would not have a solution for the customer.

Scott Bakeeff
In Control Tek Owner/ Tech Wiz

The specific email I received this morning informs us that a police officer advised folks in his jurisdiction to use wasp spray in place of pepper spray because it was not only cheaper, but sprayed farther and would be useful to stop an attacker without them getting within physical range.

Now, the worst part about this email is that it is totally true. A police officer really did suggest this, and because of that many people will take it at face-value as information they can directly use.

That’s where you get into trouble. Here in Florida, to use a can of wasp spray in place of pepper spray is ILLEGAL. See Florida Statutes – specifically section 3, part b -”Tear gas gun” or “chemical weapon or device” means any weapon of such nature, except a device known as a “self-defense chemical spray.” “Self-defense chemical spray” means a device carried solely for purposes of lawful self-defense that is compact in size, designed to be carried on or about the person, and contains not more than two ounces of chemical.

Not only is a can of wasp spray not compact in size or designed to be carried “on or about the person”, it contains potentially more than 2 ounces of active chemicals, depending on brand. There are several states throughout our country that have similar pepper-spray laws and some municipalities ban the use of it completely. If one were to take this email at face-value because they don’t realize laws are not uniform, they could be getting themselves into a huge amount of trouble.

The second troubling aspect of this suggestion, even if you live in an area that would legally support using something other than pepper spray, is that wasp spray contains Pyrethrin. That chemical is known to be hazardous to humans and wasp spray cans are labeled such. There is also the warning that comes first on the can – “It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with it’s labeling” – of which spraying a human for the purposes of self-defense certainly is.

Perhaps in our very busy lives, we have stopped questioning so much out of sheer desperation and time-management. If it sounds legit on a first-read and it came from a source you personally trust, you let it go. That might be easier and cut-down on the amount of time you spend at work surfing for information possibly not relevant to your job. However, checking facts like this saves much more than time. Would you want to pass this on to a relative and have them be sued? Would they then turn around and sue you because you told them it was ‘ok’? Whatever the time costs may be, I submit they are still worth it. If you get information like this, the best thing you can do is sit on it until you have a chance to verify the accuracy. I have come across a few emails that were legit, and I then sent them on. Many emails, however, contain false-truths, urban myths or downright dangerous information that to someone un-educated in that field, might sound reasonable. A little research goes a long way toward not only stopping the proliferation of false information, but perhaps keeping someone you care about from being hurt.
And while we’re on the subject, most emails that have a call to action involving emailing a certain number of friends or else you won’t win the lottery, or worse, you’ll be a terrible friend and it shows you don’t love them – aren’t going to change the world. They’ll just junk-up someone else’s inbox.

Everyone wants to feel safe – we install security systems, cameras and other gadgets to try and protect our families and property. All the gadgets in the world, however, need maintenance! So if you haven’t done it already, go around and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It really could be a matter of life or death.

After the storm passes, what do I do?

Hopefully, if a hurricane does hit, you’ll be fine. That’s always our wish! However, let’s say you’re not. Nothing catastrophic, no trees on your roof or lawn furniture through your window. But, lets say you suffered what we personally suffered back in 2004 during Charlie, I think it was. At that time, we still had some undeveloped land at the end of our street, and a power pole was knocked-down along with a tree. Since we were certainly not the only ones without power, and as we later heard, out-of-state crews were having difficulty finding neighborhoods; we were without power for close to a week. Did I mention? We run our business from our home. Without a disaster operation plan, many folks in our same situation – even companies who could loose their storefronts, could be in for a very rough ride. How do you operate? Where would you go? How would employees work if their homes were fine, but roads were cut-off and they couldn’t come in? It’s that question I explore here.

1) From backup to Back Up
In my initial post, I mentioned backing-up your data. This is obviously an attempt to keep your valuable information, personal or business, from being lost. What do you do, however, if you can’t get it right back on your own machines? Obviously, smooth operations are the key to surviving in a post-traumatic environment. The easier and faster you can get back to ‘normal’ for your employees and customers, the more they will appreciate you. One way is to have a secondary site picked-out. In our case, we invaded the spare bedroom of a friend, and in the immediate, charged our cellphones at a neighbor’s home on another block. If your business is less mobile, you may consider having your employees telecommute. Paying for a local company to backup your servers at a secure facility and having web-accessible software options for your salespeople and even management, will allow your business to continue on with minimal interruption. For home users, the explosion of social media offers another refuge in the storm. If your relatives want to contact you and phone lines are down and the cell towers are jammed, you might be able to get online at a friend’s home and post your status on Facebook. If you’re sitting on the fence wondering why you’d ever use a site like that – there you go!

2) Have some low-tech options available
We are as guilty as the next people about not having paper backups. Especially now, the push is to be ‘green’ and that means using less paper. Maybe you don’t need to print-out every single interaction, but at the very least, have a recent phone list for both your employees and customers. Go old-school: get a three-ring binder, print out a neat list in Excel or equivalent program, hole-punch and insert. Depending on the database you use, it should be as simple as exporting your contact list as a .csv file. If you are a small business like we are, sync your contact data with your PDA or Smartphone. That way even if you can’t get to a computer, at least you’ll know it’s a customer calling and your people can still make calls to current prospects. Paper work orders, even if they are just kept for emergencies, will help in the field to ensure everything is covered. Make sure they are up-to-date with your correct address, phone # and any appropriate information-gathering fields are relevant. For the homeowner, having a three-ring binder at all times with up-to-date contact information, insurance policies and phone numbers (home/car/health), health information if relevant and any other information specific to your situation is vital. (Pet photos, nursing home info, etc) If you need to go to a shelter, for example, the last thing you want to be thinking is ‘how do I even contact my insurance company?’

3) Prepare for the worst – hope for the best
None of us want to believe a storm will hit. “That, won’t happen to me“, we say. Every time we see folks on the news, spray hitting their backs or water creeping up their porch, as they stubbornly speak with a reporter about how they just can’t leave their home and belongings.
Can I say this? Don’t be an idiot. Prepare now. Prepare on an off-year, tweak the plan where appropriate and stick with it. Don’t get lazy! The one year you say ‘oh, yeah we’re fine. It hasn’t happened yet’ will be the year you could have used that disaster plan. There’s this guy named Murphy – I’m sure you’ve heard of him. If he’s going to have the last laugh? Don’t let it be at your expense.

“When most people think about deforestation, they think about the Amazon or even Central America,” said the Fund’s Louisiana state director, Ray Herndon. “What they may not know is that we have lost more than 24 million acres of bottomland, hardwood forest over the last century along the lower Mississippi River valley. Habitat destruction is more pronounced here than in any other area of the United States.”

The first iPhorest “grove” will sprout in Louisiana’s Boeuf Wildlife Management Area and will be managed by a team of foresters and biologists with Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The group aims to restore as much as 100 acres of forestland here.

Forest restoration along the lower Mississippi River Valley is now one of The Conservation Fund’s highest priorities and requires a creative mix of public and private financing. Opportunities like the iPhorest mean more exposure, and money to get trees in the ground.

The iPhorest application can be downloaded at the Apple Store or at iPhorest.com. To keep updated on the project in Louisiana, subscribe to The Conservation Fund newsletter, or follow them on Facebook.

The reality is electronics are delicate things. Even if we just get some heavy rain (much like we just had this past week) it can wreak havoc on un-protected systems. So, even though I can’t force you to be prepared for the worst a storm can bring I can give you advice on what you can do to ride-out this hurricane season while keeping your equipment as safe as possible.

• Check your surge protection/UPS – when did you buy, or have installed, the strips connected to your TV & components? Your camera system? Your computer(s)/phone system? If the answer was anything short of ‘a couple months ago’ start looking for sales and upgrade! It only takes one hit to ruin a surge surpressor. Unless you’ve got some serious backup, it’s definitely time to change it out before you get nailed and it doesn’t protect your sensitive equipment! Heck, if it’s a really good deal – buy two. **Note: Those ‘guarantees’ that come with some surge protectors will require pictures of the equipment you have, possibly serial #’s and they are very strict about how things must be plugged-in. If you’ve had it for a couple years and you get burned, don’t expect that warranty money!

• Backup your computer’s information – This is something we should all do at least once-a-month for personal computers, and daily or weekly for business. If it’s not something you’ve done before, or are spotty about keeping up with it yourself, consider one of the many online services that will backup your data for you, automatically. We use LiveDrive, which is located in the UK. Isn’t the internet great?! There are other companies as well – another popular choice here in the states is Carbonite – no matter if you do it yourself using a CD writer or external drive, or use a service to backup your data: start doing it now! If you get a surge or strike that hits your internet source (cable or DSL) it can fry your system and leave you starting over.

• Check any outdoor equipment and be prepared to bring it in – The cameras we provide are weatherproof with tight housings. If you purchased cameras yourself in a kit, it might be a good idea to take a look after it rains and make sure the housing is still in good condition. If you are getting a ‘fuzzy’ picture on your TV or DVR, there could be condensation in the lens and your camera isn’t as weather/waterproof as you might have thought! Also don’t forget about outdoor rock/planter speakers. It’s one thing to keep working if it gets some pool water splashed on it. It’s quite another to expect it to survive sustained high-powered winds and driving rain. **If connections will be exposed, put a heavy duty plastic bag around them and secure with duck tape. For extra protection, wrap the ends with electrical tape beforehand.

If you have a generator, now is the time to get it serviced! If you don’t, taking these extra precautions will help you to get through even the smallest of inconveniences with your devices intact. We always hope if a storm does develop it will miss us! But Mother Nature is un-predictable and it’s better to be prepared than sorry.
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