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6 Replies Last post: Jul 6, 2009 12:01 AM by firestartah
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Locked out of Guest

Jun 30, 2009 7:53 AM

Click to view dgearhart's profile Novice dgearhart 3 posts since
Jun 30, 2009

ESX 3.5, VCenter 2.5

I had a guest (W2k3, sp2) that was having issues with it's secure channel to the domain. nltest couldn't reset the channel so I disjoined the server from the domain, intending to rejoin it right away. However, when attempting to log in locally to rejoin the domain I find that for whatever reason (locked out, corrupt, unknown) I cannot log in as the local Administrator. This wouldn't be a big deal with a physical box. I have utilities that can reset the built-in admin password, but they require a boot from CD.

Is there any way to reset the admin password or unlock that account? Our domain policy is eternal lockout after 3 unsuccessful tries (yes, it's stupid, but this is mandated by higher-higher), so I can't just wait until the admin account is accessable again.

Any ideas?


Tags: 3.5, guest_os, guest, windows_2003
Reply Re: Locked out of Guest Jun 30, 2009 8:11 AM
Click to view firestartah's profile Hot Shot firestartah 135 posts since
Aug 10, 2006
First thing that comes to mind is that you say you have utilities to reset the password if it was physical. Why can't you boot the virtual off the disc also? Either by putting the disc in your local machines and then attaching it via the vi client with vm tools?

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful".

Gregg Robertson, MCSE, MCSA, MCTS,MCITP

Reply Re: Locked out of Guest Jun 30, 2009 9:26 AM
in response to: firestartah
Click to view dgearhart's profile Novice dgearhart 3 posts since
Jun 30, 2009
Can a VM be made to boot from a CD? I just tried it with an ISO, but it went into Windows. Can you F8 a vm?
Reply Re: Locked out of Guest Jun 30, 2009 9:46 AM
in response to: dgearhart
Click to view Anton V Zhbankov's profile Champion Anton V Zhbankov 2,714 posts since
May 26, 2008
Edit Setting for VM and set Boot Delay to 10 000 msec.
Power VM on and while timer counts press ESC, so you'll enter boot menu. Connect desired CD to VM, and select CD as boot source.

---
VMware vExpert '2009
http://blog.vadmin.ru
Reply Re: Locked out of Guest Jul 1, 2009 12:06 AM
in response to: dgearhart
Click to view firestartah's profile Hot Shot firestartah 135 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

Yep, as anton said above is how to do it. Settings -> options tab -> boot options. Remember to have vmware tools installed so that you can attach the cd/iso in your machine to the vm.

If you found this or other information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful".

Gregg

Reply Re: Locked out of Guest Jul 5, 2009 8:23 PM
Click to view dgearhart's profile Novice dgearhart 3 posts since
Jun 30, 2009

In the end I set the CD to the top of the boot device list (I'd already pointed the CD to the ERD ISO), and since ERD autoboots in that situation I was able to unlock the Administrator's account. I couldn't tell from the Locksmith utility if the account was locked or simply had the wrong password set, but either way resetting it to a known value did the trick.

Thanks for your help!


Reply Re: Locked out of Guest Jul 6, 2009 12:01 AM
in response to: dgearhart
Click to view firestartah's profile Hot Shot firestartah 135 posts since
Aug 10, 2006
Glad it all worked in the end =0)

Gregg

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