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.

Robert Love · Accepted Answer

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

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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!

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