How to change sa password in SQL Server 2008 express? - sql-server

Question

I have installed SQL Server 2008 express and logging in through windows authentication, it doesn't allow me to do anything. How do i change 'sa' password or gain full privilege in my local computers 2008 express ? I am using windows 7.

Answer 1

If you want to change your 'sa' password with SQL Server Management Studio, here are the steps:
Login using Windows Authentication and ".\SQLExpress" as Server Name
Change server authentication mode - Right click on root, choose Properties, from Security tab select "SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode", click OK
Set sa password - Navigate to Security > Logins > sa, right click on it, choose Properties, from General tab set the Password (don't close the window)
Grant permission - Go to Status tab, make sure the Grant and Enabled radiobuttons are chosen, click OK
Restart SQLEXPRESS service from your local services (Window+R > services.msc)

Answer 2

You need to follow the steps described in Troubleshooting: Connecting to SQL Server When System Administrators Are Locked Out and add your own Windows user as a member of sysadmin:
shutdown MSSQL$EXPRESS service (or whatever the name of your SQL Express service is)
start add the -m and -f startup parameters (or you can start sqlservr.exe -c -sEXPRESS -m -f from console)
connect to DAC: sqlcmd -E -A -S .\EXPRESS or from SSMS use admin:.\EXPRESS
run create login [machinename\username] from windows to create your Windows login in SQL
run sp_addsrvrolemember 'machinename\username', 'sysadmin'; to make urself sysadmin member
restart service w/o the -m -f

Answer 3

I didn't know the existing sa password so this is what I did:
Open Services in Control Panel
Find the "SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)" entry and select properties
Stop the service
Enter "-m" at the beginning of the "Start parameters" fields. If there are other parameters there already add a semi-colon after -m;
Start the service
Open a Command Prompt
Enter the command:
osql -S YourPcName\SQLEXPRESS -E
(change YourPcName to whatever your PC is called).
At the prompt type the following commands:
alter login sa enable
go
sp_password NULL,'new_password','sa'
go
quit
Stop the "SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)" service
Remove the "-m" from the Start parameters field
Start the service

Answer 4

This may help you to reset your sa password for SQL 2008 and 2012
EXEC sp_password NULL, 'yourpassword', 'sa'

Answer 5

This is what worked for me:
Close all Sql Server referencing apps.
Open Services in Control Panel.
Find the "SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)" entry and select properties.
Stop the service (all Sql Server services).
Enter "-m" at the Start parameters" fields.
Start the service (click on Start button on General Tab).
Open a Command Prompt (right click, Run as administrator if needed).
Enter the command:
osql -S localhost\SQLEXPRESS -E
(or change localhost to whatever your PC is called).
At the prompt type the following commands:
CREATE LOGIN my_Login_here WITH PASSWORD = 'my_Password_here'
go
sp_addsrvrolemember 'my_Login_here', 'sysadmin'
go
quit
Stop the "SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)" service.
Remove the "-m" from the Start parameters field (if still there).
Start the service.
In Management Studio, use the login and password you just created.
This should give it admin permission.