SQL Server 2012 : sa is disabled previously, due to password policy sql user is also locked

Question

1. Due to the auditor recommendation, I disabled the sa user for SQL Server

2. New sql user with full privileges was created

3. Unfortunately password was expired and user in application attempt with multiple failures that locked the admin users (password policy)

Now, I am stuck with:

• sa - diabled
• sql user - locked out

I only have a local Windows user in SQL Server which does not have right to modify the sa or sql user

Thank God we have a physical cluster and we shifted but what should I do for the problem:

1. fully reinstall
2. install only SQL Server Management Studio
3. any good fast trick

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

This happened to me before and thankfully it is easy to solve when you have local admin access to the physical server. Basically you need to start the service in single user mode, connect with windows auth and either change the password or create a temporary account with sysadmin.

Step by step instructions: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd207004.aspx