I forgot my sql server 2008 r2 username an password

Question

I installed an instance of sql server on my machine a while back. I generally login via SSMS. I currently forgot the username and password for the instance. Is there a way I can recover it. I searched online including a pervious stack overflow post but didnt find it helpful. Is there anything I can do to recover my username and password ?

possible duplicate of [How can I reset username and password for SQL Server 2008](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1087033/how-can-i-reset-username-and-password-for-sql-server-2008) — dcaswell, Oct 17 '13 at 18:09

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

Did you try to Troubleshooting: Connecting to SQL Server When System Administrators Are Locked Out

Start the instance of SQL Server in single-user mode by using either the -m or -f options. Any member of the computer's local Administrators group can then connect to the instance of SQL Server as a member of the sysadmin fixed server role.

And then try to do the following steps as explained by Remus Rusanu in this answer.

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

I forgot my sql server 2008 r2 username an password

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