Are you familiar with SQL Server Authentication? How to login with it, and how to reset SA password when you need a new password? This passage will talk about that.

SQL Server operates in one of two authentication modes: Windows Authentication Mode (the default) or Mixed Mode (Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication). SQL Server Authentication is provided for backward compatibility, because applications written for SQL Server version 7.0 or earlier may require the use of SQL Server logins and passwords. Even though Windows Authentication is recommended, SQL Server Authentication may be required for connections with clients, and also be necessary for legacy applications.

Change default Windows Authentication Mode to Mixed Mode

Method 1: During installation, an option named SECURITYMODE can be used to change the default login authentication mode to SQL server authentication mode.

Method 2: This can be easily changed in security tab after the installation.

Step 1 Open SQL, right-click the name of SQL Server, and then choose properties.

Step 2 The following picture will come up, select SQL server and Windows authentication mode in security tab. Finish.

Method 3: Another way to change the security mode after installation is to stop SQL Server and set the appropriate registry key for your installation:
Default instance:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\MSSqlserver\MSSqlServer\LoginMode

Named instance:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Name\MSSQLServer\LoginMode

to 0 or 2 for mixed-mode or 1 for integrated. (Integrated is the default setup for the SQL Server 2000 Data Engine.)
When you change the default login authentication mode into SQL authentication, we recommend you set a strong SA password.

Reset SA password in SQL 2008/2005/2000

Change SA password as follows:

• 1. In Object Explorer, open Security folder, open Logins folder. Right Click on SA account and go to Properties.
• 2. Type a new SQL SA password, and confirm it. Click OK to finish.

If you forgot SA password, and what’s worse, you disabled Windows authentication mode due to security consideration, how to get a password to login?

Import master.mdf in SQL Server installation folder to MS SQL Password Unlocker which will list all login names, reset SA password, then you can login with the new password immediately, no matter how long and complex the old password is. Vey easy, isn’t it?

In addition, MS SQL Password Unlocker provides demo version for you to try.