I always ask customers if they knew that password when i do active directory schema upgrades. As you can imagine, the answer is not always yes. So what to do when you don’t know that password?

Well, changing the password is simple. You should define a really strong password.

Use this link for the step by step details:

How To Reset the Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Account Password in Windows Server 2003

As far as i know the process is the same for Windows Server 2008. Once set be sure to write it down to a safe place.

Here are some additional links that are worth reading:

Securing the Directory Services Restore Mode Account

DSRM in SBS 2008

this is my first blog post and i want to start with a very simple action you can do to bring up the Microsoft Office Communicator Window.

Just hit WindowsKey + Q and the communicator window will come to front.

Other useful shortcuts can be found here:

Microsoft Office Communicator Shortcuts