Rescue locked SQL Server 2008

Reset Forgotten Sa password

To configure startup options

1. Fist Login computer using administrator Account
   

2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, click SQL Server Services.

3. In the right pane, right-click SQL Server (<instance_name>), and then click Properties.

4. On the Advanced tab, in the Startup Parameters box, type the parameters separated by semicolons (;).

   For example, to start in single-user mode, insert -m; in front of the existing startup options, and then restart the database. (When you start SQL Server in single-user mode, first stop SQL Server Agent. Otherwise, SQL Server Agent might connect first and prevent you from connecting as a second user.)

   Important
   After you are finished using single-user mode, you must remove the -m; from the Startup Parameters box before you can restart the server instance in the normal multi-user mode.

5. Click OK.

6. Restart the Database Engine.

7. Change security authentication mode (You may not require this step if you have already enabled sa user)
   

   1. In SQL Server Management Studio Object Explorer, right-click the server, and then click Properties.

   2. On the Security page, under Server authentication, select the new server authentication mode, and then click OK.

   3. In the SQL Server Management Studio dialog box, click OK to acknowledge the requirement to restart SQL Server.

   4. You can change password here.
      
8. Enable the sa login by using Management Studio(You may not require this step if you have already enabled dual authentication )

   1. In Object Explorer, expand Security, expand Logins, right-click sa, and then click Properties.

   2. On the General page, you might have to create and confirm a password for the sa login.

   3. On the Status page, in the Login section, click Enabled, and then click OK.

9. Now you can logon with sa user and password .You can also set permission of the local user account from that.