How to Change Your SQL SA Account Password for SOLIDWORKS

Have you ever needed to change the password of the Microsoft SQL Server System Administrator (SA) account? Maybe the password has been lost or the person in charge of keeping it left the company? We will discuss the three most common ways to change the password and get back into your Microsoft SQL SA account.

Option 1: Using the existing SA password

1. Open the “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio” from your installed programs.
   • If you do not have this application, you can download the latest version from the Microsoft Website here.

     Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

2. Log in as the SA user using SQL Server Authentication and the current password.
3. In the Object Explorer, expand Security>Logins.
   

   Expand the “Security” and then “Login” folders

4. Double-click the SA user or your custom administrator login.

SQL Object Explorer

5. Enter the new desired password and confirm it.

Login Properties for SA user

6. After clicking OK make sure to update the SOLIDWORKS PDM settings for SQL.

To learn more about how the SQL SA account and SOLIDWORKS PDM interact, read our blog here.

Option 2: Using a Windows Account with Administrative Permissions

1. Open the “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio” from your installed programs.
2. Log in as a Windows user using Windows Authentication.
   • The user would need to be previously created and set up with the appropriate permissions.

Connecting to SQL instance with Windows Authentication

3. In the Object Explorer, expand Security>Logins.
4. Double-click the SA user or your custom administrator login.
5. Enter the new desired password and confirm it.
6. After clicking OK make sure to update the SOLIDWORKS PDM settings for SQL.

Option 3: Using the Local Administrator Account in Single-User Mode

1. Open the “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio” from your installed programs as an administrator.
2. Stop the SQL Instance.
   • To do so, type: net stop MSSQL$InstanceName where $InstanceName is the name of the SQL Instance hosting SOLIDWORKS PDM. By default, this is “SERVER” but may have been renamed.

Stopping the default SQL instance

3. Start the SQL service in Single-User mode by typing: net start MSSQL$InstanceName /m”SQLCMD”.

Starting the default instance in Single-User mode

4. Connect to the SQL server in the command prompt by typing: sqlcmd.
   • Note: if using a named instance type: sqlcmd -s <ServerName>\<InstanceName>

Connect to SQL using Command Prompt

5. Create a new user and password using a T-SQL command by typing: Create LOGIN <name> WITH PASSWORD=’<password>’. Replace <name> with the desired username and <password> with the desired password. Type GO and hit the enter.
   • Note: The apostrophes are required.

Creating a temporary login with a new password

6. Verify the new user has System Administrator permissions by typing: SP_ADDSRVROLEMEMBER <name>,’SYSADMIN’. Replace <name> with the username created previously. Type GO and hit enter.
   

   Adding roles to the temporary login

7. Exit the SQLCMD by typing Exit and hit enter.
8. Restart the SQL service in regular mode (Multi-User) by typing: net stop MSSQL$InstanceName&& net start MSSQL$InstanceName and hitting enter.
   

   Restarting SQL in Regular mode

9. Launch the “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio” application and log in with the newly created user in SQL Authentication Mode.
10. In the Object Explorer, expand Security>Logins.
11. Double-click the SA user or your custom administrator login.
12. Enter the new desired password and confirm it.
13. After clicking OK make sure to update the SOLIDWORKS PDM settings for SQL.

With the different methods for resetting the Microsoft SQL SA password, it’s up to you to choose which one is right for your workflow. Regardless of your choice, each option will get you and your team back to work faster.

Have questions or need help in resetting your password? Get in touch with TriMech Tech Support today for remote assistance here!