Cisco Router – Reset/Recover Password

Sometimes there is a need to reset unknown password on Cisco router, without loosing configuration. It can be done by skipping config file on startup. It can be done by changing registry value from 0x2102 to 0x2142.

Connect Switch to computer using console cable plugged on console cable
Prepare software as Putty for communication to switch
Switch off and then switch on button.
When characters appear on the screen, press ctrl + pause/break on the keyboard. Use USB keyboard if laptop is in use
When router enter to rommon mode, type next
```
rommon 1 > confreg
```
On questions to change the configuration answer with Yes
On question to ignore system config info anwer with Yes
On other questions answer with No
When question to change configuratin apeears again, answer with No. You will be sent back to rommon prompt
Enter command reset, router will be restarted.

After router restart and load IOS without settings,

Would you like to enter the inital configuration dialog? no
....

Router > enable
Router#copy start run
Destination filename [runnung-config]?

Enter

Router#config terminal
Router(config)#enable secret somepassword

Change register back to 0x2102 to enable to load startup config after reboot
```
Router(config)#config-register 0x2102
```
Save new configuration
```
Router(config)#exit
Router(config)#wr
```
Reboot

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