Recovering a Lost Enable Password

This appendix describes how to recover a password that you configured with the enable command (enable password).

Note You can recover a lost enable password, but not a password that you configured with the enable secret command (enable secret password). This password is encrypted and must be replaced with a new enable secret password. See the "Hot Tips" section on Cisco Connection Online (CCO) for information on replacing enable secret passwords.

Follow these steps to recover a lost enable password:

Step 1 Connect an ASCII terminal or a PC running a terminal emulation program to the Console port. For more information, see the Cisco 805 Router Hardware Installation Guide.

Step 2 Configure the terminal at 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit.

Step 3 Reboot the router.

Step 4 From user EXEC mode, display the existing configuration register value:

Router> show version

Step 5 Record the setting of the configuration register. The setting is usually 0x2102 or 0x102.

Step 6 Record the break setting.

Break enabled---bit 8 is set to 0.
Break disabled (default setting)---bit 8 is set to 1.

Note To enable break, enter the config-register 0x01 global configuration command.

Step 7 Do one of the following:

If break is enabled, go to Step 8.
If break is disabled, turn the router to STANDBY, wait 5 seconds, and turn it to ON again. Before the terminal displays Boot......, press Escape or Control-C. The terminal displays the ROM monitor prompt (boot #). Go to Step 9.

Note Some terminal keyboards have a key labeled Break. If your keyboard does not have a Break key, refer to the documentation that came with the terminal for instructions on how to send a break.

Step 8 Send a break. The terminal displays the following prompt:

boot#

Step 9 Reset the configuration register:

boot# set ios-conf=142

Step 10 Initialize the router:

boot# boot [flash]

The router cycles its power, and the configuration register is set to 0x142. The router uses the boot ROM system image, indicated by the system configuration dialog:

--- System Configuration Dialog ---

Step 11 Enter no in response to the prompts until the following message is displayed:

Press RETURN to get started!

Step 12 Press Return. The following prompt appears:

router>

Step 13 Enter privileged EXEC mode:

router> enable

The prompt changes to the privileged EXEC prompt:

router#

Step 14 Display the enable password in the configuration file:

router# show startup-config

Step 15 Enter configuration mode:

router# configure terminal

Step 16 Reset the configuration register:

router# config-register value

Specify the value that you recorded in Step 5 (usually 0x2102 or 0x102).

Step 17 Press Ctrl-Z to exit configuration mode.

Note To return to the configuration being used before recovering the lost enable password, do not save the configuration changes before rebooting the router.

Step 18 Reboot the router, and enter the recovered password.

Table of Contents

Recovering a Lost Enable Password

Recovering a Lost Enable Password