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SQL server question

Pointerguy 0 Reputation points
2025-03-18T18:29:04.22+00:00

Trying to help a small business with their server and SQL server after their IT person retired. I have some advanced knowledge of IT but am learning as I go as well.

Before I did anything with the server, they were not able to sign into the OS of the server but the program, Lytec, was still working and they were able to access the software and database from multiple workstations. The server they have is a Dell Power edge T320 using Windows Server 2012. They recently needed the CMOS battery changed. Unfortunately they lost the BIOS settings and I had to change the SATA settings from ACHI to RAID. The server was able to boot up properly then. We still are unable to log in to the OS since they have no clue what the password is.

They have the server which apparently contains the domain controller and the active directory, and possibly the SQL server database but I am not sure about that. Then they have another PC sitting next to it running Windows 11 Pro that also has SQL server with the database on this as well. They told me the old IT person was able to rig it to work off each other and I'm not sure how that was done. Then they have four other workstations that have the program on each one but they need to sign into the program with credentials.

The issue now is when we try accessing the program called Lytec on any of the workstations I get the error message of the picture attached. If you access the Lytec program on the Windows 11 Pro with the SQL server database then you don't get that message but you also can't send out payments to the clearinghouse as it is looking for the Revenue Management Practice List which I have no clue where that lives. I'd assume on the Dell server??Image

Any help would be most appreciated. Any guidelines or steps would help to get this figured out. If anyone has any suggestions on how to bypass the OS password prompt to access the server would help. They do not have the original ISO of Windows Server 2012 in CD or USB to recover.

I'm a little new to SQL server so I could definitely learn something from this. I'm assuming the workstations are trying to connect with the SQL server on the actual server and not the Windows 11 Pro PC SQL server? Is there a way for it to bypass the server?

imagejpeg_0

Please help!

SQL Server Database Engine
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  1. Erland Sommarskog 119.8K Reputation points MVP
    2025-03-18T21:59:31.1666667+00:00

    I am afraid that there are so many unknowns here, that it is impossible to give an answer here.

    When it comes to the Windows OS you cannot log into, you should ask a separate question with a Windows Server tag. But I suspect that the answer is that you don't. I mean, it would be kind of bad from a security perspective if there really was a backdoor.

    What you could do, though, is to build a new server, and then attach the disk from the old server to the new machine. Even better would be to clone the disks with some tool, so that you have the originals intact.

    You would have to install SQL Server on the new machine, but the databases are there on the old disk can be attached to the new instance. Maybe it even works with replacing master on the new machine.

    None of this simple stuff, and it will be time-consuming with all the trial and error with this Lytec system that you don't seem to know how it is configured.

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