Recovering Cisco Router Passwords

The most common cause of lost passwords is when the administrator of the password is
no longer available, and has not left the correct passwords behind. Or, a failed router
configuration upload has left either the new or previous password corrupted or
ineffective.

If you find yourself locked out of your Cisco router, the first thing youll need to do is get
a copy of the enhanced version of Hyperterminal version !." or higher# from
http$%%www.hilgraeve.com . The version that comes with &indows does not send the right
break characters which you will need to gain access to the 'O((O) console when first
powering up the router. Once you have the Hilgraeve HyperTerminal *rivate +dition
installed, use the following steps to regain access to your router$

,. Connect a computer to the routers Console port using the Console cable that
came with your router.
-. Turn the router off using the power switch and turn it back on.
!. Once te.t starts popping up on the screen, send the break command CT'/ 0 1 or
CT'/ 01'+23 sometimes it is CT'/ 04#. This will abort the boot and present
you with a rommon ,5 prompt
6. 7rom the new prompt you need to change the configuration register using the
following command$ confreg 0x2142 (This command works for the Cisco
4000 series routers).
8. If you are using an older model of router you may need to enter o/r 0x2142
9. )ow you need to recycle the router with the reset command.
:. If you used the o/r command, then reset the router with the I command
;. Once the router finishes restarting you will find that there are no passwords to
deal with, and youll have direct access to the enabled mode.
<. Once in enabled mode enter this$ cop start run. This will copy the startup
config to the running config.
,". )e.t, go into configuration mode with the config t command
,,. Once there, enter the new password with the ena!"e secret password command
i.e. ena!"e secret xxxx#.
,-. )ow set the configuration register back to normal with this command$ confreg
0x2102
,!. +.it config mode and enter the command cop run start to copy the new
configuration to ram.
,6. )ow it is time to reload your router.
,8. Once the router is back up youll need to configure all of your interfaces with the
no shutdown command or they will not work.