How to reset the password on a Cisco switch


 * 1) 	Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation (for example, Hyper Terminal/PuTTY) to the console port of the switch.
 * 2) *	For Putty ensure that the Serial option is checked.
 * 3) 	Unplug the power cable.
 * 4) 	Power the switch and bring it to the switch: prompt:
 * 5) *	Hold down the mode button located on the left side of the front panel, while you reconnect the power cable to the switch. 2960, 2970: Release the Mode button when the SYST LED blinks amber and then turns solid green. When you release the Mode button, the SYST LED blinks green. 3560, 3750: Release the Mode button after approximately 15 seconds when the SYST LED turns solid green. When you release the Mode button, the SYST LED blinks green.
 * 6) 	You should then see this message.
 * 7) *	The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the flash file system to finish loading the operating system software: flash_init load_helper boot switch:
 * 8) 	Issue the flash_init command.
 * 9) *	Output: switch: flash_init Initializing Flash... flashfs[0]: 143 files, 4 directories flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 3612672 flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 2729472 flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 883200 flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 86 seconds ....done Initializing Flash. Boot Sector Filesystem (bs:) installed, fsid: 3 Parameter Block Filesystem (pb:) installed, fsid: 4 switch: !--- This output is from a 2900XL switch. Output from !--- other switches will vary slightly.
 * 10) 	Issue the load_helper command.
 * 11) *	Output: switch: load_helper switch:
 * 12) 	Issue the dir flash: command.
 * 13) *	Note: Make sure to type a colon ":" after the dir flash.
 * 14) *	The switch file system is displayed:
 * 15) *	Output: switch: dir flash: Directory of flash:/ 2    -rwx  1803357                 c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin !--- This is the current version of software. 4    -rwx  1131                    config.text !--- This is the configuration file. 5    -rwx  109                     info 6    -rwx  389                     env_vars 7    drwx  640                     html 18   -rwx  109                     info.ver 403968 bytes available (3208704 bytes used) switch: !--- This output is from a 3500XL switch. Output from !--- other switches will vary slightly.
 * 16) 	Type rename flash:config.text flash:config.old to rename the configuration file.
 * 17) *	Output: switch: rename flash:config.text flash:config.old switch: !--- The config.text file contains the password !--- definition.
 * 18) 	Issue the boot command to boot the system.
 * 19) *	Output: switch: boot Loading "flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin"... ###################################################################### File "flash:c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin" uncompressed and installed, entry po int: 0x3000 executing... !--- Output suppressed. !--- This output is from a 3500XL switch. Output from other switches !--- will vary slightly.
 * 20) 	Enter "n" at the prompt to abort the initial configuration dialog.
 * 21) *	--- System Configuration Dialog --- At any point you may enter a question mark '?' for help. Use ctrl-c to abort configuration dialog at any prompt. Default settings are in square brackets '[]'. Continue with configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n !--- Type "n" for no. Press RETURN to get started. !--- Press Return or Enter. Switch> !--- The Switch> prompt is displayed.
 * 22) 	At the switch prompt, type en to enter enable mode.
 * 23) *	Switch>en Switch#
 * 24) 	For password recovery type rename flash:config.old flash:config.text to rename the configuration file with its original name.
 * 25) 	Output: Switch#rename flash:config.old flash:config.text Destination filename [config.text] !--- Press Return or Enter. Switch#
 * 26) *	Copy the configuration file into memory with the command copy flash:config.text system:running-config.
 * 27) 	Output: Switch#copy flash:config.text system:running-config Destination filename [running-config]? !--- Press Return or Enter. 1131 bytes copied in 0.760 secs Sw1#
 * 28) 	The configuration file is now reloaded.
 * 29) 	Overwrite the current passwords that you do not know. Choose a strong password with at least one capital letter, one number, and one special character.
 * 30) *	Note: Overwrite the passwords which are necessary. You need not overwrite all of the mentioned passwords.
 * 31) *	To overwrite existing secret password Sw1(config)#enable secret
 * 32) *	To overwrite existing enable password Sw1(config)#enable password 
 * 33) *	To overwrite existing vty password Sw1(config)#line vty 0 15 Sw1(config-line)#password  Sw1(config-line)#login
 * 34) *	To overwrite existing console password Sw1(config-line)#line con 0 Sw1(config-line)#password 
 * 35) 	Write the running configuration to the configuration file with the write memory command.
 * 36) *	Sw1#write memory Building configuration... [OK] Sw1#
 * 37) 	Or use the copy running-config startup-config command
 * 38) *	Sw1#copy running-config startup-config Destination filename [startup-config]? Building configuration... [OK]

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