Usual answer to using an erd from one installation on another - is no...; and to the best of my knowledge it remains that way. An erd is specific to the system it was made on.
Check out the refs. I posted abov; see if you can locate the account for this BDC and set a new password for it that way (Server Manager util?).
Failing that... possibly an in-place repair may help. This as in re-install the OS (again as a BDC) - to exactly the same folder-name/location etc. as it is now; via a standard floppies + CD (or CD only boot) - not from witn the actual OS when booted locally. In other words follow standard installation procedure for a BDC but to same directory.
Two approaches to "repairing NT" - with and without and erd; and where sp4 or later is involved... are disussed at (and you may need to use the last routine in the duscussion as you have no erd...)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q19...
This one is the usual repair routine:
http://windowsreinstall.com/install...
This article is a lengthy and knowledgeable discusion on pasword s etc... and includes this (second) link (see immediately below the main one):
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kb...
http://www.lostpassword.com/windows...
The utilitiy is not cheap... (and there are several others referred to in the article) but then experience inevitably does have to be paid for... ; but it may do what you want...?
I'd be wary of changing admin passwords for the whole installation - going for a restore of current one to problem system would be better... A rebuild (in-place upgrade/repair of problem system) would be my likely option if I can't detect (but carefully avoid changing) the actual password on on another working system using one of the utils in the above article? But if you do end up resetting entire system admin passowrd... - go carefully...; and ensure that you keep a note of each system's data; that you have erd for "every" pc on the lan - before and after any changes; that you test the admin password out on each system. In truth I doubt I would go that far; why risk wrecking (locking your self out completely of a ) working system for one bdc...; rebuild the bdc instead?
My feeling is that an in-place upgrade (re-install) over the current bdc installation - as though installing it for the first time (thus you ensure you are on the lan at appropriate time) may resolve it all.
Also I'd locate/delete the SAM file from the current (problem bdc) instllation - first. And maybe copy it to a floppy - or park it somewhere on the drive in a specific folder; just in case you need to restore it if the in-place/upgrade doesn't go thru' (although it's clearly not much use)?
By deleting the existing SAM you will definitely be asked for a new password for/during the upgrade installation; and I'm presuming that this will find it's way to the PDC in due course and allow you to log in to the domain anon?
Also once you delete the SAM file on a system it will automatically ask for an Admin account login/password (new in both cases) on next boot up . But this will be a local-level if I'm thinking correctly; not sure if it will go thru to Domain level and allow you domain access/control etc; one can only try. And I'd give this a try out before going the in-place upgrades etc; who knows it might do what's required? Not having been in your precdicament... I'm not drawing on personal experience...
And again - when you do get this bdc up again... make an ERD; keep it safe etc...; and do the same for all other pcs on the lan - regardless of their status. You are learning the hard way why one has such items...
If you are willing to try it.. and if it works - fine; it it doesn't then a rebuild (one way or another) of the problem bdc will (almost certainly?) be required..., try an erd fromaanothe bdc, IF - and it's a big IF - the two systems are truly identical in terms of hardward, motherboard - everything critical... - it "might" just work? I haven't tried it ever; none of my systems are twins; and I know of no-one who has tried/done it successfully; but who knows? As a last resort prior to a rebuild (in-place upgrade or whatever) it may not hurt to try?
