Password Recovery on a Cisco Switch

Procedure for performing a password recovery on a Cisco 2950 switch (and probably other models, as well).

1. Unplug the power cable

2. Hold down the mode button while replugging the power cable

3. Type flash_init over the console

4. Type load_helper

5. Type Dir flash :
//make sure to type the semi-colons

6. Type rename flash:config.txt flash:config.old
//the password is contained in the config.txt file

7. Type boot
//this reboots the system

8. Type n to skip the initial setup configuration

9. Type enable
//this takes you to the enable mode

10. Type rename flash:config.old flash:config.txt

11. Save config.txt to system
#copy flash:config.txt system:running-config

12. Enter config mode and change the password
# config t
# no enable secret
//this applies only if the enable secret password was created

13. Finally, write the changes to memory
# write memory