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Installation
- SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements
- Preparing for Installation
- How to Download SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager (.exe)
- How to Request a Manual Download for SOLIDWORKS
- How To Order A SOLIDWORKS Media Kit
- Installing – A Complete Overview to Managing a CAD Environment
- SOLIDWORKS Hardware Guide
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- SOLIDWORKS Individual Installation
- How to Modify Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- How to Repair Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- Performing a Clean Uninstall
- How to Quickly Update SOLIDWORKS to a Newer Service Pack
- How to Transfer a Standalone License
- Install Multiple Versions
- SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard: How to Transfer SOLIDWORKS License
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- SOLIDWORKS Network Licensing
- How to Upgrade SolidNetWork License Manager
- Moving from SOLIDWORKS Standalone to Network Licenses
- Adding License to an Existing SolidNetwork License Manager
- Use Options File to Reserve Licenses for Specific Users
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Order Guide
- How to Reactivate SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses
- How to Move the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager to a New Server
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager Overview
- How to Install the SolidNetwork License Manager
- Reserve Licenses with Options File
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SOLIDWORKS Portal
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SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts
- SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard
- Accessing Xpress Tools
- How To Tell Who Has a SOLIDWORKS File Open
- How to Use SOLIDWORKS Pack and Go
- SOLIDWORKS Administration Overview
- Rebuild Types and How They Work
- Understanding SOLIDWORKS Settings and Templates
- How to create SOLIDWORKS Part, Assembly, and Drawing Templates
- Utilizing Cloud Storage with SOLIDWORKS
- Automate File Exports with Task Scheduler
- Troubleshooting Weldment Cut List Consolidation
- SOLIDWORKS Multi-sheet Custom Properties Source
- How to Use Save As with References
- How to Troubleshoot Graphical Issues
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PDM
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- PDM How to Work in Off-line Mode
- How to Use PDM Move Tree
- How to Use PDM Copy Tree
- PDM - What are Private State Files?
- PDM Search Operators
- How to Set PDM to Details View in Windows File Explorer
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Search Results – Which Configuration’s Variables are Displayed?
- PDM Automatic Login Options
- Preview Tab Options
- How To Overwrite Latest PDM Version
- Difference Between Versions and Revisions
- How to export search results from PDM
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- PDM Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities
- PDM License Type Matrix
- PDM Server Recommendations
- PDM Backup Procedures
- How to Reset Your SOLIDWORKS PDM Admin Password
- How to Control Get Version Commands
- Adding a PDM Vault View with a Windows Azure Active Directory Account
- PDM Major Minor Revisions
- How to Set Revision Manually in PDM
- How to Set Up Revision Tables
- PDM - What are Version Free Variables?
- PDM How to Rollback a File to a Previous Version
- PDM Setting Cache Options Automatically
- How to Change PDM Date Formatting
- How to Delete a PDM User Completely
- How to Reset Web2 Authentication in IIS
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Connectivity Test Tool
- How to Configure the SOLIDWORKS PDM Local HOSTS file to Resolve Server Name
- Create Local Vault View Shortcut
- How to Configure a Computer to be a PDM Task Host
- How to Setup a Dedicated Unattended Task Host
- How to use PDM Database Upgrade Tool
- Collect Support Information for PDM
- Update Credentials for PDM Archive Server
- Update Credentials for PDM Database Server
- Creating and Using PDM Labels
- Troubleshooting PDM Notifications
- PDM Cold Storage and How To Use It
- How to set the PDM Preview Tab Viewer
- How to reset the SQL password for the PDM Vault SQL Server
- SOLIDWORKS Strategies for Using the File Version Upgrade Tool (FVUT)
- How To Relocate An Existing SOLIDWORKS Vault View To Another Drive
- How to manually remove a disconnected PDM Vault View
- How To Relocate Vault Archive Folders To Another Drive
- How to Setup Toolbox in PDM - SOLIDWORKS
- Show all articles ( 20 ) Collapse Articles
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- Create Local Vault View
- How to Delete or Recreate a Local Vault View
- Create Local PDM Vault View Using .cvs File
- How to Change PDM Client License Type after Installation
- PDM File Version Upgrade Tool
- PDM Upgrade Checklist
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PDM Add-ins
- SOLIDWORKS PDM: Moving Server Components - Checklist
- How to Install SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
- SOLIDWORKS PDM / Manage Installation Guide (PDF)
- Install Microsoft SQL 2019 for PDM Professional
- How to Install PDM Client Software
- Change SQL Server License
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM - AUTOMATICALLY
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM - MANUALLY
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Known Solutions
- Windows Firewall Exceptions for SOLIDWORKS Network Based Products
- Why Users Need Local Admin Rights to Install SOLIDWORKS
- How to Run SOLIDWORKS with Administrator Permissions
- Blank SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager - Resolution
- SOLIDWORKS RX - The Ultimate CAD Diagnostic Tool
- SOLIDWORKS Safe Modes
- How to Force SOLIDWORKS to Use Your Graphics Card
- How to Ensure that You are Running a SOLIDWORKS Certified Graphics Card Driver
- Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
- Resolution to Common File Location Errors
- Non-Matching Internal ID
- Could not obtain a license for SOLIDWORKS CAM. Invalid (inconsistent) license key
- “The Source Folder Is Not Versioned Properly…” Error when Modifying Serial Number
- “A Newer Version of This Product is Already Installed” Error when Installing SOLIDWORKS
- "Error obtaining License (-85, 147, 0)"
- SOLIDWORKS Search Routine Order
- How to Restore Dismissed SOLIDWORKS Messages
- Viewing SOLIDWORKS Configurations in eDrawings
- How to Modify the Reference/Update Dialog Dismissal Time
- SOLIDWORKS Educational Resources
- How to Change the SOLIDWORKS Language
- Restore Your File Associations
- How To Reset SOLIDWORKS Registry
- Resolve "Sheet Format Could Not Be Located"
- How To Correct The "Default Templates Are Not Valid" Error
- Correcting foreign language characters in the FeatureManager Tree
- How to Collect CXPAs
- Show all articles ( 12 ) Collapse Articles
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Simulation
- Simulation Meshing Guide
- How to Duplicate and Reuse Simulation Study Data
- Setting Up Default Options for SOLIDWORKS Simulation Studies
- Which Type of Elements Should I Use?
- Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation Accurate?
- Getting Started with Simulation
- The Basics of Setting Up a Study in Simulation
- Do I Need Non-linear Simulation?
- Submodeling Studies – The What, Why, & How of Using Them in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- What To Do When you get the “Excessive Displacement” Warning in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- How to Create Temperature Dependent Custom Materials in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- How to Export Flow Simulation Results to Import into FEA
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3DEXPERIENCE
How to reset the SQL password for the PDM Vault SQL Server
SOLIDWORKS
How to reset the SQL password for the SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault SQL Server
When performing a number of actions on SOLIDWORKS PDM Archive Server, it is necessary to login to the SQL server using the SQL administrative username and password created when SQL Server was installed. By default this username is ‘sa’, but this may have been changed during the SQL Server installation.
Some of the situations you will need this information for include:
- Installation or upgrade of SOLIDWORKS PDM server components
- The initial creation of a PDM Vault
- Correcting “Could not access the item in the database” errors due to an incorrect username, password or a locked-out SQL administrator account
Understanding the ‘sa’ user for SQL Server
The default administrative username for SQL Server is named ‘sa’. For security purposes, some organizations may prefer to disable this account. This is because it is not only a well-known username since it is built in to SQL Server, but it also provides owner-level access to the SQL Server. The ‘sa’ account is a special account with built-in permissions, which make it an “all-on” or “all-off” type of account.
Connecting to the SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the simplest tool for PDM administrators to use in order to determine the correct account that the PDM Archive server should be using to connect to the SQL Server, as well as to reset the password for this account. This tool can be used on the server itself and/or on any other computer that is able to reach the server over the network.
The easiest way to download the current version of SMSS is to search on the Microsoft Download Center for it, click here to search now.
Logging in to the server using SSMS
If the SQL Server was installed with default options, then it will typically allow domain administrators or users with administrative rights on the server to access the security settings.
If SQL Server was setup to use SQL Authentication only, you will need to start the SQL server instance in Single User Mode so that you can login with a local Administrator account. See this article from Microsoft for performing this step:
- If your Windows account has administrative access to the server you can simply launch SMSS and login to the server using Windows Authentication.
- If you need to login with a special administrative account or must use Single User Mode you can log on to the SQL server (via remote desktop or directly on the server) and then use SMSS to login using Windows Authentication.
Determine the administrative username
There are two steps in determining if the default ‘sa’ user is in use. We will start by expanding the “Security\Logins” node in Object Explorer.
- To determine if the ‘sa’ account is active, double-click on the username or right-click and select “Properties”, then select the “Status” page. If the “Login:” setting is set to “Enabled” then the ‘sa’ account can be used to connect to the server for PDM tasks. If this is set to “Disabled”, then a custom account is being used
2. Examine the list of accounts in the Object Explorer. The first group of accounts listed will typically be built-in system accounts as well as the currently logged in user, with the ‘sa’ account being listed last. Any user accounts without the following prefixes: “##”, “NT AUTHORITY\”, “NT SERVER” or “<Domain Name>\” are custom created accounts
If there is more than one of these accounts you may need to examine the “Server Roles” page of the accounts to determine which is the correct account to use for PDM Archive server connections. If you have existing PDM Vaults then you can verify which account is currently used by using the Archive Server Configuration tool. See the instructions below for “Update the password on the PDM Archive Server” to see what the currently saved SQL username is.
Determine if the administrative username is locked out
Once you have identified the correct SQL username to use for database management in PDM, open the Login Properties page for that account by double-clicking on the username in the Object Explorer window.
Examine the status page to determine if the account has been locked out. If too many login attempts have occurred using an incorrect password the account may be locked out. Uncheck the “Login is locked out” box, click “OK” and try connecting again if you believe you know the correct password.
Reset the administrative password
Once you have identified the correct administrative user account, verified the account is not locked out, and determined that you need to reset the password, you can reset the password.
Open the Login Properties page for the appropriate account by double-clicking on the username in the Object Explorer window, then enter and confirm the new password (you do not need to enter the old password), then click “OK”.
Update the password on the PDM Archive Server
Now that you have the correct username and password for the SQL Server you must update the Archive Server settings to match this information.
- Log on to the PDM Archive server
- Open the “Archive Server Configuration” tool (click on the Windows button and start typing “Archive”)
a. If you click on the tool and it does not open then it is already running in the task pane. Expand the task pane, right-click on the “Archive Server Configuration” icon and choose “Open…”
3. Select “Tools”->”Default Settings”
4. Click the “Change…” button in the “SQL login” section
5. Enter the appropriate username then enter the password and confirm the password, then click “OK” on this window and the “Default Settings” window to complete the process
If you need to reset the PDM Admin user password you can follow the instructions in this article:
Technical Support
We hope you found this information valuable! If you have any follow-up questions and are an MLC CAD Systems customer, please contact support at
You can also contact us about Training or get help from our team by Calling us at 800-364-1652 x 2, Emailing us at solidworkssupport@mlc-cad.com, or Clicking here for SOLIDWORKS Technical Support.