# Cisco IOS Router Password Recovery **URL:** https://forum.networklessons.com/t/cisco-ios-router-password-recovery/1091 **Category:** Lessons Discussion **Created:** [December 26, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/cisco-ios-router-password-recovery/1091 "2016-12-26T22:40:24Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 5
### Author: ![andrew](https://cdn-forum.networklessons.com/user_avatar/forum.networklessons.com/andrew/32/645_2.png) [@andrew](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/andrew) #### Post date: [August 15, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/cisco-ios-router-password-recovery/1091/5 "2016-08-15T23:34:22Z")
Alexis, Yes, the standard procedure for recovering a password does not cause you to lose your startup configuration information. The exact procedure differs slightly for different products, so I will use a 2900 series router as an example below. A high level overview of the process is: -Attach the terminal cable to the console port -Reboot the router and issue a BREAK during the boot -Change the configuration register so that the device boots to ROMMON (usually 0x2142) -Issue the Reset command at the rommon\> prompt * * * **Important Step for your Question:** -Copy startup configuration to running configuration ( **make sure you do NOT reverse this!!** ). This step loads your saved configuration into active memory, but since you are already in the privileged mode, you have essentially bypassed any security associated with the startup config. * * * -Set the passwords that were lost -Change your config-register back to the default (probably 0x2102) -Issue a Write Memory to save your password and config register changes -Reboot the device Here is a more detailed Cisco Article: [http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/routers/2800-series-integrated-services-routers/112033-c2900-password-recovery-00.html](http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/routers/2800-series-integrated-services-routers/112033-c2900-password-recovery-00.html) --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/cisco-ios-router-password-recovery/1091)._