BUILTIN\Administrators removed - how to undo it

Question

SQL Server 2000 Standard, Windows 2003
My coworker removed 'BUILTIN\Administrators' group from SQL Server which results in 'SQL Server Agent' not working. All my TSQLs to synchronize databases stopped working.

I have Administrator rights on the server and my database user is in sysadmin role.

Does any one have idea how to bring 'BUILTIN\Administrators' back without restoring master database from backup?

Edit: When I try to add Administrators or MACHINENAME\Administrators using Enterprise Manager I have this group on the list to choose, but when I accept my choice I have error:

Error 15041: Windows NT user or group 'MACHINENAME\Administrators' not found. Check the name again

of course instead of MACHINENAME I see my server name

Edit2: Found it

1. Login as sysadmin
2. Run following TSQL queries
   EXEC sp_grantlogin 'BUILTIN\Administrators'
   and
   EXEC sp_addsrvrolemember 'BUILTIN\Administrators','sysadmin'

Answer 1

Using Enterprise Manager, can't you just go into Logins and add "Administrators" as a Windows Login to the server? Then add the login to the sysadmin role?

If you can't use "Administrators", try "MACHINENAME\Administrators" (obviously substituting MACHINENAME for the actual name).

Sorry I don't have a more definitive answer, I don't really want to try it :)

Answer 2

You don't want to re-add 'BUILTIN\Administrators' as it is a SQL Server 2000 security flaw. All domain administrators will have full sysadmin rights to your SQL Server to drop databases etc.

Find the account that is running SQL Agent (Right click SQL Server agent in enterprise manager and select properties). Then add this account as a SQL Server login using windows authentication and add it to the sysadmin fixed server role.