Setting password complexity

[Guest]

I want to create a password complexity policy that requires users' passwords
to be at least seven characters in length and include some combination of
letters and numbers. I can't seem to locate the necessary steps on doing
this. Please help! My job may depend on it (no joke). Thanks.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Start/run secpol.msc

Expand security settings/account policies/password policy

Set a minimum length and enable the complexity setting

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

I don't know if XP has that capability natively but if any group would have
the answer it would likely be, windowsxp.configuration_manage or
windowsxp.network_web, please try your question in those two groups.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Oh, I did not realize that was even there, thanks, Rick.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Rick.

Unfortunately, I wasn't specific enough when I wrote my posting. What I
need is a way to alter the complexity requirements that exist in the
passfilt.dll file so that users only have to meet two requirements. My
posting was written in a panic-fueled fit.

I think this may be beyond my abilities (it doesn't take much). If you have
any suggestions, I'm all ears. If not, I still appreciate the help.

Tom G.

 

[Vanguardx]

Thanks, Rick.

Unfortunately, I wasn't specific enough when I wrote my posting.
What I need is a way to alter the complexity requirements that exist
in the passfilt.dll file so that users only have to meet two
requirements. My posting was written in a panic-fueled fit.

I think this may be beyond my abilities (it doesn't take much). If
you have any suggestions, I'm all ears. If not, I still appreciate
the help.

Tom G.

It's been awhile, but my recollection is that if you want a different
set of complexity requirements then you need to code your own .dll file
and use that one. Since that sounds beyond your ability, I didn't
bother hunting around Microsoft for very long. The following articles:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/e...ing_and_registering_a_password_filter_dll.asp

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ong_password_enforcement_and_passfilt_dll.asp

indicate that you can alter password management. You would code
something like as decribed at http://support.microsoft.com/?id=151082
where, in this case, the for-loop tracks the minimum requirements of
your custom password quality requirements.

 

[Vanguardx]

I don't know if XP has that capability natively but if any group
would have the answer it would likely be,
windowsxp.configuration_manage or windowsxp.network_web, please try
your question in those two groups.

Might actually be one for the microsoft.public.security newsgroup.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Tom,

As was indicated by Vanguardx, to use anything other than the defaults you
need to write your own file. I can't help you there. The two options I
mentioned can be used in combination to force a seven character password and
that the user have a combination of letters/numbers.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Thanks, Vanguardx, good suggestion.