Reset a user password

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To reset a user password

Open Active Directory Users and Computers.
In the console tree, click Users.

Where?
- Active Directory Users and Computers/domain node/Users
Or, click the folder that contains the user account.
In the details pane, right-click the user whose password you want to reset, and then click Reset Password.
Type and confirm the password.
If you want to require the user to change this password at the next logon process, select the User must change password at next logon check box.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Account Operators group, Domain Admins group, or the Enterprise Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
To open Active Directory Users and Computers, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Active Directory Users and Computers.
Services that are authenticated with a user account must be reset if the password for the service's user account is changed.

Open Command Prompt.
Type:

dsmod userUserDN-pwdNewPassword
If you want to require the user to change this password at the next logon process, Type:

dsmod userUserDN-mustchpwd {yes|no}

Value	Description
UserDN	Specifies the distinguished name of the user for which the password will be reset.
NewPassword	Specifies the password that will replace the current user password.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Account Operators group, Domain Admins group, or the Enterprise Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt.
If a password is not assigned, then the first time the user tries to log on (using a blank password), a logon message will appear that says "You are required to change your password at first logon" and after user has changed the password, the logon process continues.
Services that are authenticated with a user account must be reset if the password for the service's user account is changed.
To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type:

dsmod user /?

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.