Windows Web Server 2008 R2 Server Core local password complexity

Question

How can I disable the local user account password complexity settings on Windows 2008 R2 "Server Core"?

I am trying to migrate our windows 2003 web server to windows 2008 R2. I am trying to see if I can use the "Server Core" install, and it has been a very internet search intensive experience.

What I can't find out how to do is to find out how to disable password complexity for local user accounts. While our user account generator currently creates nice strong passwords, there was a time when this was not the case and unfortunately forcing the users to change their password is not an option at this time.

Any help greatly appreciated. Dennis

Answer 1

From http://thebackroomtech.com/2008/03/10/windows-server-2008-password-complexity-requirements/

To lift the password complexity:

secedit /export /cfg C:\new.cfg

Then you edit new.cfg (it is ini format) and change line “PasswordComplexity = 1″ to “PasswordComplexity = 0″.

Apply it with:

secedit /configure /db %windir%\security\new.sdb /cfg C:\new.cfg /areas SECURITYPOLICY