Q165384: HOWTO: How to Change the User Password Remotely and from Batch F
Article: Q165384
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:3.51,4.0
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kbnetwork kbAPI kbSDKPlatform kbNetAPI kbGrpDSNet
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
=======
This article describes how to change a password remotely and how to change a
collection of user passwords from a batch file.
MORE INFORMATION
================
Currently, a user's password can be changed in any of the following ways:
- Use User Manager to change a user's password.
- Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then click Change Password while you are logged on
to the computer.
- Type the following command from a member server or workstation in the domain:
net user <username> <password>
The sample code below can be compiled with Microsoft Visual C++ and returns,
through the standard output, the result of the change password request using
standard message formats.
CPW.C
+++++
Demonstrate the use of NetUserChangePassword to change the password for a
specific user account.
Microsoft provides examples of Visual C++ code for illustration only, without
warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied
warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The
Visual C++ code in this article are provided "as is" and Microsoft does not
guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft Technical
Support (MTS) Engineers can help explain the functionality, they will not modify
these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct
programs to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming
experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers.
Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating
custom programs. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call
Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400 or your local Microsoft
Subsidiary.
Limitations:
Passwords are exposed.
Standard error checking on the output NET_STATUS_API.
Does not support blank passwords.
// start of code
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <windows.h>
#include <LMACCESS.H>
#include <WINNT.H>
#include <LMCONS.H>
#define MAX_LENGTH 32
#define MAX_MSG_BUF_SIZE 32768
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
// DNLEN, UNLEN and PWLEN are constants from LMCONS.H
int changePasswordStatus; // buffer for the change password result
WCHAR domainname[DNLEN+1]; // buffer for the domain or workstation name
WCHAR username[UNLEN+1]; // buffer for the user name
WCHAR oldpassword[PWLEN+1]; // buffer for the old password
WCHAR newpassword[PWLEN+1]; // buffer for the new password
CHAR *msgBuf; // buffer for message text from system
int msgOutPut; // buffer to capture the result of
// FormatMessage for
// future use
// determine whether the number of parameters is correct
// if not then display the proper syntax
if (argc < 2 || argc > 5)
{
printf ("The syntax of the command is incorrect.\n");
printf ("\ncpw domainname username oldpassword newpassword\n");
return 0;
}
//convert all of the parameters from ANSI to UNICODE
MultiByteToWideChar(
CP_ACP, // code page
0, // character-type options
argv[1], // address of string to map
strlen(argv[1])+1, // number of characters in string inc null!!
(LPWSTR)&domainname, // address of wide-character buffer
sizeof(domainname) // size of buffer
);
MultiByteToWideChar(
CP_ACP, // code page
0, // character-type options
argv[2], // address of string to map
strlen(argv[2])+1, // number of characters in string inc null!!
(LPWSTR)&username, // address of wide-character buffer
sizeof(username) // size of buffer
);
MultiByteToWideChar(
CP_ACP, // code page
0, // character-type options
argv[3], // address of string to map
strlen(argv[3])+1, // number of characters in string inc null!!
(LPWSTR)&oldpassword, // address of wide-character buffer
sizeof(oldpassword) // size of buffer
);
MultiByteToWideChar(
CP_ACP, // code page
0, // character-type options
argv[4], // address of string to map
strlen(argv[4])+1, // number of characters in string inc null!!
(LPWSTR)&newpassword, // address of wide-character buffer
sizeof(newpassword) // size of buffer
);
// NetUserChangePassword expects UNICODE
// which is why we used the MultiByteToWideChar
// to convert from ANSI to UNICODE.
changePasswordStatus = NetUserChangePassword(
domainname, // pointer to server or domain name string
username, // pointer to user name string
oldpassword, // pointer to old password string
newpassword // pointer to new password string
);
// FormatMessage is beyond the scope of this
// article for detailed information on the use of
// FormatMessage, please refer to the on-line
// Documentation in Microsoft Visual C++
msgOutPut = FormatMessage(FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM |
FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER | FORMAT_MESSAGE_IGNORE_INSERTS |
40, NULL, changePasswordStatus, MAKELANGID(LANG_ENGLISH,
SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US), (LPTSTR) &msgBuf, MAX_MSG_BUF_SIZE,
NULL
);
printf("\n%s\n", msgBuf);
// Print the error message generated by FormatMessage
}
// end of code (do not include this line in the actual code)
Additional query words: NetUserChangePassword change password
======================================================================
Keywords : kbnetwork kbAPI kbSDKPlatform kbNetAPI kbGrpDSNet
Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search
Version : winnt:3.51,4.0
Issue type : kbhowto
=============================================================================
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.