Change User Passwords from the Command Prompt
The following commands can be run from any NT 4.0, W2K, XP Pro, or Windows 2003 Server computer.
Note: You must add the /domain switch to the commands otherwise it will be performed on the local SAM and not the Domain Controller SAM.
For example, if you wanted to change the password of a local user account, type the following:
net user account password_here
Replace account with the user’s username.
To change a user’s domain password at the command prompt, log on as an administrator and type:
net user account * /domain
You will be prompted to type a new password for the user and then asked to type it again to confirm it.
The password should now be changed.
Alternatively, you can type the following command:
net user account password /domain
By using this command, the password changes without prompting you to confirm it. Because you aren’t prompted to confirm the password, it allows you to change multiple passwords of different user accounts from within a batch file.
If you attempt to change a password from an account without administrator privileges, you will receive an error message like “System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied.”
