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Changing Windows Passwords

When logging onto a network on a Windows System, there are several possible passwords that may be set. These include:

In all cases it is easiest for the user when all the password types mentioned above match each other along with the user name. This way the user will only need to enter one user name and password to gain acces to all the resources needed.

Windows 95/98

  1. Open the Control Panel by selecting "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel". The Windows Control Panel as shown below will be displayed.

    Control Panel

  2. Double click on the Passwords Applet which will open as shown below.

    Passwords Applet


  3. Click on the button that says "Change Windows Password". The Change Windows Password dialog box will appear as shown below. In Windows 95, the checkboxes will not appear. Select all possible selections which are normally "Microsoft Networking", and "Windows Screen Saver" (The windows screen saver selection does not appear with Windows 95). If Novell is installed on your system the selection "Novell Netware" will be available.
    Change Windows Password Dialog Box

    Once you have made your selections, click "OK". A "Change Windows Password" dialog box will appear with 3 fields:

    Enter your Windows 2000 network password in the "Old Password" box (This assumes that your windows 2000 network password and local Windows password are the same). Select "OK" and a dialog box should appear indicating that "The Windows password has been successfully changed".

    If there is an error, either the old password was entered incorrectly or all the passwords were not the same at the start of this procedure. In this case it is best to try to change each password individually or call your IT support staff.

Windows 2000 and NT

  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL on your keyboard.
  2. On the Windows Security dialog box the following selections will be available:
  3. Select "Change Password" and a Change Password dialog box will appear.
  4. Be sure your username is correct, and the "Log on to:" box contains the correct Windows Domain name.
  5. Enter your old password in the "Old Password" field.
  6. Enter your new password in the "New Password" field.
  7. Retype your new password in the "Confirm New Password" field.
  8. Click OK.
  9. The system will change all passwords for all logons possible to the one you just set. The system should present a small dialog box stating that your password has been changed.
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