Home > Ask the Enterprise Desktop Experts > Questions & Answers > Disabling the default Windows password filter
Ask The Enterprise Desktop Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Disabling the default Windows password filter

Roberta Bragg EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Roberta Bragg

Pose a Question
Other Enterprise Desktop Categories
Meet all Enterprise Desktop Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 17 November 2004
How do I disable the default Windows password filter? I am using Windows XP Pro. I want Windows to check password complexity requirements only when using my custom password filter, ignoring Windows default password filter when users change passwords. Is it possible?

>

Normally when a custom password filter is installed, it replaces the Windows password filter or even the entire logon process. When a log on is attempted, Windows looks at all valid password filters, so preventing the use of its own is important if you want to rely on yours entirely . I'm going to assume you have already written your own, though you can find an example script here. Microsoft also reveals its own passfilt.dll and instructions on how to write and use your own filter.

Now, to prevent Windows from using passfilt.dll simply requires setting the password policy to NOT require complexity. This setting is at "Windows Settings/Security Settings/Password Policy/Password must meet complexity requirements." Simply change it to disabled if it is enabled. If your password filter is also checking for password size, history and other Windows password settings, you can set them to null here as well. I wouldn't, however, change the "Store passwords using reversible encryption" setting. It's disabled by default for a reason. It allows storing passwords in an easily recoverable form. This is required by some classic non-Windows clients, and that's why its available. It is generally used as a user account variable and not as a system wide variable and only if necessary.


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   



RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Desktop Solutions - Windows for Enterprise
HomeTopicsITKnowledge ExchangeTipsMultimediaWhite PapersBlogs
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2008 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts