Microsoft KB Archive/821425

= Users Receive a Password Complexity Requirements Message That Does Not Specify Character Group Requirements for a Password =

Article ID: 821425

Article Last Modified on 11/4/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition

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SUMMARY
When you set the Passwords must meet complexity requirements policy setting, and a user logs on to the computer or to a domain and types a password in the Change Password dialog box that does not meet the complexity requirements, the user receives the following message:

Your password must be at least  characters; cannot repeat any of your previous   passwords; must contain capitals, numerals or punctuation; and cannot contain your account or full name. Please type a different password. Type a password which meets these requirements in both text boxes.

This message is expected behavior when a user tries to change the password and the password does not meet the complexity requirements that you set. However, some of the content of the message may be confusing to some users because it does not explicitly specify that the password must contain at least three of the following four character groups:
 * English uppercase characters (A through Z)
 * English lowercase characters (a through z)
 * Numerals (0 through 9)
 * Non-alphabetic characters (such as !, $, #, %)



MORE INFORMATION
After you apply the hotfix that is documented in this article, a user receives the following message when he or she tries to change the password to a password that does not meet the complexity requirements that are specified in the password policy:

The password supplied does not meet the minimum complexity requirements. Please select another password that meets all of the following criteria:

is at least  characters;

has not been used in the previous  passwords;

does not contain your account or full name;

contains at least three of the following four character groups:

English uppercase characters (A through Z);

English lowercase characters (a through z);

Numerals (0 through 9);

Non-alphabetic characters (such as !, $, #, %)

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Date        Time   Version      Size       File name -- 29-May-2003 09:56  5.2.3790.42  1,187,328  Msgina.dll

Service pack information
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed on the computer.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Date        Time   Version        Size     File name

27-May-2003 11:15  5.1.2600.1226  969,216  Msgina.dll 27-May-2003 08:50  5.1.2600.1226  527,872  Xpsp2res.dll

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) installed on the computer.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Date        Time   Version        Size       File name

02-Jun-2003 10:15  5.0.2195.6751    333,072  Msgina.dll 29-May-2003 12:22  5.0.2195.6748  4,576,256  Sp3res.dll



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbqfe kbwinxppresp2fix kbwin2000presp5fix kbwinserv2003presp1fix kbhotfixserver KB821425

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