Administrator needs to track user passwords

[encantar]

I am the administrator for a home network. I don't need to reset user passwords at this time. Is there a way for me to simply find out what the user passwords are?

 

[profdlp]

Since it's a home network, why not just ask your family members.

 

[WindowsStar]

I am the administrator for a home network. I don't need to reset user passwords at this time. Is there a way for me to simply find out what the user passwords are?

@encantar, The problem with your request is that this sounds extremely fishy. If you are the Admin of a home network then you have the power to reset passwords and if you need to know them you can ask your family for them, or you can set them to something only you and they (each person) know and lock it so they cannot change the password.

On the other hand if you are trying to get us to tell you how to hack passwords you will get no help here. We don’t provide support for illegal or unscrupulous actions.

If you have a completely legit reason please post a lot more information and I am sure we can figure something out. -WS

 

[Tews]

Hmmm... something isn't passing the sniff test here... :huh:

 

[encantar]

I didn't expect this question to raise suspicions...but I can understand your concern. Let me ask something perhaps simpler, and less aromatic. Can I simply set the user's accounts up so that they can't use a password at all? There isn't any good reason for them to be able to lock others out, the individual accounts are just set up so each can pick their own backgrounds, etc.

 

[profdlp]

You can set the password to "blank". (As in, nothing there at all.) That won't prevent a user from changing it if they don't want someone looking in on them, though.

 

[Petey7]

Are the other accounts standard accounts? If they are you can use parental controls to do a lot of stuff, possibly including preventing them from creating passwords. You can also remove passwords, making it where as soon as an account is selected, you log directly into it.

 

[encantar]

Each is a standard user account. Will parental controls allow me to block setting passwords? If I do, will they lose access to any of their existing data or settings?

 

[Petey7]

I haven't played around with parental controls much since I am the only user of this PC. Looking at our tutorials for it, it doesn't look like it, but you can try.

Also, what version of 7 do you have? Some versions have the group policy editor that can be used used for things like this.

 

[encantar]

I was just experimenting with parental controls after setting up a dummy user account. I see where I can delete the passwords but I don't see any way to block the password feature. It sounds like the only data that would be lost are certificates, web passwords, etc. which aren't too big a deal. Is there a password block function? I think that would solve any potential problems.

 

[CarlTR6]

I am the administrator for a home network. I don't need to reset user passwords at this time. Is there a way for me to simply find out what the user passwords are?

@encantar, The problem with your request is that this sounds extremely fishy. If you are the Admin of a home network then you have the power to reset passwords and if you need to know them you can ask your family for them, or you can set them to something only you and they (each person) know and lock it so they cannot change the password.

On the other hand if you are trying to get us to tell you how to hack passwords you will get no help here. We don’t provide support for illegal or unscrupulous actions.

If you have a completely legit reason please post a lot more information and I am sure we can figure something out. -WS

Excellent answer.

 

[Barman58]

By the use of the group policy editor it should be possible to set the password to blank, password never expires, and user cannot change password - which should give what you require, GPedit is of course only available in Pro or Ultimate.

Personally I would actually embrace the password use as It is the norm in professional systems and is good policy to become used to the norm. Also in most family situations the use of a password scheme prevents a lot of "who changed my computer" arguments, an administrator of any system has enough to do without making work. If the users are young this is especially true

 

[WindowsStar]

By the use of the group policy editor it should be possible to set the password to blank, password never expires, and user cannot change password - which should give what you require, GPedit is of course only available in Pro or Ultimate.

Personally I would actually embrace the password use as It is the norm in professional systems and is good policy to become used to the norm. Also in most family situations the use of a password scheme prevents a lot of "who changed my computer" arguments, an administrator of any system has enough to do without making work. If the users are young this is especially true

Excellent Post! Thank you.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

By the use of the group policy editor it should be possible to set the password to blank, password never expires, and user cannot change password - which should give what you require, GPedit is of course only available in Pro or Ultimate.

Personally I would actually embrace the password use as It is the norm in professional systems and is good policy to become used to the norm. Also in most family situations the use of a password scheme prevents a lot of "who changed my computer" arguments, an administrator of any system has enough to do without making work. If the users are young this is especially true

Great Post Nigel. That is some argument that happens very often
I too recommend password just make sure you rite it down in a safe place where only you have access too. It's good to follow strong password etiquette.