Network Password Changer Version 2 Beta

Network Password Changer has been extensively rewritten in Version 2 to counter problems identified with Network Password Changer version 1. The changes to Network Password Changer to irradicate the problems below are currently available in a beta version:

Takes too long to start as it enumerates the network before closing the splash screen.
Takes a long time to do anything that enumerates the network (including changing the password), especially on windows XP.
Unable to interrupt the process.
Does not say when it has completed.
Can't easily see which computers it would try to change passwords on, without actually changing the passwords on them.
Always changes accounts on domain controllers when they match - not always what is wanted.
Does not support checking for updates

If you wish to take part in the beta process then please send an email to Twaddle Software to recieve notifications of future releases, and download the latest beta from the table below

Registry Settings

Registry settings are stored in the registry at:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Twaddle Software\Network Password Changer\2.0]

Name

Type

Value Meanings

Description

SearchType

DWORD

Value	Description
0	Search in Current domain/workgroup only
1	Search in all domains/workgroup

Controls the scope of searching. If you only have one domain, or are experiencing unacceptable performance with searching in all domains then selecting the current (computers current) domain is fastest

CheckForUpdatesAtStart

DWORD

Value	Description
0	Do not check for updates
1	Check for updates

Determines whether or not Network Password Changer will look for (and download) any available updates to Network Password Changer whenever the program starts up.

IgnoreDomainControllers

DWORD

Value	Description
0	Return Domain Controllers in the list of computers returned
1	Ignore Domain Controllers whenever they are found

Returning domain controllers can confuse Network Password Changer when there are multiple Domain Controllers and Trust Relationships between domains. By ignoring domain controllers users can restrict changes to local accounts on computers only.

DontShowSplashScreenAtStart

DWORD

Value	Description
0	Splash screen is displayed on startup
1	Splash screen is not displayed on startup

On Remote Desktop Connections (e.g. Terminal Server Clients) the splash screen can take an inordinate amount of time to display. Turning the splash scren off enables a quick startup.

TryToChangeBlankPasswordsWhenUsersPasswordFails

DWORD

Value	Description
0	When password changing fails, do not try again with an empty old password
1	If password change fails then try changing the password, but by using an empty password.

To include users which don't have an existing password in the password change process as well as ones which have the specified password.

Sample Screenshots

Main Screen

Options Screen

Computers you can access screen

Beta Release History

Version	Build	Date	Changes/Comments
2.00	3	5th December 2003	Beta 2 Download NetworkPasswordChangerBeta2.exe Known Problems Windows XP Themes are not used. Cancel buttons do not cancel. No Icon for task bar or main window. Update checking is insecure as it automatically downloads the exe for you (although this can be turned off). Not implemented Cancel button on View\Computers Progress dialog. Cancel button on Change Password Progress dialog. No Manual check for update, although menu item is now there. Installation Instructions Download NetworkPasswordChangerBeta2.exe. Run NetworkPasswordChanger.exe from the folder you installed it or Start\Programs\Twaddle Software\Network Password Changer\Network Password Changer Default Values for options Look for computers in : All Domains. Do Not change password on Domain Controlers : Checked Check for updates whenever program starts : Checked Don't Show splash screen at start : Unchecked Where blank remote passwords are found, try to set password anyway : Unchecked
2.00	2	5th December 2003	Beta 1 Download NetworkPasswordChangerBeta1.zip Known Problems Windows XP Themes are not used. Cancel buttons do not cancel. No install program. No Icon for task bar or main window. Update checking is insecure as it automatically downloads the exe for you (although this can be turned off). Not implemented Options screen: Don't show splash screen at start. Options screen: Where blank remote passwords are found try to set password anyway.. Help\About dialog. Cancel button on View\Computers Progress dialog. Cancel button on Change Password Progress dialog. No Manual check for update. Installation Instructions Download NetworkPasswordChangerBeta1.zip. Extract files into a new folder Run NetworkPasswordChanger.exe Default Values for options Look for computers in : All Domains. Do Not change password on Domain Controlers : Checked Check for updates whenever program starts : Checked Don't Show splash screen at start : Unchecked Where blank remote passwords are found, try to set password anyway : Unchecked

Version

Build

Date

Changes/Comments

2.00

5th December 2003

Beta 2

Download

NetworkPasswordChangerBeta2.exe

Known Problems

Windows XP Themes are not used.
Cancel buttons do not cancel.
No Icon for task bar or main window.
Update checking is insecure as it automatically downloads the exe for you (although this can be turned off).

Not implemented

Cancel button on View\Computers Progress dialog.
Cancel button on Change Password Progress dialog.
No Manual check for update, although menu item is now there.

Installation Instructions

Download NetworkPasswordChangerBeta2.exe.
Run NetworkPasswordChanger.exe from the folder you installed it or Start\Programs\Twaddle Software\Network Password Changer\Network Password Changer

Default Values for options

Look for computers in : All Domains.
Do Not change password on Domain Controlers : Checked
Check for updates whenever program starts : Checked
Don't Show splash screen at start : Unchecked
Where blank remote passwords are found, try to set password anyway : Unchecked

2.00

5th December 2003

Beta 1

Download

NetworkPasswordChangerBeta1.zip

Known Problems

Windows XP Themes are not used.
Cancel buttons do not cancel.
No install program.
No Icon for task bar or main window.
Update checking is insecure as it automatically downloads the exe for you (although this can be turned off).

Not implemented

Options screen: Don't show splash screen at start.
Options screen: Where blank remote passwords are found try to set password anyway..
Help\About dialog.
Cancel button on View\Computers Progress dialog.
Cancel button on Change Password Progress dialog.
No Manual check for update.

Installation Instructions

Download NetworkPasswordChangerBeta1.zip.
Extract files into a new folder
Run NetworkPasswordChanger.exe

Default Values for options

Look for computers in : All Domains.
Do Not change password on Domain Controlers : Checked
Check for updates whenever program starts : Checked
Don't Show splash screen at start : Unchecked
Where blank remote passwords are found, try to set password anyway : Unchecked

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