Are the losses of resetting a Windows password reversible?
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
In Windowses (XP SP3, Windows 7, et al), setting Windows' login/account/user password by:
- Run --> Compmgmt.msc --> Local Users and Groups --> Users --> Right Click on a user in right panel --> Set password...
shows:
Resetting this password might cause irreversible loss of information
for this user account. For security reasons, Windows protects
certain information by making it impossible to access if the user's
password is reset.
Update (added the end of this warning)
"The data loss will occur the next time the user log off.
You should use this command only if a user has forgotten his or her
password and does not have a password reset disk. If this user has
created a password reset disk should use the disk to set the
password.
If the user knows the password and wants to change it, he or she
should log in, then use User Accounts in Control Panel to change the
password.
For additional information, click Help.
Buttons: Proceed, Cancel, Help"
and in next dialog box:
If you click OK, the following will occur:
- The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Or, more specifically, do these losses still occur, if I
- change the password first to another (new) one and, after that, by the same procedure,to a previous (old) one?
- if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the old password?
i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this procedure)?
Update:
As developer, I know that deleting and then recreating an object doesn't restore the old object, just creates identical copy (with usually tedious manual work of restoring references, links, dependencies which are rarely even known since frequently created dynamically, in run-time).
And the question has huge implications for practical system administration especially in workgroups, sometimes big ones.
windows-7 windows windows-xp security passwords
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
In Windowses (XP SP3, Windows 7, et al), setting Windows' login/account/user password by:
- Run --> Compmgmt.msc --> Local Users and Groups --> Users --> Right Click on a user in right panel --> Set password...
shows:
Resetting this password might cause irreversible loss of information
for this user account. For security reasons, Windows protects
certain information by making it impossible to access if the user's
password is reset.
Update (added the end of this warning)
"The data loss will occur the next time the user log off.
You should use this command only if a user has forgotten his or her
password and does not have a password reset disk. If this user has
created a password reset disk should use the disk to set the
password.
If the user knows the password and wants to change it, he or she
should log in, then use User Accounts in Control Panel to change the
password.
For additional information, click Help.
Buttons: Proceed, Cancel, Help"
and in next dialog box:
If you click OK, the following will occur:
- The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Or, more specifically, do these losses still occur, if I
- change the password first to another (new) one and, after that, by the same procedure,to a previous (old) one?
- if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the old password?
i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this procedure)?
Update:
As developer, I know that deleting and then recreating an object doesn't restore the old object, just creates identical copy (with usually tedious manual work of restoring references, links, dependencies which are rarely even known since frequently created dynamically, in run-time).
And the question has huge implications for practical system administration especially in workgroups, sometimes big ones.
windows-7 windows windows-xp security passwords
2
I wonder why we don't get this warning when changing passwords using Control Panel > User Accounts
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 0:59
Yes, I also wanted to write about it but then decided to keep the question less bloated. Note than in case using Control Panel > User Accounts one should enter the old password
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 25 '12 at 4:33
"one should enter the old password" what effect does this have over not entering the old password in computer management? Probably should make a SU question out of this.
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 17:36
2
@Moab: if you are changing your own password, you enter the old password and Windows decrypts and then re-encrypts your encryption key, so that there is no data loss.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:52
Note that you can disable file encryption with group policy, although stored passwords and personal security certificates might still be an issue.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:54
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
In Windowses (XP SP3, Windows 7, et al), setting Windows' login/account/user password by:
- Run --> Compmgmt.msc --> Local Users and Groups --> Users --> Right Click on a user in right panel --> Set password...
shows:
Resetting this password might cause irreversible loss of information
for this user account. For security reasons, Windows protects
certain information by making it impossible to access if the user's
password is reset.
Update (added the end of this warning)
"The data loss will occur the next time the user log off.
You should use this command only if a user has forgotten his or her
password and does not have a password reset disk. If this user has
created a password reset disk should use the disk to set the
password.
If the user knows the password and wants to change it, he or she
should log in, then use User Accounts in Control Panel to change the
password.
For additional information, click Help.
Buttons: Proceed, Cancel, Help"
and in next dialog box:
If you click OK, the following will occur:
- The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Or, more specifically, do these losses still occur, if I
- change the password first to another (new) one and, after that, by the same procedure,to a previous (old) one?
- if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the old password?
i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this procedure)?
Update:
As developer, I know that deleting and then recreating an object doesn't restore the old object, just creates identical copy (with usually tedious manual work of restoring references, links, dependencies which are rarely even known since frequently created dynamically, in run-time).
And the question has huge implications for practical system administration especially in workgroups, sometimes big ones.
windows-7 windows windows-xp security passwords
In Windowses (XP SP3, Windows 7, et al), setting Windows' login/account/user password by:
- Run --> Compmgmt.msc --> Local Users and Groups --> Users --> Right Click on a user in right panel --> Set password...
shows:
Resetting this password might cause irreversible loss of information
for this user account. For security reasons, Windows protects
certain information by making it impossible to access if the user's
password is reset.
Update (added the end of this warning)
"The data loss will occur the next time the user log off.
You should use this command only if a user has forgotten his or her
password and does not have a password reset disk. If this user has
created a password reset disk should use the disk to set the
password.
If the user knows the password and wants to change it, he or she
should log in, then use User Accounts in Control Panel to change the
password.
For additional information, click Help.
Buttons: Proceed, Cancel, Help"
and in next dialog box:
If you click OK, the following will occur:
- The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Or, more specifically, do these losses still occur, if I
- change the password first to another (new) one and, after that, by the same procedure,to a previous (old) one?
- if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the old password?
i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this procedure)?
Update:
As developer, I know that deleting and then recreating an object doesn't restore the old object, just creates identical copy (with usually tedious manual work of restoring references, links, dependencies which are rarely even known since frequently created dynamically, in run-time).
And the question has huge implications for practical system administration especially in workgroups, sometimes big ones.
windows-7 windows windows-xp security passwords
windows-7 windows windows-xp security passwords
edited Apr 25 '12 at 4:56
asked Apr 24 '12 at 14:45
Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
35021026
35021026
2
I wonder why we don't get this warning when changing passwords using Control Panel > User Accounts
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 0:59
Yes, I also wanted to write about it but then decided to keep the question less bloated. Note than in case using Control Panel > User Accounts one should enter the old password
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 25 '12 at 4:33
"one should enter the old password" what effect does this have over not entering the old password in computer management? Probably should make a SU question out of this.
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 17:36
2
@Moab: if you are changing your own password, you enter the old password and Windows decrypts and then re-encrypts your encryption key, so that there is no data loss.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:52
Note that you can disable file encryption with group policy, although stored passwords and personal security certificates might still be an issue.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:54
|
show 1 more comment
2
I wonder why we don't get this warning when changing passwords using Control Panel > User Accounts
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 0:59
Yes, I also wanted to write about it but then decided to keep the question less bloated. Note than in case using Control Panel > User Accounts one should enter the old password
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 25 '12 at 4:33
"one should enter the old password" what effect does this have over not entering the old password in computer management? Probably should make a SU question out of this.
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 17:36
2
@Moab: if you are changing your own password, you enter the old password and Windows decrypts and then re-encrypts your encryption key, so that there is no data loss.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:52
Note that you can disable file encryption with group policy, although stored passwords and personal security certificates might still be an issue.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:54
2
2
I wonder why we don't get this warning when changing passwords using Control Panel > User Accounts
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 0:59
I wonder why we don't get this warning when changing passwords using Control Panel > User Accounts
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 0:59
Yes, I also wanted to write about it but then decided to keep the question less bloated. Note than in case using Control Panel > User Accounts one should enter the old password
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 25 '12 at 4:33
Yes, I also wanted to write about it but then decided to keep the question less bloated. Note than in case using Control Panel > User Accounts one should enter the old password
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 25 '12 at 4:33
"one should enter the old password" what effect does this have over not entering the old password in computer management? Probably should make a SU question out of this.
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 17:36
"one should enter the old password" what effect does this have over not entering the old password in computer management? Probably should make a SU question out of this.
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 17:36
2
2
@Moab: if you are changing your own password, you enter the old password and Windows decrypts and then re-encrypts your encryption key, so that there is no data loss.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:52
@Moab: if you are changing your own password, you enter the old password and Windows decrypts and then re-encrypts your encryption key, so that there is no data loss.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:52
Note that you can disable file encryption with group policy, although stored passwords and personal security certificates might still be an issue.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:54
Note that you can disable file encryption with group policy, although stored passwords and personal security certificates might still be an issue.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:54
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Depends on if were talking about encrypted information or not.
if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the
old password? i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this
procedure)?
If you did this then the password would not actually be changed. Information stored like the encryption key likely still would be wiped. Why would anyone do this?
3
Why would anyone do it? - A: First, it is methodological question, the answer to which permits me to understand more clearly this area. Second, there are various practical situations - sometimes, in workgroup I change a lot of passwords, and forgot that I already changed one (or more), etc.
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 24 '12 at 18:16
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The warning message will always be displayed when you change your password. No matter whatever you'll change it to:
The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
I think you won't lose access to your EFS encrypted files after changing your password back to the old password. Because the EFS files are encrypted based on the RID and password hash of your user account. The RID and encryption algorithms won't change from time to time. There is no random number involved in the encryption procedure.
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Depends on if were talking about encrypted information or not.
if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the
old password? i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this
procedure)?
If you did this then the password would not actually be changed. Information stored like the encryption key likely still would be wiped. Why would anyone do this?
3
Why would anyone do it? - A: First, it is methodological question, the answer to which permits me to understand more clearly this area. Second, there are various practical situations - sometimes, in workgroup I change a lot of passwords, and forgot that I already changed one (or more), etc.
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 24 '12 at 18:16
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Depends on if were talking about encrypted information or not.
if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the
old password? i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this
procedure)?
If you did this then the password would not actually be changed. Information stored like the encryption key likely still would be wiped. Why would anyone do this?
3
Why would anyone do it? - A: First, it is methodological question, the answer to which permits me to understand more clearly this area. Second, there are various practical situations - sometimes, in workgroup I change a lot of passwords, and forgot that I already changed one (or more), etc.
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 24 '12 at 18:16
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Depends on if were talking about encrypted information or not.
if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the
old password? i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this
procedure)?
If you did this then the password would not actually be changed. Information stored like the encryption key likely still would be wiped. Why would anyone do this?
Can these losses be reverted by setting the login password back to the old one?
Depends on if were talking about encrypted information or not.
if I enter in "New password:" and "Confirm password:" textboxes the
old password? i.e. set the password to the old one )applying this
procedure)?
If you did this then the password would not actually be changed. Information stored like the encryption key likely still would be wiped. Why would anyone do this?
answered Apr 24 '12 at 16:05
Ramhound
19.1k156083
19.1k156083
3
Why would anyone do it? - A: First, it is methodological question, the answer to which permits me to understand more clearly this area. Second, there are various practical situations - sometimes, in workgroup I change a lot of passwords, and forgot that I already changed one (or more), etc.
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 24 '12 at 18:16
add a comment |
3
Why would anyone do it? - A: First, it is methodological question, the answer to which permits me to understand more clearly this area. Second, there are various practical situations - sometimes, in workgroup I change a lot of passwords, and forgot that I already changed one (or more), etc.
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 24 '12 at 18:16
3
3
Why would anyone do it? - A: First, it is methodological question, the answer to which permits me to understand more clearly this area. Second, there are various practical situations - sometimes, in workgroup I change a lot of passwords, and forgot that I already changed one (or more), etc.
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 24 '12 at 18:16
Why would anyone do it? - A: First, it is methodological question, the answer to which permits me to understand more clearly this area. Second, there are various practical situations - sometimes, in workgroup I change a lot of passwords, and forgot that I already changed one (or more), etc.
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 24 '12 at 18:16
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The warning message will always be displayed when you change your password. No matter whatever you'll change it to:
The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
I think you won't lose access to your EFS encrypted files after changing your password back to the old password. Because the EFS files are encrypted based on the RID and password hash of your user account. The RID and encryption algorithms won't change from time to time. There is no random number involved in the encryption procedure.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The warning message will always be displayed when you change your password. No matter whatever you'll change it to:
The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
I think you won't lose access to your EFS encrypted files after changing your password back to the old password. Because the EFS files are encrypted based on the RID and password hash of your user account. The RID and encryption algorithms won't change from time to time. There is no random number involved in the encryption procedure.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The warning message will always be displayed when you change your password. No matter whatever you'll change it to:
The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
I think you won't lose access to your EFS encrypted files after changing your password back to the old password. Because the EFS files are encrypted based on the RID and password hash of your user account. The RID and encryption algorithms won't change from time to time. There is no random number involved in the encryption procedure.
The warning message will always be displayed when you change your password. No matter whatever you'll change it to:
The user account will immediately lose access to all of its encrypted files, stored passwords, and personal security certificates
I think you won't lose access to your EFS encrypted files after changing your password back to the old password. Because the EFS files are encrypted based on the RID and password hash of your user account. The RID and encryption algorithms won't change from time to time. There is no random number involved in the encryption procedure.
answered Jul 21 '13 at 9:28
Arnaud Nouard
311
311
add a comment |
add a comment |
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2
I wonder why we don't get this warning when changing passwords using Control Panel > User Accounts
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 0:59
Yes, I also wanted to write about it but then decided to keep the question less bloated. Note than in case using Control Panel > User Accounts one should enter the old password
– Gennady Vanin Геннадий Ванин
Apr 25 '12 at 4:33
"one should enter the old password" what effect does this have over not entering the old password in computer management? Probably should make a SU question out of this.
– Moab
Apr 25 '12 at 17:36
2
@Moab: if you are changing your own password, you enter the old password and Windows decrypts and then re-encrypts your encryption key, so that there is no data loss.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:52
Note that you can disable file encryption with group policy, although stored passwords and personal security certificates might still be an issue.
– Harry Johnston
Apr 26 '12 at 4:54