Change local user password

Question

Looking for some syntax for my console application that will allow me to change the password of a local user. I have tired the UserPrincipal class and DirectoryEntry class nothing seems to be working. Any ideas?

Vulpes · Answer

It might be an idea to try and get a list of all users so you can make sure that you're using a valid user name. Here's a nice article on Active Directory which includes some code to do that: http://www.codemag.com/Article/1312041 I've put the code from this article into a console app below. I've used the generic way of getting the LDAP connection string in case you're not sure what yours is: using System; using System.DirectoryServices; class Program { static void Main() { GetAllUsers(); Console.ReadKey(); } private void GetAllUsers() { SearchResultCollection results; DirectorySearcher ds = null; DirectoryEntry de = new DirectoryEntry(GetCurrentDomainPath()); ds = new DirectorySearcher(de); ds.Filter = (&(objectCategory=User)(objectClass=person)); results = ds.FindAll(); foreach (SearchResult sr in results) { Console.WriteLine(sr.Properties[name][0].ToString()); } } private static string GetCurrentDomainPath() { DirectoryEntry de = new DirectoryEntry(LDAP://RootDSE); object obj = de.Properties[defaultNamingContext][0]; return LDAP:// + de.Properties[defaultNamingContext][0].ToString(); } } I'm not able to test this code as I'm not connected to AD but it does compile OK.

Marc · Answer

similar yes.

Vulpes · Answer

I'd guess that the exception is coming when you call the users.Find method. Is this the same sort of problem you've had with your previous attempts?

Marc · Answer

I am getting error an unknown directory object was requested

Vulpes · Answer

See if you have better luck with this code: DirectoryEntry localDirectory = new DirectoryEntry(WinNT:// + Environment.MachineName +  computer); DirectoryEntries users = localDirectory.Children; DirectoryEntry user = users.Find(userName user); if (user != null) { user.Invoke(SetPassword new object[]{newPassword}); user.CommitChanges(); }