SQL Express Install on windows 7

Question

When installing SQLExpress on Windows7 the installer insists on a strong password for SA.however when the same installer is run on an XP or Vista machine it does not force the strong password policy. Why?

Answer 1

When installing SQLExpress on Windows7 the installer insists on a strong password for SA.however when the same installer is run on an XP machine it does not force the strong password policy. Why?

Answer 2

Hi Sdoc,

I think the Password policy at the windows level is set to ENABLED for password must meet complexity requirements in your windows 7 machine but not in XP machine.
This can be checked in secpol.msc .
Check this and let us know what is happening?

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Thanks, Leks

Answer 3

Thread duplicated from http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/thread/f10dfa56-db38-460c-9223-77070c1604cb

Moderators ,
Please merge this thread.

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Thanks, Leks

Answer 4

hi,
XP can not enforce that requirement at all.. it's not available at OS level..
regards

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http://www.asql.biz - DbaMgr2k - DbaMgr and further SQL Tools

Answer 5

The password must meet complexity requirements is set Enabled in all 3 scenarios - XP,Vista and Win7.

Answer 6

i agree with Lekss. XP does have this functionality.

Answer 7

 We have password policies in windows xp. In windows xp & win 2k password policy parametersare minimal (uppercase, lowercase and special characters) where as in win2k3 and above we have password length and password history parameter added there by creating more complex policy. However when you create sql logins password policies are applicable from win2k3 onwards (i.e sql server running from win2k3 onwards), that's why you are not getting password policy enforcement in xp machine. Below is the quote from Microsoft, refer http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189751.aspx

CHECK_EXPIRATION and CHECK_POLICY are only enforced on Windows Server 2003 and later. For more information.

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Vidhya Sagar. Mark as Answer if it helps!

Answer 8

Thanks VidhyaSagar. But in that case I should see this same problem on Vista too,isnt it? But I dont. I am able to install a SQL Express  2005 using a weak password on a Vista machine.

Answer 9

I'm locking this thread

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Vidhya Sagar. Mark as Answer if it helps!

Answer 10

Hi,

As Vidhya Sagar mentioned above, “enforce password policy” option of the SQL login account and Windows Account Password policy setting determine whether password meets complexity requirements or not on Vista machine. By default, the “enforce password policy” is enable. Then, you need to check the password policy setting for Vista by using the following steps:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-password-policy-settings

If there are any more questions, please let me know.
Thanks.

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***Xiao Min Tan***Microsoft Online Community***

Answer 11

Since everyone is beating around the bush let me update my findings.

1. "Enforce password policy" is enabled by default in all 3 scenarios -XP,Vista,Windows 7.
2. SQLExpress setup allows me to install with weak password on XP and Vista but not Windows 7.(on one of the installations screens during the setup itself)
3. The "Enforce password policy" in SQL server is not of concern,because in my scenatios I am in theprocess of setting up a SQL server. I know after I install I can change the SQL server password policy etc.

Now would anyone know why??

Answer 12

Hi,

Please make sure the “Password must meet complexity requirements” option is disabled for Password Policy settings in Windows 7. This can be done by the following steps:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Require-strong-passwords-on-this-computer

If there are any more questions, please let me know.
Thanks.

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***Xiao Min Tan***Microsoft Online Community***

Answer 13

My question is not how to disable the option. My question is even though the option is enabled in XP, Vista Home,Vista Ultimate and Windows 7, why does the SQL express install fail due to strong password requirement only on a Ultimate and Windows 7?