What is Windows registry key for password history?

Question

Been searching all night for this... does anyone know the registry key for Windows XP/2003 to enforce password history? http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/500.mspx?mfr=true

Determines the number of unique new passwords that have to be associated with a user account before an old password can be reused. microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/… — Fran Fitzpatrick, Commented Oct 1, 2012 at 2:23
There is no "password history" registry key. If there was, it would be a major security hole. @Fran: That's password policy, not password history. — Ken White, Commented Oct 1, 2012 at 2:24
How would it be a major security hole? Every other password policy option is linked to a registry key. — Fran Fitzpatrick, Commented Oct 1, 2012 at 2:25
It is a password policy to enforce password history. Ah, lets just chalk it up to semantics. :-) Anyone know? — Fran Fitzpatrick, Commented Oct 1, 2012 at 2:26

climenole · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-01 03:07:57Z

3

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters

[Source: MS Technet Librairy]

answered Oct 1, 2012 at 3:07

climenole

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user541686 · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-01 02:32:39Z

2

I don't know about Windows XP/2003, but on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 it's apparently

Key:         HKLM\SAM\SAM\Domains\Account
Value:       F
Byte offset: 0x10   (0x3A corresponds to 0, 0x3B corresponds to 1)

It's in binary, maintained by LSASS, so I don't recommend you try to change it through undocumented means.

answered Oct 1, 2012 at 2:32

user541686

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