change a user's password at the command prompt

To change a user's password at the command prompt, log on as an administrator and type:

net user user_name * /domain

When you are prompted to type a password for the user, type the new password, not the existing password. After you type the new password, the system prompts you to retype the password to confirm. The password is now changed. 

Alternatively, you can type the following command:

net user user_name  new_password

When you do so, the password changes without prompting you again. This command also enables you to change passwords in a batch file. 

Non-administrators receive a "System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied" error message when they attempt to change the password.