Changing service accounts?

[Guest WetBehindEars]

I have a service where the default account (Network Service) was changed.

Now it needs to be changed back to the default account (Network Service). Is

this possible? If so how is it done?

[Guest Bruce Sanderson]

Re: Changing service accounts?

 

Changing the account used by a service may create problems, so some research

ahead of time into the particular service would be a good idea.

 

The account used by a service is set in Computer Management, Services and

Applications, Services.

Right click the service you want to change, select Properties.

Select the Log On tab

select the This account radio button

key NETWORK SERVICE in the top box (or use Browse... to select it

make the Password and Confirm Password boxes empty (delete all the "."

characters)

click OK (or Apply)

 

--

Bruce Sanderson

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

 

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

 

 

"WetBehindEars" <WetBehindEars@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:0541F9F9-0F53-4BE6-8C48-EE095001478C@microsoft.com...

>I have a service where the default account (Network Service) was changed.

> Now it needs to be changed back to the default account (Network Service).

> Is

> this possible? If so how is it done?

[Guest WetBehindEars]

Re: Changing service accounts?

 

Well it was a service that was using the network service account so I am

trying to switch it back. I cant browse to the Network Serivce account and

even if I could I dont know the password it uses because it is randomly

generated. Any way to get it back to this account?

 

"Bruce Sanderson" wrote:

> Changing the account used by a service may create problems, so some research

> ahead of time into the particular service would be a good idea.

>

> The account used by a service is set in Computer Management, Services and

> Applications, Services.

> Right click the service you want to change, select Properties.

> Select the Log On tab

> select the This account radio button

> key NETWORK SERVICE in the top box (or use Browse... to select it

> make the Password and Confirm Password boxes empty (delete all the "."

> characters)

> click OK (or Apply)

>

> --

> Bruce Sanderson

> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

>

> It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

>

>

>

> "WetBehindEars" <WetBehindEars@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:0541F9F9-0F53-4BE6-8C48-EE095001478C@microsoft.com...

> >I have a service where the default account (Network Service) was changed.

> > Now it needs to be changed back to the default account (Network Service).

> > Is

> > this possible? If so how is it done?

>

>

[Guest Bruce Sanderson]

Re: Changing service accounts?

 

According to some documentation for MS Team Foundation Server, the Network

Services account does not have a password. I don't know if this is strictly

correct or that account uses a randomly created password as you state.

Regardless, you can change a service to use the Network Service account

without knowing it's password (if it has one).

 

You should be able to get the service to use the Network Services account as

follows (I just tried this on Windows Server 2003 R2 domain member, 2003 R2

Domain Controller, Vista and Windows Server 2008):

 

1. open the properties of the service

2. select the Log On tab

3. select the This Account radio button

4. click Browse...

As an alternative (e.g. on a Windows Server 2008 Domain Controller which

doesn't list the Network Service account at step 8), key exactly (or copy

and paste), what's on the line below, then skip to step 9

 

NT AUTHORITY\Network Service

 

5. if the Location box does not have the local computer name in it, click

Location... and select the local computer

6. click Advanced...

7. click Find Now

8. select NETWORK SERVICE; click OK; click OK

9. select all of the ".:" (bullet?) characters in the Password box; press

Del

10. select all of the ".:" (bullet?) characters in the Password box; press

Del

11. click OK

12. on the message box saying that the change won't take effect until the

service is restarted, click OK

13. right click the service, select Restart

 

 

--

Bruce Sanderson

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

 

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

 

 

"WetBehindEars" <WetBehindEars@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:5A5B5EFA-B1C7-44E2-85E8-A6344A5A3476@microsoft.com...

> Well it was a service that was using the network service account so I am

> trying to switch it back. I cant browse to the Network Serivce account

> and

> even if I could I dont know the password it uses because it is randomly

> generated. Any way to get it back to this account?

>

> "Bruce Sanderson" wrote:

>

>> Changing the account used by a service may create problems, so some

>> research

>> ahead of time into the particular service would be a good idea.

>>

>> The account used by a service is set in Computer Management, Services and

>> Applications, Services.

>> Right click the service you want to change, select Properties.

>> Select the Log On tab

>> select the This account radio button

>> key NETWORK SERVICE in the top box (or use Browse... to select it

>> make the Password and Confirm Password boxes empty (delete all the "."

>> characters)

>> click OK (or Apply)

>>

>> --

>> Bruce Sanderson

>> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

>>

>> It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

>>

>>

>>

>> "WetBehindEars" <WetBehindEars@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

>> message

>> news:0541F9F9-0F53-4BE6-8C48-EE095001478C@microsoft.com...

>> >I have a service where the default account (Network Service) was

>> >changed.

>> > Now it needs to be changed back to the default account (Network

>> > Service).

>> > Is

>> > this possible? If so how is it done?

>>

>>