How can I change the service account password? – Wayne Small

In SBS 4.x, the Exchange server utilises the Administrator account for it’ service account and as such you need to use the SBS console to change the password for the service account. The following applies to non SBS installations, or those that have been highly modified.

To change the Microsoft Exchange Service Account Password:

1. In the Microsoft Exchange Administrator program, select the Configuration container.

2. On the File menu, click Properties. You should now see the Properties dialog box for the Configuration container.

3. Click the Service Account Password tab. This will display a Service Account password change dialog screen.

4. In the Password box, type the new password, and type the password in the Confirm Password box.

5. Click OK.

The following message is displayed:

Initializing Service Account Password Change.

This dialog box will display the changes occurring for all the servers in the Site.

When this procedure is complete, the following message is displayed:

This action has changed the password for the Windows NT Services installed by Microsoft Exchange Server. The password for the Service Account must also be changed in the Windows NT User Manager, or the Services will fail to start.

To change the Service Account Password in User Manager:

a. In the Administrative Tools Group on the PDC or BDC, select the User Manager for Domains.

b. Click the Exchange Service Account.

c. On the toolbar click User, and then click Properties.

d. In the User Properties dialog box, type the new password in the Password box. Type the password in the Confirm Password box.

e. Click OK.

6. Stop and restart the Microsoft Exchange services on all servers in your site.
This will complete the change of the Microsoft Exchange Service Account Password of the Exchange Site.

NOTE: It maybe neccessary to change the password manually on any third-party services that use the Exchange service account. Some examples would be anti-virus applications, third-party connectors and gateways, BackOffice Resource Kit utilities, and the Mbclean utiliy.