Frequently Asked Questions Regarding
How to Change Your Network Password

 

1. How do I change my password?
2. What are the "Password Policy Requirements"?
3. Why must I change my password?
4. What if I forget my password?
5. How often do I need to change my password?
6. What does my network password impact?
7. If my network password expires, what will happen?
8. My computer is still using my old password when I restarted.  What happened?
9. I changed my password and now I am getting errors from Microsoft Outlook or when I try to access my network drives.  Why?
10. I tried clicking on the link to change my password while I was in Outlook Web Access, reading my email.  What happened?
11. Does my network password effect my Admin (Reflections, SIS+, VAX, ...) password?
12. Does my network password effect my Banner (INB, Self Service, ...) password?
13. I  have gotten an error message saying my account is locked.  What does this mean?
14. I believe my account has been locked.  What do I do?
15. Can I reuse my old password?

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1. How do I change my password?
   • From Off Campus:

     Click Here to Change Your Password

     • You will need to provide your:
       • UM Login Username
       • old password
       • new password
     • Please remember your password is case sensitive and must follow the Password Policy Requirements
        
   • From On Campus
     • Windows Users:
       • Option 1: Press <Ctrl-Alt-Del> keys and choose "Change Password"
         If you are already logged into the University's network, press the <Ctrl-Alt-Del> keys and choose "Change Password."  After you have changed your password, log out and log back into the network to prevent errors with various network applications such as Outlook, network shares, etc.
          
       • Option 2: Use Off Campus method (see above)
          
     • Macintosh Users:
       • Use Off Campus method (see above)
          
2. What are the "Password Policy Requirements"?
   The Password Policy Requirements are a set of rules that dictate what type of password you can use.  Since your password is your first line of defense in securing your information and the information for which you have access, it is highly recommended and required by most systems that you use strong passwords that are not easily guessed or stand a very high chance of being "cracked" by possible intruders.  The University of Montevallo has adopted the following guidelines for its Password Policy Requirements:
   • The password must contain at least 8 characters
   • The password should not be similar to old passwords
   • The password must not contain your username
   • The password should be complex and therefore must contain characters from at least three of the following categories:
     • Uppercase letters (A-Z)
     • Lowercase letters (a-z)
     • Numerals (0-9)
     • Special characters (examples: !#$%)
        
3. Why must I change my password?
   As mentioned above, your password is your first line of defense in securing your information and the information for which you have access.  While currently your network password predominately affects only access to your email and network data, over time your network account and password will be used to provide you access to other online systems which may contain more and more sensitive information.  Weak and/or unchanged password can become easily exploited by viruses, spyware, and even some web sites to gain access to your system and/or your data.  Some research has shown that a typical six letter password could be cracked in less than thirty (30) seconds using an average computer.  The use of complex passwords, on the other hand, substantially reduces the risk.
    
4. What if I forget my password?
   If you are University of Montevallo faculty or staff member and you forget your password you can go to the “Forgotten Password” web page to change your password.  This web page will confirm your identity by asking you specific information about yourself so that you can change and, therefore, reset your password.   If you are, however, not any employee of the University of Montevallo and your have forgotten your network password, you will need to contact the Technology Services Help Desk at (205) 665-6520, or, toll free, (866) 520-2401.  The Help Desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    
5. How often do I need to change my password?
   All passwords expire after 180 days.  If you are a Windows user and you use your password after that time, you will be prompted to change your password when you log into the network.
    
6. What does my network password impact?
   For now, your network password is used to:
   • log your computer into the University network (Windows users)
   • access email (such as Microsoft Outlook or Entourage)
   • access network resources (such as departmental shares)
      
7. If my password expires, what will happen?
   • If you are a Windows user, you will be prompted to change your password when you next login to the network.
   • If you are Macintosh user, you will probably not notice anything until you attempt to access your email.  If you login to Entourage, you will be prompted for password but your old password will not work.  Therefore, you will need to go to the change password web page (see above) and change your password.  Once you have changed your password, use your new password to login to Entourage.  If you are prompted to add this password to your MacOS "keychain," you may do so if you want the password saved on your computer.
      
8. My computer is still using my old password when I restarted.  What happened?
   Some Windows users have reported this error if they restart their computer after changing their password and immediately try to login.  What has happened is that user can login to their computer even if the computer has not completely restarted and is not communicating with the University’s network.  If your computer is not communicating with the University’s network, the computer will use the last password it remembers.  This may let you login locally on your computer but you will not be able to access network services like departmental shares or email.  Therefore, if you change your password it is better to logout than to restart (Go to the “Start” menu and select “Log Off”) and then log back into your computer.  Otherwise, if you do restart, you may need to wait extra time to make sure your computer has fully started and is communicating with the University’s network.
    
9. I changed my password and now I am getting errors from Microsoft Outlook or when I try to access my network drives.  Why?
   Once you change your password, it is important that you logout of your computer.  Otherwise, your computer will continue to try to access network resources, such as network shares and email, using your old password.   If you do not logout, your computer may inadvertently lock your account by it retrying your old password too many times.
    
10. I tried clicking on the link to change my password while I was in Outlook Web Access, reading my email.  What happened?
    Because the web-based password reset system shares resources with Outlook Web Access, there are problems accessing the web password reset system through a link in an email on Outlook Web.  To change your password, click here.
     
11. Does my network password effect my Admin (Reflections, SIS+, VAX, ...) password?
    No.  Network passwords do not affect access to Admin.
     
12. Does my network password effect my Banner (INB, Self Service, ...) password?
    No.  For now, network passwords do not affect access to the Banner system.  However, in the future your password may be able to access some Banner resources via the University’s new web portal which will use your network username and password.
     
13. I  have gotten an error message saying my account is locked.  What does this mean?
    It is possible to lock your account if the wrong password has been used with your user name.  This is especially likely if you have changed your password recently and have failed to logout of your computer because certain applications may continue to try to use your old password to continue accessing information.
     
14. I believe my account has been locked.  What do I do?
    • Contact the Technology Services Help Desk at (205) 665-6520 or, toll free, (866) 520-2401.  The Help Desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    • You may change or reset  your password by using the web password reset page.
    • Wait 30 minutes for your account to reset and try your new password again.
       
15. Can I reuse my old password?
    No.  Your last password is remembered by the system and you must use a new password.

Updated May 2010