DOCUMENT:Q238631 20-MAY-2002 [iis] TITLE :NTLM Password Change Fails When Password Contains an Ampersand PRODUCT :Internet Information Server PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbWinNT4sp6fix ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition - Microsoft Internet Information Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you attempt to change an expired Windows NT password in Internet Information Server (IIS) 4.0 and you use an ampersand (&) in the new password, the password does not change, even though you receive the following message after completing the password change form: The operation completed successfully "Password changed successfully" is returned when a password change is successful. The ampersand is a valid password character in Windows NT. CAUSE ===== The parsing code in Ism.dll assumes the following sequence: VARIABLE=VALUE& When you use an ampersand (&) in the password, a sequence of one or more ampersands is created before an equal sign (=). For example, old password=password& will work correctly, but new password=m&m& will not. RESOLUTION ========== Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0 ------------------------------------ To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to: - http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/ServicePacks/ -or- - Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS NOTE: The IIS 4.0 Windows NT Workstation and Windows 95/98 fixes will have different file properties. Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition ---------------------------------------------- To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Internet Information Server 4.0.Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT Server 4.0 Service Pack 6 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6. MORE INFORMATION ================ Another symptom that has been seen is the Inetinfo process spinning at 100 percent CPU utilization. Additional query words: percent peg max ====================================================================== Keywords : kbWinNT4sp6fix Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch kbiisSearch kbiis400 Version : winnt:4.0 Hardware : ALPHA x86 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.