Generating Password 1

[woter324]

Hi,

I've got a little powershell script that creates a text file with an encrypted string. This string is read by the New-Mailbox -Password commandlet as part of a tool used by our helpdesk to create new users in AD.

This password is the same for all new user accounts, however each user that installs the new user app has to regenerate the hash password. I've written an HTA setup programme to generate this password rather than using the powershell command, however I cannot get it to take the password from the text box within the HTA.

The command line code:

$secure = Read-Host "Enter Password" -asSecureString  
$bytes = ConvertFrom-SecureString $secure  
$bytes | Out-File defaultPassword.txt

I've changed from above to:

param($strPassword)

$secure = $strPassword -asSecureString  
$bytes = ConvertFrom-SecureString $secure  
$bytes | Out-File defaultPassword.txt

However, I get an error saying it needs a value expression to the right of the '-'.

I can get the password from the HTA into the powershell command, but I cannot get it to convert it.

If anybody can point me in the right direction, I'd be most grateful.

Many thanks
Can anyone

 

[crobin1]

-asSecureString is a parameter to the Read-Host cmdlet. It is not a method of the System.String type. You could try converting the password as follows:

param($strPassword)

$secure = ConvertTo-SecureString $strPassword -asPlainText -Force
$bytes = ConvertFrom-SecureString $secure
$bytes | Out-File defaultPassword.txt

 

[woter324]

Thanks crobin1. That worked.

For anyone that may be interested, here is the code to generate a password using powershell via VBScript:

Powershell code:
Filename: CreatePassword.ps1

param($strPassword)
$secure = ConvertTo-SecureString $strPassword -asPlainText -Force
$bytes = ConvertFrom-SecureString $secure
$bytes | Out-File defaultPassword.txt

VBScript Code:
Filename: PSpasswordGen.vbs

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

strCurrentDir = oShell.CurrentDirectory
strScriptPath = fso.GetParentFolderName(oShell.CurrentDirectory)

runPowershell

Sub runPowershell()

MsgBox "If this script doesn't work you will need to manually run a powershell script." & VbCrLf & _
		"Click Start --> Run and type: Powershell. Click OK." & VbCrLf & _
		"At the PS prompt, type 'Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force'",64,"Tip."

strCreateUserPath = strScriptPath & "\bin\Security\CreatePassword.ps1"

Set oFile=fso.GetFile(strCreateUserPath)

strPasswd = "changeit"

strPScmd = strPasswd

oShell.run "Powershell -command  " & chr(34) & "&{" &oFile.ShortPath & " " & strPScmd & "}" & chr(34),7,True
'Place '-noexit' after Powershell to see what powershell is doing.
End Sub

If the powershell script fails, check powershell scripts are alowed to run:

PS C:\>Get-ExecutionPolicy

(If you need to change it:)

PS C:\>Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force

MS Article here

Hope this helps and thanks again.

W