By default Microsoft Windows Server 2008 enforces users in the Administrator usergroup to use strong passwords. Home users just want to create their own passwords without meeting any policies or leave it blank. This tutorial will explain how to disable these complexity requirements!
1. Click Run in the menu Start, then type gpedit.msc and click OK. In the Local Group Policy Editor expand Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Account Policies and click Password Policy.

2. In the right pane double click Password must meet complexity requirements and set it to Disabled. Click OK to save your change. You will now not longer be forced to use strong passwords; you can even use a blank one!

3. Optionally you can also choose to never let expire your passwords. To do this also open the Maximum password age policy and set set the value to 0. Click OK to save the policy change!

Thanks to Michael Sully and Mark for informing me about this tweaks!
Tags Server 2008 Workstation
June 9th, 2008 at 4:10
Admin, Maximum password age should be set to 0 so that password never expire.
Admin: Thanks, that’s useful information for the manual so added an extra step to this page! You are doing a very good job!
June 9th, 2008 at 17:05
I noticed that a quicker way to get to that screen was: Administrative Tools -> Local Security Policy -> Account Policies -> Password Policy. Cheers!
Admin: That’s right but now we are already at the right location so we change two settings at once!
July 19th, 2008 at 13:47
Hey Now,
This was a great post. It’s just what I wanted to do. I also love the series of Windows Server 2008 as a workstation.
Thx 4 the info,
Catto