Windows Server 2008 Active Directory — Creating Users is Easy!
You probably already know that a User Account is an Active Directory Object, or simply said, a record in an AD database.
Most of the time we create user accounts for people, however user accounts can also be created for applications or processes.
User accounts allow a person to access resources on a network. But we can just as easily deny access to certain resources on the network through the user account. That’s why, User Account Objects are quite important and very useful.
Today I’ll show you how easy it is to create a new user account, create a user template and how to use a template — all on your brand new Windows Server 2008!
Next week we’ll discuss User Groups and Organizational Units. Now, let’s get started with creating a user account.
Creating a New User Account
1. To start let’s go ahead and open up Server Manager
2. Then we will open up the Roles section — next to Active Directory Users and Computers section and finally the Active Directory Users and Computers.
You should now see your domain name.
3. We are going to click on our Users section where we are going to create a new User Account. To do so, right-click on the blank section, point to New and select User.
4. In this window you need to type in the user’s first name, middle initial and last name. Next you will need to create a user’s logon name.
In our example we are going to create a user account for Billy Miles and his logon name will be bmiles. When done, click on the Next button.
5. In the next window you will need to create a password for your new user and select appropriate options.
In our example we are going to have the user change his password at his next logon. You can also prevent a user from changing his password, set the password so that it will never expire or completely disable the account.
When you are done making your selections, click the Next button.
6. And finally, click on the Finish button to complete the creation of new User Account.
Creating a User Template
A user template in Active Directory will make your life a little easier, especially if you are creating users for a specific department, with exact same properties, and membership to the same user groups.
A user template is nothing more than a disabled user account that has all these settings already in place. The only thing you are doing is copying this account, adding a new name and a password.
You may have multiple user templates for multiple purposes with different settings and properties. There is no limit on the number of user templates, but keep in mind that they are there to help you, not to confuse you, so keep in mind less is better.
To create a user template, we are going to create a regular user account just like we did above. A little note here, you may want to add an * as the first character of the name so it floats at the top in AD and is much easier to find.
1. To start out, right-click on the empty space, point to new, and select User.
2. Type in the user’s name (with asterisks if so desired) and click Next.
3. Create the template’s password and do not forget to check the box next to the Account is disabled option. When ready, click Next.
4. Once the account is created, you can go ahead and add all the properties you need for that template. To do so, double-click on that account and navigate to a specific tab. Once done click OK.
Using a Template
1. Now in order to use that user template, we are going to select it, copy it and add the unique information such as user name, password, etc.
We can do that for as many users as needed. Let’s start by right-clicking on the template and selecting Copy.
2. Next we are going to enter the user’s name, login and password information while making sure the checkbox next to Account is disabled is unchecked.
3. Once we finish, our new user account is created with all the properties of the template account. Now wasn’t that easy!
Related Posts:
- Server 2008 Active Directory User Groups — the Easy Way!
- Lesson 3: Active Directory Users and Groups in Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008: Auditing Active Directory
- Windows Server 2008: Install Active Directory Domain Services
- How to Backup and Restore Active Directory on Server 2008
27 Responses to “Windows Server 2008 Active Directory — Creating Users is Easy!”
Leave A Comment:
Socialize
Johan Cheung Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Many thanks. I found it very helpful !
Are you Kasia’s sister ?. It’s just that I noticed you both have similar surnames ?!
Kasia Grabowska Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
That’s right Johan! We are sisters
I’m glad you found this article helpful … we’ll be focusing more and more on Windows Server 2008, so if that’s what you’re interested in grab our RSS feed, if you haven’t already.
Have a great weekend!
Kasia
Patel Devang Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
It is really great to see configuration steps of new Windows2008 Server…..
chandramohan Says:
April 1st, 2008 at 1:34 am
its really superb much easier for any engineer to create and maintain the AD.
masood Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:24 am
abought the windows 2003 administration i.e mcse 7 papers with active directory and exchange 2003 as well as windows server 2008 also
netmastan Says:
September 15th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Thank you much better tutorial then microsoft site.
It would be great if you add printer friendly functionality.
Could you please write a tutorial for adding organisation unit, group policy, user home directory, my document redirection etc.
Thank you again for this nice tutorial
Rajinder Singh Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Hi Gosia
its great to see step by step configuration.Microsoft never host this kind of steps.I feel you people are great hosting this kind of configuration
avinesh Says:
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 am
hai
this is avinesh . i want to know that, is it possible RIS(Remote Install service) in server 2008………….
if it possible tell me how to do that ………….pls help me.
Mohamoud Says:
October 14th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
This was the best and easiest way of creating templates that I have ever read. Even a 10 yr. old child can understand it. Bravo TrainSignal and thanks!
Tim Hamner Says:
December 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Great job, enjoyed the post.
mugisha Says:
February 19th, 2009 at 11:18 am
this is great! I am a beginner and it has been helpful. let me check out the next one.
julius Says:
February 21st, 2009 at 11:00 pm
its a great thing that u gave as a step by step configuration using active directory
lake393 Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Hello thanks for the instructions. Can you tell me which role you installed to allow to create users? There are 5 AD roles and Windows Server 2003 only had one.
* Active Directory Certificate Services
* Active Directory Domain Services
* Active Directory Federation Services
* Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services
* Active Directory Rights Management Services
Thank you. Good article. The screenshots really make it easy to follow.
Gosia Grabowska Says:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Hi Lake393,
Thank you for your comment. In order to be able to create Active Directory users you will need to install the Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) Role.
Hope this helps!
Gosia
Rehan Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
This is very helpful but when i click on finish creating user, it gives me some error that user password can’t be set becuase it doesn’t meet password requirements. please help with this.
Thanks,
Rehan
aadesh kumar Says:
March 15th, 2009 at 1:23 am
hi firstly thanks for send me how to install ad solution.
please tell me how to create romming user and how can i share a folder
Antonio Morales, III Says:
July 29th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Kasia Grabowska, many thanks to the topics about Windows Server 2008. Our company is assigning me to study this so that we could use this server for the network setup. I’m a first timer about this and I found your website very helpful and easy to understand. Again, many thanks and I’m so happy about your website. Keep up the great work and more power.
- Ton of the Philippines
Antonio Morales, III Says:
July 29th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Oh! I thought it’s you Kasia, it’s Gosia. I’m sorry I’m a bit confused but thanks to you Grabowska sisters!!! Keep up the great work and more power to you two!
Kasia Grabowska Says:
July 30th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Hi Antonio!
Wow! Thank you for the kind words — from the both of us
I’m glad that you’ve found Gosia’s article helpful, she really knows her stuff! Let us know if you have any question or if you need specific info abut anything. We’d be glad to help!
Kasia
Antonio Morales, III Says:
July 30th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Kasia,
I’m happy for your response. I envy both of you for you have the knowledge about this topic. As of now, I’m still studying windows server 2008 for our company. I just wonder how to configure the role of application services and file services, and also the essential stuffs in those roles. Hope you won’t laugh at me, I really don’t have any idea. I’m a first timer but I’m eager to learn so that I could contribute to the company I work in. I hope you could lend me a hand or two (one hand from Kasia and one hand from Gosia, just kidding:D). Thank you sooooo very much!!! Hope you’ll be patient at me, my knowledge is veeeeeeeery limited about this.
Again, thanks to the both of you! You really make things easy for me right now!
More power and God bless to the both of you!
-Ton of the Philippines
Eddy Says:
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:47 am
Hi, Can anyone help me?
I followed these instructions but when I restarted the computer, I can’t log back in. I keep getting incorrect password messages or contact your Administrator (I am the Administrator!)
Any suggestions most welcome.
Thanks
ali Says:
February 8th, 2010 at 11:32 am
hi, if i have 2 server one is ACD win ser2008 and the second is EXCH server 2007 and i need to create user how i must make it and how the mailbox create automatic
thanks
Justme Says:
April 14th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Good morning and thanks for all that you do.
My question is this…I am able to create new users account and they are able to log-in without any issues. They are also able to obtain access to the various drives we use throughout the company. What they can’t do is access e-mail–or rather is says that they do not have an account. Did we not install something/configure something correctly so that they e-mail account is set up when the account is created? Thanks for any help you can offer
aji Says:
June 5th, 2010 at 5:57 am
when i am creating user under the domain after putting the password it gives an error “windows cannot set the password for the “user” because : the password does not meet the password policy requirements.check the minimum password length , pasword complexity,and password history requirements
‘
i tried with different password including and excluding digits simbols etc
but not going through kind mail me the solutions
aji
raju Says:
June 14th, 2010 at 3:45 am
hi
my Self raj my qu.is
what is next version of server anyone now windows 2008
next 2010,2011 ????
can you tell me this
preetam Says:
August 10th, 2010 at 5:08 am
how to give the permissions and rights to the user in server 2008.my security settings are lock in GPM.
jayant Says:
September 1st, 2010 at 7:00 am
How to give the permission and rights to new user.