How to access a network resource that requires username and password authentication when your user account requires a smart card for interactive logon (834432)

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By default, when you click to select the Smart card is required for interactive logon check box for a user account, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 assigns a random password to the account and marks the user password to never expire.

Because Windows generates the password randomly, if you use a smart card to log on, you cannot use the net use command where you must type your credentials to use a network resource. Instead, you can use the net use command with the /smartcard command-line switch. When you use the /smartcard command-line switch, you are prompted for your smart card personal identification number (PIN).

An administrator can permit the use of a network resource where you must type your credentials without using the net use command with the /smartcard switch. The administrator must manually reset the password of a user account that is configured to require a smart card for interactive logon. However, Microsoft recommends that you do not manually reset the user's password because it can weaken password complexity. The password may be easier to guess and less resistant to brute force attacks.