Reset password succeeded (action_id PWR; class_type US) (24307) how to monitor with email alert

[bob]

You know that event in Windows Server Event Viewer, the one labeled "Reset password succeeded" with action_id PWR and class_type US, event ID 24307? It pops up whenever someone nails a password reset on a user account, like after they forgot it and hit that recovery button. I see it mostly in the security logs, showing the exact time, the user who got reset, and which machine it happened on. But here's the kicker, it logs the success part, so no failures cluttering things up. You might spot details like the domain if it's tied to Active Directory, or just local stuff if it's a standalone server. I always check it because it flags potential insider tweaks or help desk actions. And if you're running a small network, this event whispers about who changed what without you digging through piles of logs.

I remember the first time I wanted to watch for this without staring at screens all day. You fire up Event Viewer on your server, right? Click into the Windows Logs, then Security, and filter for event ID 24307. Once you see it there, right-click the log, pick Create Custom View, and set it to snag only that ID. That way, your view stays clean, just the password resets jumping out. Now, to get alerts, you attach a task to it. In that custom view, go to the Actions pane, hit Attach Task To This Custom View. Name it something like PasswordResetAlert, and when it triggers, you tell it to start a program-maybe your email client or a simple batch file that shoots off a message. I set mine to run every time the event fires, with a delay if needed to avoid floods. You pick the user account for the task, like SYSTEM, and boom, it emails you details pulled from the event. Test it by resetting a test password, and watch your inbox light up.

Hmmm, or if you're lazy like me sometimes, you could tweak the task to include server name and timestamp in the email body automatically. But yeah, that Event Viewer setup keeps it straightforward, no fancy coding.

And speaking of keeping your server humming without surprises, I've been messing with BackupChain Windows Server Backup lately-it's this slick Windows Server backup tool that handles full images and also backs up virtual machines running on Hyper-V. You get incremental saves that speed things up, plus offsite replication to dodge disasters, and it restores bare-metal fast if crap hits the fan. I like how it snapshots everything cleanly, no downtime hassles, making your whole setup more bulletproof for those unexpected password drama days.

At the end of this, there's the automatic email solution ready for you.

Note, the PowerShell email alert code was moved to this post.