users cant change own passwords

hi

client os: windows xp pro sp3
DC's: 2003 standard, 2008 standard, 2008 R2 standard.

we have just had some new staff start and i was preparing their laptops. Asked them to change password and they tried, they put in old password then new password and confirmed new password.

when they click ok they get the box 'your password does not meet complexity requirements.....................', only their password meets the over 6 chars must contain capital and number cant be any of last 5. Have the requirements changed in 2008 R2?

I can change it for them via AD and i can change myown via ctrl alt del change pw.

It was working before the summer, the only change i have made is added a 2008 R2 DC.
I have had this happen on hard wired desktops with other users aswell!

any ideas?

thanks

jonny2010

You need to check out the password policy on the new server. My guess is that passwords of a greater complexity are required on that server than on your other servers.

Being able to change it to what you want in AD doesn't surprise me. You aren't subject to the rules when doing it there and logged on as administrator, so can repeat passwords and ignore complexity to your heart's content.