>>>What is your SQL Server version exactly (select @@Version)?
>>>
>>>Also, did you try to script the action and do this from a script?
>>
>>version = 11.0.21000.60 (x64)
>>
>>I created the user turning off the pw validation. After that was good, I then checked the validation again. it was ok then, but while I found a work-around, this still seems like a huge bug that SQL would crash windows at all ever. ... just my $.02
>>
>>thank you for your response Naomi
>
>Do you have SP1 installed for SQL Server 2012?
>
>If the problem is reproducible, then you need to create a MS Connect item for that bug.

It is a new server. I thought we had SP1 installed, but obviously it is not. I will take care of that. ... I had the server crash twice before I did the work-around. I will try it after I apply sp1 and see what happens.

thanks again for you help.