Password and file access problems after replacing server HD

Had 2 different types of issues after replacing a defective hard drive on our 10.9.5 MacMini server. [The server HD was bad. We put in a new one and used Time Machine to restore the contents. ]

Now, I can't reset password of create new users. When I try to reset a password, the dialogue box "blinks" but stays there. If the user tries to log in with [presumably] their old password, the user is prompted to change the password, but no matter what is entered in terms of complex passwords, you get a message that the password does not meet the policy.

If I look in Server - Open Directory, you can edit the global password policies but nothing is set at all so there should be no restrictions.

If I click on the user in Server, edit global password policy is greyed out, which seems like a change. It seems like there is a file somewhere that can no longer be read.

When I try to create a new user, I get this error: unable to create a secure connection with credentials from existing connection: password change denied

One user can no longer properly access their share point. Though the share point can be mounted with Finder -> Go -> Connect to Server and file can be edited and saved there, when I try to access the share point through the left panel of a finder window (the Sidebar), and I click on the server name, I get a Connection Failed error. Same thing in a save dialogue box with multiple applications.