Password Reset Disk-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks

Password Reset Disk 

In the event you have forgotten your account password, Windows XP has made this feature available so that your password can be easily reset. The tips below include instruction for creating and using a Password Reset Disk for both Windows XP Home and Professional editions: 

To create a Password Reset Disk: [Home Edition]

Open Control Panel from the Start Menu

Open User Accounts

Click on the User for which you want to create a Password Reset Disk. 

Along the upper left side of the window, click on Prevent a Forgotten Password. This starts the Forgotten Password Wizard. 

Insert a blank floppy disk and follow the prompts through the Wizard. 

When the process is complete, label the disk and store it in a safe place. 

Here is how to use your Password Reset Disk:

From the Welcome screen, click your user name

Click the Question Mark button. 

Click Use Your Password Reset Disk. Follow the instructions to create a new password. 

Note: Once you have logged in with your new password, be sure to store your Password Reset Disk in a safe place.

To create a Password Reset Disk: [Professional Edition]

Note that this procedure requires one blank, formatted floppy disk. To create a password reset disk for your local user account:

Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. The Windows Security dialog box appears. 

Select Change Password . The Change Password dialog box will appear. 

In the Log on to box, click the local computer. For example, click Computer (this computer). 

Select Backup . The Forgotten Password Wizard will now start. 

On the "Welcome to the Forgotten Password Wizard" page, choose Next . 

Insert a blank, formatted disk in drive A, and then choose Next . 

In the Current user account password box, type your password, and then select Next . The Forgotten Password Wizard will create the disk. 

When the progress bar reaches 100 percent complete, select Next , and then choose Finish . The Forgotten Password Wizard will quit and you return to the Change Password dialog box. 

Remove and label the newly created disk. Be sure to store it in a safe place. 

In the Change Password dialog box, click Cancel . 

In the Windows Security dialog box, click Cancel.

Here is how to use your Password Reset Disk: 

In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. 

In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type an incorrect password in the Password box, and then select OK . 

In the Logon Failed dialog box that appears, select Reset . The Password Reset Wizard starts. 

On the "Welcome to the Password Reset Wizard" page, choose Next . 

Insert the Password Reset Disk in your floppy drive and select Next. 

On the "Reset the User Account Password" page, type a new password in the Type a New Password box. 

Type the same password in the Type the Password Again to Confirm box. 

In the Type a New Password Hint box, type a hint that will help you remember the password if you forget it.  

Note : This hint is visible to anyone who attempts to log on to the computer by using your user account.

Choose Next , and then click Finish . The Password Reset Wizard will quit and return you to the Log On to Windows dialog box. The Password Reset Disk is automatically updated with the new password information. You do not have to create a new password reset disk. 

In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your new password in the Password box. 
In the Log on to box, click the local computer. For example, click Computer (this computer) , and then click OK . You are logged on to the local computer with your local account information.