Note: If you have a password protected user account on an XP machine (in other words, you log onto your XP machine), we strongly urge you to create a Password Reset Disk.

What is a Password Reset Disk?
A Password Reset Disk will allow you to reset your password if you forget it for any reason. It requires a floppy disk drive and a blank, formatted floppy. A Password Reset Disk must be created before you need one - you cannot create this disk after you lose your password.

What are the consequences of losing my password?
If you cannot access your user account on your machine, in some cases you may not have the ability to access any of your stored data. If you cannot reset your password, you may have to recover your hard drive to the original factory image - all of your personal data will be gone. If you made a user backup, restoring it will also restore the password you lost, so it will do no good.

What should you do if you lost your password before you created a Password Reset Disk?
You should contact Tech Support. There is no guarantee that they can help you, but it's worth a try. You can use the Contact Tech Support form available from the main page. This will most likely be a paid support call.

How do I create and/or use a Password Reset Disk?

For instructions on creating and using a Password Reset Disk for a computer on a home network or is a single computer, use this link to open the Microsoft KB article Q305478

For instructions on creating and using a Password Reset Disk for a computer that is on a large network and is a member of a Domain, use this link to open Microsoft KB article Q306214

Once the password is changed or reset in this way, the following secure items will no longer be accessible:

• E-mail messages that are encrypted with the users public key.
• Internet passwords that are saved on, or remembered by, the computer.
• Any files the user has encrypted.

• Limitations Of The Fat-32 File System
• Error Msg: "System Has Recovered from a Serious Error" after every restart
• Configure The "Fax Service" In Windows XP
• Description Of File Sharing And Permissions In Windows XP
• Use The Files And Settings Transfer Wizard
• Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
• Restore Windows XP To A Previous State Using The System Restore Tool
• Some Large Hard Drives only show capacity of 32GB or 33GB
• Send A Fax Using Windows XP "Fax Service"
• Receive A Fax Using Windows XP "Fax Service"
• Erase Files From A CDRW Disc In Windows XP
• Screen Blanks Out During The Start Or At Login Screen Of Windows XP
• New Hardware Wizard Appears At Every Boot Up--Hardware Is Already Loaded
• Windows XP System Is Giving Video/Display Errors. System Has a GeForce2 Video Card
• Fax A Scanned Document Or Image Using Windows XP "Fax Service"
• What Is The Internet Explorer (IE) 6 Unsafe-File List?
• Troubleshooting Home Networking In Windows XP (Microsoft Article Q308007)
• Dial-Up Networking Connections Do Not Work After Upgrade To Windows XP (Q303488)
• You Are Prompted For A Password When Accessing A Windows XP System
• Error Msg: "Not enough memory available to complete this operation" when Using Sound Recorder
• Windows XP Prompts For A Password When Resuming From Screen Saver Or Standby Mode
• 16-Bit Programs May Not Update The Screen On Processors Faster Than 2.0 Ghz. (Q320694)