Windows Password Help

Create a Password Reset Disk

Password reset disk is a useful tool that enables you to reset the password of your Windows XP computer, when you forget the password or the password expires.

Discussed here are the methods that you can use to create Windows XP password reset disk in different situations.

Warning : Because the password reset disk can be used by anybody to reset your password and gain access to your computer it is important that you keep it in a safe location.

Method 1: Steps to Create Password Reset Disk when your Windows XP Professional PC is part of a domain.

1. Press the CTRL+ALT+DELETE key combination to display the Windows Security dialog box.
2. Click the Change Password button to display the Change Password dialog box.
3. Select the name of your computer from the Log on to list.
4. To launch the Forgotten Password Wizard, click Backup.
5. Click Next on the Welcome to the Forgotten Password Wizard page.
6. When prompted, insert a formatted disk in your Floppy drive and then click Next.
7. Enter your current password in the Current user account password box, and then click Next to create the password reset disk.
8. After the process completes, click Next, and then Finish to exit the dialog box.
9. Finally, close all open dialog boxes on the computer, take out the reset disk, label it, and keep it in a safe place.

Method 2: Steps to Create Password Reset Disk for your local user account by using a computer administrator account

1. Open Control Panel select User Accounts, and the select the user account for which you want to create the password reset disk.
2. In the Related Tasks section, select the Prevent a forgotten password link to launch the Forgotten Password Wizard, and then click Next.
3. When prompted, insert a formatted disk in your Floppy drive and then click Next.
4. Enter your current password in the Current user account password box, and the click Next to create the password reset disk.
5. After the process completes, click Next, and then click Finish to exit the dialog box.
6. Finally, close all open dialog boxes on the computer, take out the reset disk, label it, and keep it in a safe place.

Method 3: Steps to Create Password Reset Disk for your local user account by using a limited account

1. Open Control Panel , and select User Accounts from the Pick a category page.
2. In the Related Tasks section, select the Prevent a forgotten password link to launch the Forgotten Password Wizard, and then click Next.
3. When prompted, insert a formatted disk in your Floppy drive and then click Next.
4. Enter your current password in the Current user account password box, and the click Next to create the password reset disk.
5. After the process completes, click Next, and then click Finish to exit the dialog box.
6. Finally, close all open dialog boxes on the computer, take out the reset disk, label it, and keep it in a safe place.

Note: In the above methods if the user account does not have a password, leave the Current user account password box blank.