Use a Computer Administrator Account
If you are logged on to the computer by using an
administrator account, use the following steps
to create a password reset disk for a user account:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click User Accounts.
3. In the User Accounts pane, click the account that
you want to work with.
4. Under Related Tasks, click Prevent a forgotten
password to start the Forgotten
Password Wizard, and then click Next.
5. Insert a blank, formatted disk into drive A, and
then click Next.
6. In the Current user account password box, type
the password for the user account that
you chose in step 3, and then click Next.
NOTE: If the user account does not have a
password, do not type a password into
the Current user account password box.
The Forgotten Password Wizard creates the disk.
7. When the Progress bar reaches 100% complete,
click Next, and then click Finish.
8. Remove, and then label the password reset disk.
Store the disk in a safe place.
How to Log on to the Computer By Using a Password Reset
Disk
If you forget your password, you can log on to the
computer with a new password that you create
by using the Password Reset Wizard and your password
reset disk:
At the Windows XP logon screen, click the user name that
you want to use. The Type your
password box appears. Press ENTER, or click the right-
arrow button. The following error message
appears:
Did you forget your password?
You can click the "?" button to see your password hint.
Or you can use your password reset disk.
Please type your password again.
Be sure to use the correct uppercase and lowercase
letters.
Click use your password reset disk. The Password Reset
Wizard starts. The Password Reset
Wizard enables you to create a new password for your user
account.
Click Next.
Insert the password reset disk into drive A, and then
click Next.
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 to
remind you of your password if you forget
the new password.
NOTE: This hint is visible to anyone who attempts to log
on to the computer by using your
user account.
Click Next, and then click Finish. The Password Reset
Wizard quits, and you return to the
Windows XP logon screen.
NOTE: The password reset disk is automatically updated
with the new password information.
You do not have to create a new password reset disk.
Type your new password into the Type your password box,
and then click the right-arrow
button to log on to the computer.
