xp passwords

[Guest]

do we really need to use them? are they stored on our hard drive? along with
our floppy backup password recovery through the wizard. If my computer was
stolen-hard drive removed-new one put in -what good do they do ? And
microsoft has all of my details for my xp operating system? i have often
wondered?I dont have any secret files ....can you inform me ?

 

[SingaporeWebDesign]

Hello,

Yes, the passwords are stored in the hard drive. Not sure about the floppy
backup feature though, but I guess the password should be stored there as
well.

If your hard drive was stolen from your computer, your thinking is right as
they do not provide any additional protection (the thief can easily read any
data on your hard disk by mounting it as slave or in an external enclosure)
unless you choose to encrypt the folders (right-click folder, general tab,
advanced).

Microsoft only knows information that you intentionally send to it - such as
your activation and registration
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302878
(see under Privacy)

--
Singapore Website Design
http://www.bootstrike.com/Webdesign/
Singapore Web Hosting
http://www.bootstrike.com/WinXP/faq.html
Windows XP FAQ

 

[Nicholas]

The user account passwords prevent people from doing stuff "under your user
account name". You need to select "make my files private" to prevent prople
from seeing your files using another user account.

If you hard disk is removed then your password will provide a first-line of
defense against accessing your files. If you also enabled encyption (search
"encryption" in XP Help for instructions), then it take longer to hack the
user account password (but still possible to) before accessing your files.

If you use BitLocker in Vista, then the "thief" will need a PIN before they
can even start hacking the hard disk.

Good luck.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

do we really need to use them?
No.

are they stored on our hard drive?

The password hash, yes.

If my computer was stolen-hard drive removed-new one put in -what good
do they do ?

Why don't you set the BIOS password. However, note that the BIOS pass-
word may be bypassed as fast as opening your car w/o having the keys.

And microsoft has all of my details for my xp operating system?

Most likely, you're not important enough to attract any company's
interest. http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/fullnotice.aspx