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Need a solution that will help you get back in business ?
It’s bound to happen:
Someday when you try to log on to your computer and are faced with the password prompt.
This time however you draw a blank.!
Windows XP offers two tools that help you to deal with this dilemma:
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Password hint.
The hint is available by clicking the question mark icon
that appears after you click your name on the Welcome screen.
(It’s not available if you don’t use the Welcome screen.)
The hint must have been defined when "Setting a Password" for the account.
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Password Reset Disk.
The Password Reset Disk allows you
(or anyone in possesion of your Password Reset Disk!) to
change your password without needing to know your old password.
As standard practice, each user should create a Password Reset Disk and keep it in a secure location.
Then, if a user forgets the password, he or she can reset it using the Password Reset Disk.
You can make a Password Reset Disk only for your local user account.
If your computer is joined to a domain, you can’t create a Password Reset Disk as a back door
to your domain logon password.
Note, that you can have only one Password Reset Disk for each user account.
If you make a new one, the old one is no longer usable.
If you’re running Windows XP Professional as a local user in a workgroup environment,
you can create a Password Reset Disk by following instruction as shown below.
Go to START, CONTROL PANEL, USER ACCOUNTS.
Then click your account name and on the left, under Related Tasks,
click Prevent A Forgotten Password.
A wizard will come up, follow the instructions and you have your password reset disk ready.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Like with any security sensitive information, such as passwords,
make sure that you keep this disk in a secure location to avoid compromising the account.
Recovering from a Lost Password
When you attempt to log on, one of two things happens if you don't provide the correct password:
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If you have created a Password Reset Disk, Windows displays a message that includes either
a Use Your Password Reset Disk link (if your computer is configured to use the Welcome screen)
or a Reset button (if you're not using the Welcome screen).
Click the link or the button to launch the Password Reset Wizard.
You’ll need your Password Reset Disk, of course.
The Password Reset Wizard asks you to create a new password and hint.
Log on with your new password, and then return your Password Reset Disk to its safe storage place.
You do not need to make a new Password Reset Disk.
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If you have not created a Password Reset Disk, Windows displays a message that tells you, in effect,
to type your password correctly.
In this situation, if you can’t remember the password and the hint doesn’t jog your memory,
you’re out of luck.
An administrator can log on and change or remove your password for you,
but you’ll lose access to your encrypted files and e-mail messages.
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