Article ID: 295050 - Last Review: May 7, 2007 - Revision: 1.4

Information on System Restore and Password Restoration

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SUMMARY

This article describes how the restoration of passwords is managed by System Restore on a Windows XP-based computer, and describes which types of passwords are restored and which are not restored.
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MORE INFORMATION

Passwords That Are Not Restored:

  1. Windows XP passwords and hints are not restored. This behavior is by design to prevent confusion and to prevent you from getting locked out of your computer because the restore point includes an old password that you do not remember.
  2. Microsoft Internet Explorer and Content Advisor passwords and hints are not restored. This behavior is by design to prevent confusion and to prevent problems that could occur when you browse the Internet, in the event that you restore your system to a point with an old password that you do not remember.
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Passwords That Are Restored

  1. Program passwords are restored, such as Hotmail Messenger, AOL Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and other Web server-based passwords. This behavior is by design: The programs simply cache these passwords; the actual passwords are stored on a Web server. System Restore does not actually change the password, but it changes the password that is remembered by the program. You can use the current password for the program to log on to the server.
  2. Domain and Computer passwords are restored. This behavior is by Design and is a limitation of System Restore. System Restore only rolls back the local machine state. Part of the information about joining domains resides in Active Directory, and Active Directory is not rolled back by System Restore.
For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
295049  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295049/EN-US/ ) Restoring Computer Domain PWord Disables Domain Users Account
308402  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308402/EN-US/ ) Cannot Log On to Recovery Console After Running Sysprep
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
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Keywords: 
kbinfo KB295050
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