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This article was previously published under Q321305
To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3).
For more information, refer to this Microsoft web page:
Support is ending for some versions of Windows
If you forget your Windows password or if your password expires, you must reset your password before you can log on to your computer. You can reset your password, if one of the following condition is true:
You can log on as an administrator to assign a new password to your account. To do this, try Method 1.
Note When we install Windows, it automatically creates an account "Administrator" and sets its password to blank.
You have previously created a password reset disk for the computer. To do this, try Method 2.
If you do not have a reset disk or cannot log on as an administrator, unfortunately, you may have to reinstall Windows XP and all other programs that were installed on the computer before you can use the computer again. This is for security. Without these safeguards, anyone could reset a password to anyone else's computer and gain access to private information.
The steps to do this differ if the computer is a stand-alone computer or a member of a workgroup of two or more, or a member of a domain. Select the appropriate set of steps from the following to try to log on as the administrator to reset the password.
Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional Edition
To log on to the computer by using a password reset disk, follow these steps. If your computer is or was a member of a domain, go to the "Windows XP Professional in a domain" section and follow those steps.
Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional Edition
On the Windows XP logon screen, click the user name that you want to use, and then press ENTER.
Note You receive the following error message:
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.
In the Password Reset Wizard dialog box, click Next.
Insert the password reset disc into the CD drive, and then click Next.
Type a new password in the Type a new password box, and then type the password again in the Type the password again to confirm box.
In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint for the password, and then click Next.
Click Finish, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.
To log on to a computer by using a password reset disk, when that computer is a member of a domain, or was disconnected from a domain, follow these steps:
Restart the computer.
In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.
In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type an incorrect password in the Password box, and then click OK.
In the Logon Failed dialog box, click Reset. The Password Reset Wizard starts. You can use the Password Reset Wizard to create a new password for your local account.
On the Welcome to the Password Reset Wizard page, click Next.
Insert the password reset disc into the CD drive, and then click Next.
Type a new password in the Type a new password box, and then type the password again in the Type the password again to confirm box.
In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint for the password, and then click Next.
Click Finish, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.
If you cannot reset your password, unfortunately, this content is unable to help you further. For your next steps, you might want to ask someone for help, or you might want to contact Support. For information about how to contact Support, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:
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