Forgotten your Windows XP Home password? - Part 2: Using a password reset disk

This article is Part 2 of the Forgotten your Windows XP Home password? guide. This part explains how to use a password reset disk.

Note To view the other topics of the Forgotten your Windows XP Home password? guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the "References" section.

The Forgotten your Windows XP Home password? guide includes the following topics:

Ideally, you would create a password reset disk for your user account at the earliest opportunity. If you have a password reset disk, you can use the Password Reset Wizard to decrypt the forgotten password and to enter a new password. Password reset disks are easy to create.

How to use the password reset disk

1. Microsoft Windows remembers if you have created a password reset disk. Just click use your password reset disk.
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2. Click Next.
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3. Insert the password reset disk in the disk drive, and then click Next.
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4. Enter a new password, enter it again to confirm it, and then, optionally, set a password hint.
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5. Click Next, and then click Finish.
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6. Log on by using the new password.

How to create a password reset disk

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click User Accounts.
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3. Click your user account, and then click Prevent a forgotten password. The Forgotten Password Wizard starts.
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4. Click Next.
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5. Insert a blank disk in the disk drive, and then click Next.
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6. Type your current password, and then click Next.
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7. When the disk is created, click Next, and then click Finish.
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Note

A password reset disk is valid until you create a new one. It is valid even if you change your password. Therefore, take good care of your disk. If you ever misplace the disk, create a new one as soon as possible. Because the old disk is no longer valid as soon as a new disk has been created, the old disk cannot be used inappropriately by someone else.

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: