Prevent Forgotten Passwords – Create a Password Reset Disk

14. Aug, 2009

Have you ever forgotten your password? Did you know that you can create a password reset disk you can use to log on to your computer? If you forget your password but don’t have a password reset disk, you’ll have to reinstall Windows to use your computer. Who wants to do that and risk losing all their files. We will start by showing you how to create a Windows XP reset disk and then Windows Vista. Follow these simple instructions:

To create a password reset disk

1. Log on to your computer as an administrator

2. Click start, and then click control panel

3. Under pick a category, click user accounts

4. In the user accounts window, click the account name that you want to create a password reset disk for.

5. Under the related tasks section (Left Side), click prevent a forgotten password.

6. On the Wecome To The Forgotten Password Wizard page, click next.

7. Insert a floppy disk into your disk drive. If neccessary, select the disk drive you want to use, and then click next.

Note: If your computer doesnt have a floppy disk drive, you want be able to use this wizard in XP. If you cannot install a floppy disk drive on your computer or laptop, you could consider using a USB-Connected floppy disk drive. Your local computer store will have them.

8. Type your password, and then click next

9. After the wizard creates your password reset disk, click next

10. Click Finish

Remember to remove the disk and store it in a secure place. It is important to protect this disk because anyone who uses the disk can access your computer without knowing your password.

In the case that you forget your password, you can use this disk reset your password.

For Vista Users:

You have the ability to create floppy disk or USB reset disks. We think the latter of the two is most realistic because, let’s face it, who uses floppy drives anymore!

1. Open User Accounts by clicking the start button , click control panel, click user accounts and family safety, then click user accounts.