07/04/2007 Utilities

If your password expires or if you forget your password, you can use a different user account to log on to Microsoft Windows XP. Alternatively, you can use a password reset disk to log on to Microsoft Windows XP.

Note If you have forgotten the password for all user accounts, and if you did not create a password reset disk, you cannot log on to Windows XP. This is for security reasons. If this problem occurs, you must reinstall Windows XP. Then, you must reinstall all the programs.

Use the following methods to try to log on to Windows XP. The instructions guide you through each step and help you verify that the problem is resolved.

Method 1: Use a password reset disk

Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional

1. Restart the computer.

2. 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.


3. Click Use your password reset disk.

4. In the Password Reset Wizard dialog box, click Next.

5. Insert the password reset disk into drive A, and then click Next.

6. Type a new password in the Type a new password box, and then type password again in the Type the password again to confirm box.

7. In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint for the password, and then click Next.

8. Click Finish, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.

Windows XP Professional in a domain

1. Restart the computer.

2. In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.

3. In the Log On to Windows dialog box, click OK.

4. In the Logon Failed dialog box, click Reset, and then click Next.

5. Insert the password reset disk into drive A, and then click Next.

6. 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.

7. In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint for the password, and then click Next.

8. Click Finish, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.

Method 2: Log on as an administrator to reset the password

Step 1: Log on as an administrator

Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional
a. Restart the computer.
b. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE two times, and then type the name of the administrator user account.
c. In the Password box, type the administrator password, and then click OK.

Note If the administrator password is set to a blank password, do not type a password before you click OK.


Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional in a workgroup
a. Restart the computer, and then after the Power On Self Test (POST), press the F8 key.

b. On the Windows Advanced Options menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.

c. Select Microsoft Windows XP edition, and then press ENTER.

Note In this step, edition represents the correct Windows edition.

d. On the To begin, click your user name screen, click Administrator, and then type the administrator password.

e. Press ENTER, and then click Yes.


Windows XP Professional in a domain
a. In the Welcome to Windows dialog box, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then type the name of the administrator user account.

b. In the Password box, type the administrator password, and then click OK.

Note If the administrator password is set to a blank password, do not type a password before you click OK.


Step 2: Reset the password

Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional
a. Click Start, click Run, type control userpasswords2, and then click OK.

b. Click the name of the user account that you want to reset the password for, and then click Reset Password.

c. Type a new password in the New password box, and then type the password again in the Confirm new password box, and then click OK.

d. Restart the computer, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.


Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional in a workgroup
a. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

b. Click User Accounts, and then click the name of the user account that you want to reset the password for.

c. Click Change the Password, and then type a new password.

Note If you do not want to use a password, click Remove password, and then continue to step e.

d. Click Change Password.

e. Restart the computer, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.


Windows XP Professional in a domain
a. Click Start, click Run, type compmgmt.msc, and then click OK.

b. In the Computer Management (Local) dialog box, expand Local Users and Groups.

c. Click the Users folder, and then right-click the user account that you want to reset the password for.

d. Click Set Password, and then click Proceed.

e. Type a new password in the New password box, type the password again in the Confirm password box, and then click OK two times.

f. Restart the computer, and then try to log into Windows XP again.