If you are a computer user that has hesitated to use a good strong password for your Windows logon because you are afraid you will forget it or have forgotten your password in the past and would like some "insurance" then the "Forgotten Password Wizard" is just what you need. This built in utility will help you to reset your password and restore full access to your machine. The biggest drawback to this wizard is that it happens to be floppy based for Windows XP systems. This was resolved in Windows Vista which permits the use of a USB flash drive or a CD.
This article was originally part of the Forgotten Passwords page. At that time Windows Vista had not yet been released. During our web site overhaul we decided to divide it into separate pages with the intention of adding instructions for Vista's Password Wizard when the overhaul was completed. The instructions for Windows XP, having already been written, appear here first. If you browse through this article and don't find instructions pertaining to Windows Vista then we are still updating the site and will have them posted here shortly.
Navigate to User Accounts in the control panel and select your account. Look to the left side of the window under "Related Tasks" and click on "Prevent a forgotten password"
The next window you see is the "Forgotten Password Wizard". All that is required here is to click the "Next" button.
Typical of many of the Windows Wizards, each screen is focused on one step of the entire process. This window instructs you to insert a floppy into your floppy drive. When completed this disk should be stored, suggesting the need for a new floppy or one that has been reformatted. After putting the floppy disk into the drive click the "Next" button.
This wizard produces a password reset disk specifically for the account you are using when you start the wizard. This makes it necessary for each user on the computer to create their own password reset disk. This disk can be used as long as the account it was made for still exists and you have not changed the password by any means other than this reset disk. This window is where you type in your password just like you would when logging on to your account after turning on your computer. After entering your password, click the "Next" button.
When this view appears, the wizard stats writing a file to the floppy disk. When the progress bar reaches 100%, click the "Next" button and the process is nearly complete.
The final screen for this wizard informs you that any password reset disks created for this account are no longer valid. It also suggests labeling the disk then storing in a safe place. Clicking on the "Finish" button closes the Forgotten Password Wizard.
With the task completed, you may wonder what was written to the floppy. It doesn't hurt to look and you can safely view the contents of the floppy in "Windows Explorer" or "My Computer". What you will find is the file "userkey.psw" approximately 2 Kb in size. This explains the need for separate password reset disks for each user account. The wizard would overwrite this file making it useful only for the last account to run the wizard. The "userkey.psw" file is reportedly an encrypted version of your password. With this disk anyone could gain access to your personal information. If the password reset disk isn't stored in a safe place you might as well write your password on a sticky note and stick it to your monitor. With that said, perhaps a look at the use of the reset disk is in order.
The first step for the use of your new password reset disk, aside from forgetting the password, is to boot up the computer. On the login screen click the green arrow. The question mark button gives you a hint to your old password. You did try this first didn't you??
When the green arrow button has been clicked with an incorrect or blank password entry, a Windows "tooltip" balloon appears. The Password Reset Wizard is accessed by clicking the link "use your password reset disk".
The first screen of the Password Reset Wizard is a Welcome Screen. Since you already know to create the reset disk first just click the "Next" button.
The second screen just tells you to put the floppy in the drive. Click the "Next" button.
Next is the important screen. Here you enter a new password and password hint. When finished click the "Next" button.
This is the final screen of the Password Reset Wizard. On clicking the "Finish" button you will be able to log on to your account using the new password. Notice that this screen informs you that the Reset Disk is reusable as is. Evidently the password is reset and the reset disk is updated in the previous step.
Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Windows, Windows XP and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names have been included in the above text that are trademarks of the respective companies.
