Microsoft Windows XP Home and Professional includes an option that enables users to create a floppy diskette that enables them to access the computer in the event of a forgotten password. Below are the steps required to create this diskette.

Creating the forgotten password diskette

  • Open the Control Panel.
  • In Control Panel, open the User Accounts window by double-clicking the User Accounts icon.
  • In the User Accounts window, in the top-left Related Tasks section, click Prevent a forgotten password.
  • Insert a blank floppy diskette into the computer and click Next.
  • Type the password for the user you are creating the diskette for and click Next.
  • Wait until the diskette has completed being created, then store the diskette in a place you will remember.

Using the forgotten password diskette

If you have forgotten your Windows XP password, but you had the forethought to create a forgotten password diskette, follow the steps below.

If you do not know the password, and have not created this diskette, see: How to reset a lost or forgotten Windows password.

  • At the Windows XP login prompt, when the password is entered incorrectly, click the reset button in the login failed window.
  • Insert the password reset diskette into the computer and click Next.
  • If the correct diskette is used, Windows XP shows a window prompting for the new password.
  • See our password definition for further information and related links.
  • Microsoft Windows help and support.