The 1 Thing All Windows Users Should Do RIGHT NOW

Let me share my own story by way of example: I went away for a few days, and my friend’s computer was broken. He needed to use my computer while I was gone, so I gave him my Windows password.

When I got back, I wanted to change my password (he has a habit of leaving some, ahem, not nice material on my computer when I walk away from it). So I fired up the control panel, and attempted to change my password to the word "branches." My Windows password is usually the first word that comes into my head when I sit down to change it, so "branches" was the winner.

Except apparently I didn’t type branches. Evidently, I typed the wrong word, twice in a row, exactly the same. Maybe it was brances, or bhrcneas- I don’t know. And that was the problem. It saved my password because I had typed it right, and I didn’t know the difference. Then, when I tried to log in the next morning, "branches" didn’t get me in. Neither did the 8,657 possible misspellings I tried.

Thus began a morning filled with panic, anxiety, and self-loathing. I spent the better part of three hours typing every possible combination of the letters b-r-a-n-c-h-e-s I could think of, to no avail. When I gave up that fight, I tried to look up various password recovery services. I found some, but since I couldn’t get on my computer, they really weren’t especially helpful.

Though I eventually got in to my computer (by doing a system restore from the boot disc- another post), I learned a valuable lesson: make use of Windows’ Password Restore Disc.

A Password Restore Disc allows you to reset your forgotten Windows password without any muss or fuss. It’s quick to create, quick to use, and critical to saving you from situations like mine.

Here’s how to do it. You’ll need Windows, an administrator account, a flash drive and about five minutes.

Windows Vista

1. Click on Start and then Control Panel.

2. Click on the User Accounts and Family Safety link.

   Note: If you’re viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, you won’t see this link. Simply double-click on the User Accounts icon and proceed to Step 4.

3. Click on the User Accounts link.

4. In the task pane on the left, click the Create a password reset disk link.

5. When the Forgotten Password Wizard window appears, click Next

   Note: You will need some kind of portable media before being able to create a password reset disk. This means that you will need a flash drive or a floppy disk.

6. In the I want to create a password key disk in the following drive: drop down box, choose the portable media drive to create a password reset disk on.

   Click Next to continue.

7. With the disk or other media still in the drive, enter your current account password in the text box and click Next.

8. Windows Vista will now create the password reset disk on your chosen media.

   When the progress indicator shows 100% complete, click Next and then click Finish in the next window.

9. You can now remove the flash drive or floppy disk from your computer. Label the disk "Password Reset" and store it in a safe place.

Windows XP

1. Click on Start and then Control Panel.

2. Click on the User Accounts link.

   Note: If you’re viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, double-click on the User Accounts icon.

3. In the pick an account to change area of the User Accounts window, click on your Windows XP user name.

4. In the Related Tasks area on the left, click the Prevent a forgotten password link.

5. When the Forgotten Password Wizard window appears, click Next

   Note: You will need a flash drive or floppy disk.

6. On the next screen, verify that the portable media is in the drive.

   Click Next to continue.

7. With the disk still in the drive, enter your current account password in the text box and click Next.

8. Windows XP will now create the password reset disk.

   When the progress indicator shows 100% complete, click Next and then click Finish in the next window.

9. You can now remove the CD from your computer. Label the disk "Password Reset" and store it in a safe place.

Once you’ve created a password restore disc, you’ll always be able to recover and change your password- no matter what it is. Also, anyone with the disc will be able to change your password, so keep it safe and hidden.

Having a Password Restore Disc will save you the inevitable moment of forgetfulness, followed by the moment of panic similar to the one I had. Take the time now to make a disc, and never worry about it again.

(Thanks to about.com for the instructions)

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