How to create a hugely long extra safe password you can remember? Just think of a phrase... This is an easy one as an example, but you get the idea

Th3QuickBr0wnF0xJump50v3rTh3142yD0g

Easy to remember, not so easy to crack.

We used the following process this weekend and were able to reset the password for each user.  It worked like a charm and was suprisingly easy -- the process takes a little while (maybe an hour in total) but most of it is sitting around waiting time.

http://brettlive.com/2007/04/18/what-if-you-forget-your-admin-password-in-xp/

 

shadesofgrey ....my method is faster/easier...and no need for XP CDs, etc, either...

Really?  It looked really complicated.  But I, admittedly, don't know a whole lot about computers -- I was just excited that I finally (after five years) had something relevant to contribute to the computing section of JU.  (yes, yes, it's the little things...)

Get this, install it,  download the relevant pack for XP, burn it to a disk and restart your computer.  It will recover all windows passwords for all accounts in about 3 - 5 minutes.  No technical knowledge needed and its free.

 

http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/

I've been using a 15 character password for ages, and I have this thing for non-alphanumeric characters.

I should really set up a 127 character password for XP, though...

For myself, I got hold of a Linux based Password Reset File that works for Vista, XP, and 2000. You can get a CD version or a floppy version. Just go to scroogle.org and search for "XP Password Reset" "Linux". It should come up. I use it all the time to reset passwords that people forgot on Windows. Oh, and it is better to use it and just blank the password to nothing then go in and create a new one for said account. On a non related thing, I took the liberty for myself to mod your Dark Vista Desktop to the programs and such I use myself. I love what you did with it. I have no plans to upload it to wincustomize since it is your work and all I did was change some properties and program targets as well as the wallpaper. If you'd like to see my work I did, it is on my profile as my Desktop screen. Keep up the great work and be well.