Microsoft has enhanced security features in XP including the the ability to create a floppy diskette to recover your password incase it is forgotten.

• Click Start
• Click Control Panel
• Click User Accounts
• Click on the account which you want to create a password disk
• Click Prevent a forgotten password which starts the Forgotten Password Wizard . This is found under Related Tasks
• Insert a blank, formatted disk into drive A, and click Next
• Enter the password in the Current user account password box
  

To use the recovery disk, at the Welcome screen

• Click the user name whose password is on the recovery disk
• Click the question mark button
  This causes the Did you forget your password message to appear.
• Click use your password reset disk
  This will start the Password Reset Wizard.

From this point, just follow the wizard's instructions and you will be able to set a new password.

These instructions are for Windows XP workstation standalone in a workstation. The instructions are different if the workstation is a member of a domain.

Relate tips:

• HOW TO: Create and Use a Password Reset Disk for a Computer in a Domain
• Backing Up and Restoring Passwords