Article Summary:

This article helps to resolve password issues with Microsoft Windows Vista

This article is for Microsoft Windows Vista:
Click here to change the Operating System

Use a floppy disk or USB memory key to create a password reset disk using the following instructions:

1. Click and then click Control Panel.

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2. Click User Accounts and Family Safety.

   	Note:
   	If your Control Panel is using the Classic View, skip to the next step.

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3. Click User Accounts.

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4. Insert either a USB flash drive or a floppy disk.

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5. Click Create a password reset disk in the left pane.

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6. When the Forgotten Password Wizard appears, click Next.

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7. Select the drive you in which you want to store your password, and then click Next.

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8. In the Current User Account Password field, type your current password, and then click Next.

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9. When the Progress bar reaches 100%, click Next, and then click Finish.

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10. When the password reset disk has been created, remove the disk and store it in a safe location.

	Note:
	Anyone can use this disk to access your account on this computer, so it is important that you store the disk in a secure but accessible location.

The easiest way to recover from a lost password situation is to use a password reset disk. If you have a reset disk, follow these steps:

1. At the Windows logon screen, click Reset password.



2. Insert the recovery diskette or USB key.



3. Follow the instructions on-screen to create a new password.



4. Log onto the account using your new password.

	Note:
	Password reset disks are valid for the account they were created on. If you use a password reset disk to recover your password, you do not need to create a new reset disk afterwards.

The following Microsoft Knowledge Base Article provides instructions on how to resolve The User Profile Service Failed the Logon. User profile cannot be loaded error.

"Error message when you log on to a Windows Vista-based computer by using a temporary profile: "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded" Article ID: 947215.

If you have lost or forgotten your password, and a password reset disk is not available, reinstalling the operating system is the only recourse. For information on reinstalling Windows, refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base Article, How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer

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