To create a user password
Passwords add a level of security to your computer. When sharing a computer with others, your customized settings, computer programs, and system resources are more secure when you assign a password to your logon name or user account name.
The steps to perform this task differ depending on whether your computer is a member of a network domain or is part of a workgroup (or is a stand-alone computer).
My computer is on a domain
You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in order to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.
1. | Open User Accounts in Control Panel. |
2. | On the Users tab, click the name of the user for whom you want to create a password, and then click Reset Password. |
3. | In New password and Confirm new password, type the password, and then click OK. |
Note
| • | You can create passwords only for local computer accounts, such as guest, administrator, or accounts you create for your computer. |
My computer is not on a domain
The steps to perform this task differ depending on the type of user account you have.
If you have a computer administrator account on the computer
1. | Open User Accounts in Control Panel. |
2. | Click your account name. |
3. | Click Create a password. |
4. | In Type a new password and Type the new password again to confirm, type the password for your account. You can also enter descriptive or meaningful text in Type a word or phrase to use as a password hint to help you remember your password. |
5. | Click Create Password. |
If you have a limited account on the computer
1. | Open User Accounts in Control Panel. |
2. | Click Create a password. |
3. | In Type a new password and Type the new password again to confirm, type your password. You can also enter descriptive or meaningful text in Type a word or phrase to use as a password hint to help you remember your password. |
4. | Click Create Password. |
Note
| • | When you create a password hint, anyone who uses the computer will be able to see the hint on the Welcome screen. |
| • | A user with a computer administrator account can create and change passwords for all users on the computer. Users with limited accounts can only create and change their own passwords, as well as create their own password hints. |
| • | If a user with a computer administrator account changes the password for another user, that user will lose all EFS-encrypted files, personal certificates, and stored passwords for Web sites or network resources. |
Note
| • | To open User Accounts, click Start, click Control Panel, and then click User Accounts. |
| • | For more information about user accounts, click Related Topics. |
Related Topics
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