Reset password disk

I've read as many posts as possible as I'm having a similar problem. I have a
Dell with Vista installed. When I try to create the password disk, it only
recognizes the USB drives, not the 2 cd/dvd drives. As I've read in other
posts, if one creates it in a USB, then copies it to a cd, Vista won't
recognize it. I don't want to waste a flash drive just for this. Any
suggestions?

Lou,

Never tried this so only a suggestion.

Empty the flash drive (copy its stuff somewhere first!)
Make the password reset disk on the flash drive (I have read that even
though the option is there it doesn't actually work - just rumor)
Copy the flash contents to a CD label it carefully and store in safe place.

When needed, copy the CD back to the flash, use the flash as the 'password
reset disk'.

My solution was to get a floppy drive for my machine (Dell) that did not
come with one.

Be sure to try out the 'reset password' operation before you really need it!

Michael

"lou g" <loug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news2077C41-7F31-4E70-93C8-ACD7E1D9ABE6@microsoft.com...
> I've read as many posts as possible as I'm having a similar problem. I
> have a
> Dell with Vista installed. When I try to create the password disk, it only
> recognizes the USB drives, not the 2 cd/dvd drives. As I've read in other
> posts, if one creates it in a USB, then copies it to a cd, Vista won't
> recognize it. I don't want to waste a flash drive just for this. Any
> suggestions?

It has been quite a while since I made a password recovery disc, but as i
recall, it was possible to copy the file to a different media and use it
there.

Have you tried copying the file from the USB drive to a CD and using it from
there. Note that the CD will probably have to be ISO format, not Vista's
default 'floppy emulator' format. You might also try copying it to a flash
card and see if it can be used from a flash card slot.

-Paul Randall

"lou g" <loug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news2077C41-7F31-4E70-93C8-ACD7E1D9ABE6@microsoft.com...
> I've read as many posts as possible as I'm having a similar problem. I
> have a
> Dell with Vista installed. When I try to create the password disk, it only
> recognizes the USB drives, not the 2 cd/dvd drives. As I've read in other
> posts, if one creates it in a USB, then copies it to a cd, Vista won't
> recognize it. I don't want to waste a flash drive just for this. Any
> suggestions?

Thanks Michael-
If worse comes to worst, I might try this. I've sent Dell a request also, so
if they give me an answer, I'll post here also.
Lou G

"Michael" wrote:

> Lou,
>
> Never tried this so only a suggestion.
>
> Empty the flash drive (copy its stuff somewhere first!)
> Make the password reset disk on the flash drive (I have read that even
> though the option is there it doesn't actually work - just rumor)
> Copy the flash contents to a CD label it carefully and store in safe place.
>
> When needed, copy the CD back to the flash, use the flash as the 'password
> reset disk'.
>
> My solution was to get a floppy drive for my machine (Dell) that did not
> come with one.
>
> Be sure to try out the 'reset password' operation before you really need it!
>
> Michael
>
> "lou g" <loug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news2077C41-7F31-4E70-93C8-ACD7E1D9ABE6@microsoft.com...
> > I've read as many posts as possible as I'm having a similar problem. I
> > have a
> > Dell with Vista installed. When I try to create the password disk, it only
> > recognizes the USB drives, not the 2 cd/dvd drives. As I've read in other
> > posts, if one creates it in a USB, then copies it to a cd, Vista won't
> > recognize it. I don't want to waste a flash drive just for this. Any
> > suggestions?
>

Thanks Paul-
I appreciate any suggestions; for now I'll keep reading. I doubt if I'll
forget my password, but one never knows!
Lou G

"Paul Randall" wrote:

> It has been quite a while since I made a password recovery disc, but as i
> recall, it was possible to copy the file to a different media and use it
> there.
>
> Have you tried copying the file from the USB drive to a CD and using it from
> there. Note that the CD will probably have to be ISO format, not Vista's
> default 'floppy emulator' format. You might also try copying it to a flash
> card and see if it can be used from a flash card slot.
>
> -Paul Randall
>
> "lou g" <loug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news2077C41-7F31-4E70-93C8-ACD7E1D9ABE6@microsoft.com...
> > I've read as many posts as possible as I'm having a similar problem. I
> > have a
> > Dell with Vista installed. When I try to create the password disk, it only
> > recognizes the USB drives, not the 2 cd/dvd drives. As I've read in other
> > posts, if one creates it in a USB, then copies it to a cd, Vista won't
> > recognize it. I don't want to waste a flash drive just for this. Any
> > suggestions?
>
>
>

To all-
I received this from Dell:

...."the password reset disk can only be created on a USB flash drive or
floppy drive."

...."it is not advisable and recommended to create a password reset disk."

So for now I won't.
Lou g


"lou g" wrote:

> Thanks Paul-
> I appreciate any suggestions; for now I'll keep reading. I doubt if I'll
> forget my password, but one never knows!
> Lou G
>
> "Paul Randall" wrote:
>
> > It has been quite a while since I made a password recovery disc, but as i
> > recall, it was possible to copy the file to a different media and use it
> > there.
> >
> > Have you tried copying the file from the USB drive to a CD and using it from
> > there. Note that the CD will probably have to be ISO format, not Vista's
> > default 'floppy emulator' format. You might also try copying it to a flash
> > card and see if it can be used from a flash card slot.
> >
> > -Paul Randall
> >
> > "lou g" <loug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news2077C41-7F31-4E70-93C8-ACD7E1D9ABE6@microsoft.com...
> > > I've read as many posts as possible as I'm having a similar problem. I
> > > have a
> > > Dell with Vista installed. When I try to create the password disk, it only
> > > recognizes the USB drives, not the 2 cd/dvd drives. As I've read in other
> > > posts, if one creates it in a USB, then copies it to a cd, Vista won't
> > > recognize it. I don't want to waste a flash drive just for this. Any
> > > suggestions?
> >
> >
> >

"lou g" wrote:

> I've read as many posts as possible as I'm having a similar problem. I have a
> Dell with Vista installed. When I try to create the password disk, it only
> recognizes the USB drives, not the 2 cd/dvd drives. As I've read in other
> posts, if one creates it in a USB, then copies it to a cd, Vista won't
> recognize it. I don't want to waste a flash drive just for this. Any
> suggestions?

Just tried to create a password reset disc and had the same problem as lou
g. None of the replies expained how to make a disk and I also do not want to
tie up a flash drive. If this is the only way why do Microsoft say create a
password reset DISC? My computer is an HP Pavillion dv6000