31. How Do I Stop My Password From Expiring

Please Note:

This workaround relates to Windows XP Professional Only. You do not need to use it with Windows XP Home. The XP Home password will not expire.

Password protecting Windows XP is an integral part of security. However, when you create a password in XP it does, by default, have a limited shelf life - 42 days to be precise. Before the 42 days has expired you will usually receive a reminder that your password is about to expire.

This is fine, so long as you do something about it at the time. If you don't, and your password finally expires, you are, unless you have created a password reset disk, (see 32. How do I create a Password Reset) left with a machine you cannot log in to.

Of course you can easily stop the password expiring altogether simply by following the instructions below.

Click the Start button.
On the Start Menu click Control Panel.
When the Control Panel Window opens Click the Administrative Tools Icon
In Administrative tools window click Local Security Settings.
The Local Security settings window will now open.
In the Left hand pane of the window click on the plus sign next to Account Policies to expand the menu
7/ Click Password Policy.
If you look in the Right hand pane you will see a list of options.
Right click on the Maximum Password Age option.
From the drop down menu select Properties.
The maximum password age properties window will open.
By default it is set to 42 days.
Change this figure to 0 (zero).
Click Apply.
Next click OK to close the window.
Your password will now never expire.
Finally Close the Local Security Settings window and any other windows that are open.