Password recovery is no laughing matter for the serious entrepreneur. Modern businesses store nearly all their critical data in electronic form on computer hard drives, network servers and, even, on the Internet. Each company's information stewards must have quick and easy access to that data every day, as they carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them in the best interests of the company. In a very real sense, this appears to be an era in which hard copies (or printed documents) are fast becoming obsolete. As the information storage revolution continues to build momentum, expanding daily, the concept of information retrieval becomes increasingly important.

To assure your ability to recover crucial company data quickly, easily and consistently in the event of a password-related memory lapse, vendors offer numerous password recovery solutions to meet a variety of needs. Each of the password recovery tools and techniques in the following list can arm your staff to keep your data secure, yet well within your reach.

1. Password recovery disk
2. Password reset tool
3. Password removal program
4. Password analysis utility

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand password recovery and the variety of methods used to accomplish it before you buy

Before seeking specific password recovery products, be sure you thoroughly understand what password recovery software is designed to do. This will give you a better idea of which method and which product you should look at for your business needs.

I recommend: Last Bit Software provides all the background you need to understand computer security password recovery on its All about Passwords webpage. Last Bit also offers a thorough explanation of Password Recovery Methods, which work together with its software.

Check password recovery kits which bundle numerous software modules in a single package

All-in-one password recovery software packages can give you the peace of mind of knowing you're prepared for nearly any password issue that might arise--while saving you money at the same time.

I recommend: LostPassware.com provides the Passware Kit, which includes 25 or more modules, depending on which version you purchase. (This kit is compatible with all three editions of the Passware Encryption Analyzer mentioned above and is suitable for a stand-alone PC or an entire network.) NsaSoft also brings you Spot Auditor, which consists of software that helps in recovering computer passwords from more than 30 different applications.

Unlock your PC, remove and reset your password with password changer software

Password removal software unlocks the computer or file you're unable to access by clearing out old passwords, so you can access your data and change your passwords.

I recommend: Windows Geeks carries Windows Password Forgot, and Password-Busters.com also offers Windows password removal. Both applications provide the capability to remove your old password, letting you access your computer and clearing the way for a password reset, allowing you to start over with an entirely new password.

Before resetting your password, use a password estimation tool to analyze your choice for security

It's always better to be safe rather than sorry. So, before resetting your password, evaluate its potential level of security by using one of the tools below.

I recommend: Last Bit Software offers a Password Analyzing Service to help you measure the strengths and weaknesses of the password you're considering and estimating the time it might take to crack your code. It also provides a Password Calculator tool that calculates how long it might take to search for your password using brute-force attack (verifying all possible combinations in succession).

Consider freeware if your current budget won't support more expensive password recovery products

When you attempt to recover computer password information, free tools and utilities can give you a head start while you're waiting for your budget to catch up with your company's needs.

I recommend: LostPassword.com offers its Asterisk Key, a free downloadable utility that uncovers passwords hidden beneath asterisks. It also features several versions of its Passware Encryption Analyzer, one of which is free. Password Crackers, Inc., offers CryptoSearch, a free Windows utility that locates encrypted (password-protected) files even when they've been renamed.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Purchasing the software to remove or recover computer password data is a process that's important to your company. Look into all your options before deciding which product to buy, and consider using freeware in the meantime.