Need help with Group Policy Editor and Password Properties on Windows XP Home.

Hello, I'm facing a problem with my laptop which runs Windows XP Home. When I was at college, I was required to download a security package to be able to access their wireless network. This package, including McAffee Viruscan, seems to have also edited something in my Windows Settings. I am now required to have a password on all accounts, and it must be 8 characters long, start with a capital letter, and be alphanumeric.

Save me the spiel on password security - I keep a secure password on my computer, this is just a laptop that stays in my home and has no crucial personal information.

But what I need is something that will let me edit the password properties. In Windows XP Professional, Group Policy Editor will allow you to change these settings, but I cannot use GPE on Home and I cannot find another utility to serve my purpose.

Any advice on solving the problem would be most appreciated, and if you need additional information let me know.

Thank you.

Oh, and PS, I'd prefer to avoid reformatting right now if at all possible.

First, I fully admit this is NOT my area (if anything is) BUT I would wonder why you can't, once logged on as administrator, simply change these settings.

And if it is your home laptop, just transfer the other user files to one user and then delete the other users to keep things simple.

Disable 'guest' - this is possibly the dumbest feature I ever saw anyway (Here, get in here and screw with my computer it is bullet proof - yeah sure!).

Don't get me wrong - it is serious to you I know -so start at the Admin level and work your way out.

Uninstalling the insidious McAffee is job one.

I am logged on as an administrator, the problem is that I cannot find where I would go TO change these settings. Like I said, in XP Pro it can be done in the Group Policy Editor, but that utility is not available in XP home. Even when logged in as admin, I cannot change the password or remove the password completely to any of my accounts because the security policy prevents it.

Also, yes, I disable the guest, and McAffee was removed long ago. Appreciate your help, I just wish it were that simple :(

Is this any help?

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_passwords.htm

A utiliy that I like to use is called AATools from GLock software. I find that many times in the windows add remove programs I will remove an Application and if I run the uninstall utility from AATools I see that there are still parts of programs remaining to be uninstalled that the windows utility ignored. MCaffee and Symantec being the worst offenders. These programs are notorious for leaving registry and settings behind. I like to refer to them as ghosts in the machine. AATools is fully functioning for 30 days for free. Try the uninstall then run the registry tool to remove broken keys. In either case if it doesnt cure your issue its still a nice free utiliity.Another method may be to go to system tools and restore the pc to a date before the school software was installed. This isnt a format and restore it just takes the pc back to an earlier date.