So many people leave the admin password blank! I think MS should have put a note about it when you first get the PC tbh.

You could also pick up a copy of RD Commander. I think you have to pay for it but it essentially gives you an XP like desktop with a start menu full of tools and goodies and it runs right off of the CD. I definitely recommend having something like that around and in a safe place.

i am interested in that cd tell me more. also, is there software that locks your pc down?

i definitely agree.

Ok, if I'm understanding this right, someone with RD Commander or a Linux boot CD can get into any of my PC's? If this is the case, is there any way of knowing that they have been there? And is there anyway of preventing this short of securing the machines using lock and key?

Sure --there's lock down software-- but if you have a good firewall --and no -one in your household is a threat --it's not really worth it-- because I've heard horror stories about lost passwords to those programs-- and then you have a REAL problem-- because those are specifically designed to keep all intruders-- including you out