Finally, I found it yesterday. Because I want to save my money (I think everybody has the same way with me today), I want to find a freeware password manager application but it has a secure system and ease to use. Hmm, I almost forget, I want the application can run without install it first because I want to bring it in my USB drive so that I can open it everywhere. And I found Keepass Password Safe.

This application can fulfill my need to manage my passwords. You can download it on their download page. Their are providing 2 versions, version 1.xx and 2.xx. Although version 2.xx is a newer version but you need .NET Framework to run it. And each version is provide 2 model, Windows Installer EXE and ZIP Package.

If you plan to bring it in your USB drive, choose the ZIP Package because you don’t need to install it first. Just unzip it and run the keepass.exe file. To use this application is very easy (I am using the ZIP Package but the Installation mode has a same screen).

• For the first time,  you need to set your master password. Then you need to remember your master password only. You can also create your Key File, but I did not create it because I worry if the key file is damage, I can’t open it.
  
• After you create the password, you can entry your password and user name now. By default, Keepass gives you some default groups. But you can add it as your need. I suggest you to put your entries as its group, so you’re not confusing to find it later.
  
• To entry your user and password in Keepass is very easy, just click Edit -> Add Entry menu and type your entry in each field that asked. In the entry form, you can use the password generator to help you to create a new strong password (you can see at Quality bar to check your password quality).

I have a favorite feature that Keepass has, Keepass can help you to enter your user and password to current web form that you want filled. To make it happens just click Tools button in Entry form and then choose Auto-Type: Customize Sequence menu. Beside it you’ll get so many great features on Tools menu.

In this case I will set it to 8 charaters (So, you must enter 8 characters for password every time you set a new user and password).
And here are the steps to configure it:

1. Open Control Panel via Start -> Control Panel menu.
   
2. Open Administrative Tools, you can open it by double click Administrative Tools icon that located inside Control Panel.
   
3. After Administrative Tools is open, double click Local Security Policy.
   
4. Inside Local Security Policy, click Password Options.
   
5. Find Minimum password length (as you see Windows XP has set it to 0 charaters as default value), double click it to open its properties window.
   
6. After Minimum password length Properties is opened,
   
   replace with value that you want, click OK button (in this case, I give it value: 8).
7. You’ll bring back to main screen and you will see that the value has changed to value as you enter.
   
8. Now, try to make a new account by open Computer Management that located in Administrative Tools too.
   
9. And click User folder that located at left panel of Computer Management.
   
10. Right click an empty space on right panel.
    
11. Enter the account name and the other required fields, when you enter the password try to enter with 3 characters,
    
    you’ll get a error message.
    
12. Now, try to enter password with 8 characters or more… then the new account will save successfully.

(article no:0065)