A method for protecting Security Accounts Manager (SAM) files within a Windows® operating system is disclosed. A SAM file encryption key is generated by encrypting a SAM file via a syskey utility provided within the Windows® operating system. The SAM file encryption key is then stored in a virtual floppy disk by selecting an option to store SAM file encryption key to a floppy disk under the syskey utility. A blob is generated by performing a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Seal command against the SAM file encryption key along with a value stored in a Performance Control Register and a TPM Storage Root Key. The blob is stored in a non-volatile storage area of a computer.