It sounds like you have an administrator account,Flyvapet,but the XP computer I have here doesn't have Local Users and Groups under system tools,probably because it's a Home Edition,and yours is XP Professional,so I can't tell for sure.
Could you go to Start,Control Panel,User Accounts.Is the account you use to login to the computer listed there as Computer Administrator?
Don't worry,that's not what I had in mind.I just wanted to see if the account you are using is limited or admin,and if that might be the problem with Ignore Cookies or not.Nevertheless I'm scared to death of trying to log in under a different (shall we say) identity and, by some happenstance, becoming forever locked out of my one and only surviving machine! This password system we're all stuck with is nothing but a load of old cods, as far as I'm concerned, because it assumes the machine's user or users will perpetually remember all manner of passwords.
I'm doubtful on it,but it's a last ditch effort.