Today I ran the windows XP network ID wizard in an effort to enable my work laptop to connect to my home network so that I could access some of my files on my home computer. In the network ID wizard I selected set up this computer for a home network, not connecting to a domain. This wasn't really a wise decision but I wasn't expecting not to be able to back out from it. The computer then said I had to restart. When I restarted it refused to accept my password. any idea why?

If you were connecting to a Domain, then I assume you're entering your Domain userid and password. If you indeed changed that to not authenticate to a Domain, then you need to logon to the machine with a local account and password. The Domain account obviously will not work. Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!

and how would I log in with a local account and password? I can't get past the opening log in screen.

Probably the only local account is the Administrator account. At this point I suggest leaving the laptop alone, take it back to work and have your tech support fix it, before you lose access and all information to the other accounts entirely. While there are ways to change the administrators password for you to access it, your tech support may not want you to have that access, and if you signed an Authorized Use Policy, what you have already done may be a firing offense. Next time change your home computer settings to match your work computer's, or ask your tech support to set it up for you. While it's commendable to try new things, I would try them on an expendable system before I would a critical one. Sorry I couldn't help more...Good Luck