forgotten password

[stevenm]

Hi Folks,

My friend has a win98 machine and has forgot his
password. i know he can log onto the system without
entering a password (i.e he just clicks cancel and it
loads up) but is there anyway of reseting the password
without knowing what the old one is? is there any apps
that can help do this?

Thanks all and keep up the good work.

Stevenm

[Gary S. Terhune]

Have your friend log on using the Cancel method, then use Find to locate all
files named *.PWL

If there's more than one, the proper one to delete is the one that has your
friend's Logon Name as the part before the PWL extension. Mine, for
instance, is Gary.pwl. Delete that file. Note that this will delete other
saved passwords as well, including Dial-Up password. Your friend should be
prepared to re-enter those passwords and to endure at least some effort that
may be required to get everything back the way the way he had it.

May I ask, how does someone forget their Windows Logon password? Just
interested is all, because it has to be the most used password of all if
it's used. Tell you friend that a password is not required. After deleting
the PWL file, reboot and when the Logon prompt appears, use the *exact* same
name as before, leave the password field blank, and click OK.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"stevenm" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Folks,
>
> My friend has a win98 machine and has forgot his
> password. i know he can log onto the system without
> entering a password (i.e he just clicks cancel and it
> loads up) but is there anyway of reseting the password
> without knowing what the old one is? is there any apps
> that can help do this?
>
> Thanks all and keep up the good work.
>
> Stevenm

[Richard Goh]

Gary: I have used this technique on a lot of computers where the user
forgot the password.
After restarting and skipping the password prompt the machine starts and the
dial-up pass word was still valid.
I have never lost the dial-up password and I always check it in the Internet
Properties - Connection window.

"Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
...
> Have your friend log on using the Cancel method, then use Find to locate
all
> files named *.PWL
>
> If there's more than one, the proper one to delete is the one that has
your
> friend's Logon Name as the part before the PWL extension. Mine, for
> instance, is Gary.pwl. Delete that file. Note that this will delete other
> saved passwords as well, including Dial-Up password. Your friend should be
> prepared to re-enter those passwords and to endure at least some effort
that
> may be required to get everything back the way the way he had it.
>
> May I ask, how does someone forget their Windows Logon password? Just
> interested is all, because it has to be the most used password of all if
> it's used. Tell you friend that a password is not required. After deleting
> the PWL file, reboot and when the Logon prompt appears, use the *exact*
same
> name as before, leave the password field blank, and click OK.
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS MVP for Win9x
>
> "stevenm" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Folks,
> >
> > My friend has a win98 machine and has forgot his
> > password. i know he can log onto the system without
> > entering a password (i.e he just clicks cancel and it
> > loads up) but is there anyway of reseting the password
> > without knowing what the old one is? is there any apps
> > that can help do this?
> >
> > Thanks all and keep up the good work.
> >
> > Stevenm
>

[Gary S. Terhune]

Hmmm... I was working on memory, and an old and hole-ridden memory it is. I
know that other passwords are saved in the PWL file, but I'm not certain
which ones. Just wanted the user to be aware of that issue. Thanks for the
correction.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Richard Goh" > wrote in message
...
> Gary: I have used this technique on a lot of computers where the user
> forgot the password.
> After restarting and skipping the password prompt the machine starts and
the
> dial-up pass word was still valid.
> I have never lost the dial-up password and I always check it in the
Internet
> Properties - Connection window.
>
> "Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Have your friend log on using the Cancel method, then use Find to locate
> all
> > files named *.PWL
> >
> > If there's more than one, the proper one to delete is the one that has
> your
> > friend's Logon Name as the part before the PWL extension. Mine, for
> > instance, is Gary.pwl. Delete that file. Note that this will delete
other
> > saved passwords as well, including Dial-Up password. Your friend should
be
> > prepared to re-enter those passwords and to endure at least some effort
> that
> > may be required to get everything back the way the way he had it.
> >
> > May I ask, how does someone forget their Windows Logon password? Just
> > interested is all, because it has to be the most used password of all if
> > it's used. Tell you friend that a password is not required. After
deleting
> > the PWL file, reboot and when the Logon prompt appears, use the *exact*
> same
> > name as before, leave the password field blank, and click OK.
> >
> > --
> > Gary S. Terhune
> > MS MVP for Win9x
> >
> > "stevenm" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi Folks,
> > >
> > > My friend has a win98 machine and has forgot his
> > > password. i know he can log onto the system without
> > > entering a password (i.e he just clicks cancel and it
> > > loads up) but is there anyway of reseting the password
> > > without knowing what the old one is? is there any apps
> > > that can help do this?
> > >
> > > Thanks all and keep up the good work.
> > >
> > > Stevenm
> >
>
>

[Bill Watt]

Richard,

I believe the DUN password is stored in the RNA.PWL file.
As you say, deleting the PWL file for the Logon Name would not
affect it. I always rename the extension instead of deleting the
file. The PWL extension must be re-named.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.epix.net/~bwatt/
_______________________________________________

On Sun, 6 Jun 2004 12:16:59 -0700, "Richard Goh" >
wrote:

>Gary: I have used this technique on a lot of computers where the user
>forgot the password.
>After restarting and skipping the password prompt the machine starts and the
>dial-up pass word was still valid.
>I have never lost the dial-up password and I always check it in the Internet
>Properties - Connection window.
>
>"Gary S. Terhune" > wrote in message
...
>> Have your friend log on using the Cancel method, then use Find to locate
>all
>> files named *.PWL
>>
>> If there's more than one, the proper one to delete is the one that has
>your
>> friend's Logon Name as the part before the PWL extension. Mine, for
>> instance, is Gary.pwl. Delete that file. Note that this will delete other
>> saved passwords as well, including Dial-Up password. Your friend should be
>> prepared to re-enter those passwords and to endure at least some effort
>that
>> may be required to get everything back the way the way he had it.
>>
>> May I ask, how does someone forget their Windows Logon password? Just
>> interested is all, because it has to be the most used password of all if
>> it's used. Tell you friend that a password is not required. After deleting
>> the PWL file, reboot and when the Logon prompt appears, use the *exact*
>same
>> name as before, leave the password field blank, and click OK.
>>
>> --
>> Gary S. Terhune
>> MS MVP for Win9x
>>
>> "stevenm" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Hi Folks,
>> >
>> > My friend has a win98 machine and has forgot his
>> > password. i know he can log onto the system without
>> > entering a password (i.e he just clicks cancel and it
>> > loads up) but is there anyway of reseting the password
>> > without knowing what the old one is? is there any apps
>> > that can help do this?
>> >
>> > Thanks all and keep up the good work.
>> >
>> > Stevenm
>>
>

Locate the pwl file or files. delete them.

Reboot PC.

Thanks
Leong

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi Folks,
>
>My friend has a win98 machine and has forgot his
>password. i know he can log onto the system without
>entering a password (i.e he just clicks cancel and it
>loads up) but is there anyway of reseting the password
>without knowing what the old one is? is there any apps
>that can help do this?
>
>Thanks all and keep up the good work.
>
>Stevenm
>.
>