Password woes

[John Garate]

Win 98, 2nd edition
One of my children used my computer while I was away and loaded some
programs. Now, when I start the computer two things happen: 1) I'm prompted
for a network password on startup, and 2) the monitor resolution has been
changed to the lowest resolution and number of colors. I've tried resetting
the resolution and number of colors, but the settings always revert back to
the lowest settings.

Any suggestions?

--
John

[Ogg]

"John Garate" > wrote in message..

> Win 98, 2nd edition
> One of my children used my computer while I was away and loaded some
> programs. Now, when I start the computer two things happen: 1) I'm
prompted
> for a network password on startup, and 2) the monitor resolution has been
> changed to the lowest resolution and number of colors. I've tried
resetting
> the resolution and number of colors, but the settings always revert back
to
> the lowest settings.
>
> Any suggestions?

1) get rid of the children (?) <g>

[John Garate]

I thought of selling them, but that won't solve the current problem!


"Ogg" > wrote in message
...
>
> "John Garate" > wrote in message..
>
>> Win 98, 2nd edition
>> One of my children used my computer while I was away and loaded some
>> programs. Now, when I start the computer two things happen: 1) I'm
> prompted
>> for a network password on startup, and 2) the monitor resolution has been
>> changed to the lowest resolution and number of colors. I've tried
> resetting
>> the resolution and number of colors, but the settings always revert back
> to
>> the lowest settings.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>
> 1) get rid of the children (?) <g>
>
>
>
>
>

[Ron Badour]

If less than five days have passed since the onset of the problem, try
restoring the registry:

If this problem is less than five days old, restore a copy of the registry
that predates the onset of the problem and see if that helps. The five-day
limit assumes that the computer is booted every day. If it is not booted
every day, you may have an old enough registry backup that you can use even
though more than five days have elapsed.

On the Start Menu, select Shut Down and Restart in MSDOS Mode. At the
Windows prompt, type: scanreg /restore and hit enter. Once the
registry restore screen appears, select the date of the registry that you
wish to restore by highlighting it and then click enter. If you see a
registry named: Rbbad.cab, that is a copy of the registry that has already
been replaced.

If more than five days have passed, try these instructions:

Blank Password: Go to control panel, network, primary network logon and
select Windows Logon. Go to control panel, passwords, user profiles and
ensure the "all user's" box is marked. If you have a password established,
go to control panel, passwords, change windows password, type the password
in the old box, leave the rest blank and OK your way out. If you have
forgotten your password, delete the .pwl file with your user name (mine is
ron.pwl); however, be aware that you will lose all passwords stored in the
..pwl file. If you do not have a password established or have deleted the
..pwl file, when the W95/98 logon screen appears at boot, type a user name
only and hit OK. If the logon screen continues to appear and you have Tweak
UI installed, go to the Paranoia tab and remove the mark from "clear last
user."

When the correct screen resolution (screen area) or the right number of
colors are not available choices in display properties, settings tab, then
it is a good bet you do not have the right driver installed for your display
adapter. The display adapter in your PC is either a video card or a display
chipset on the motherboard.

If you received a CD or floppy disks with drivers along with your PC, see if
they contain a display adapter driver and install it using: control panel,
system, device manager, display adapter.

If you know what display adapter your PC has but you have no disks, use
www.google.com to track down the correct driver on the internet.

If you do not know what display adapter your PC uses, you can go to a MS-DOS
prompt and type: Debug and hit enter. The screen will display a
flashing prompt next to a - sign. Type: DC000:35 (DC000:50 may also work)
and hit enter. The name and possibly model of your display adapter should
appear on the right hand side of the screen. To quit Debug, type Q and hit
enter. If Debug is not helpful, you can try this program: Advanced PCI
Info, available at: http://www.upsystems.com.ua/support/alexmina/ If all
else fails, you will have to remove the computer case. Look at where the
monitor plugs into the back of the case and then check that location inside
the case. If there is a card there, you obviously have a video card and if
not, you have on board graphics. Write down any information displayed on
either the card or the chipset on the motherboard. Then use www.google.com
to search for the information. Do not include all the data you found in one
search message--search on each piece individually. If you include all the
information at once, you might not get a hit.

I have found that a video card will generally have to be removed in order to
see the information. Be careful of static electricity as it can fry
components. Before touching anything in the computer case (the cord is
unplugged, right?), ground yourself to the case by touching it. Don't work
on carpeting since shuffling your feet on it can generate static electricity
after you grounded yourself. Remove the one screw that holds the card in
place and using a rocking motion (left to right and back), pull the card
straight out.


--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP Windows 98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"John Garate" > wrote in message
...
> Win 98, 2nd edition
> One of my children used my computer while I was away and loaded some
> programs. Now, when I start the computer two things happen: 1) I'm
> prompted for a network password on startup, and 2) the monitor resolution
> has been changed to the lowest resolution and number of colors. I've tried
> resetting the resolution and number of colors, but the settings always
> revert back to the lowest settings.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> --
> John
>

[Brian A.]

On a side note to Ron's advice, if you wish to keep your children from gaining
further access:

Although there are different ways to accomplish this, there is always a
possibility that someone with some computer savvy can bypass them.
One way is to set a password in the bios if the option is available. Anyone
that knows how to get into the BIOS and is familiar with them can easily remove
the password unless the BIOS is password protected as well and others have no
way to get inside the box to reset the BIOS defaults.
Another way to set a password is suggested here:
http://registry.winguides.com/display.php?629

MVP Doug Knox has a way on his site as well:
http://www.dougknox.com/
Click on Security > Prevent Unauthorized Users from accessing your computer.
Read the instructions fully, it is possible to lock yourself out of your own
computer.

--

Brian A. Sesko
{ MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://basconotw.mvps.org/



"John Garate" > wrote in message
...
> Win 98, 2nd edition
> One of my children used my computer while I was away and loaded some programs.
> Now, when I start the computer two things happen: 1) I'm prompted for a
> network password on startup, and 2) the monitor resolution has been changed to
> the lowest resolution and number of colors. I've tried resetting the
> resolution and number of colors, but the settings always revert back to the
> lowest settings.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> --
> John
>