Hello thank you for any help with this problem. I bought a computer used, Is there anyway to find out the password if I lost it and or is there any way to get rid of the password if I dont know it, dont really want to reinstall if at all possible besides I think if I try to do that I will be promted for the password. Thank for any help

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Win98(SE) is not a secure system in the same way that Win 2000 or XP is. All the Windows password does in Win98 is to protect your own desktop environment, that is to say, the colours you've defined. Anybody with access to your machine can simply click the "Cancel" button when the Win password dialog field pops up on bootup and the machine will boot to the desktop.

To remove existing passwords, you should first of all make sure that they system can see hidden files. To do that, follow these steps:
1. Double click the "My Computer" icon, click the word "View" and choose "Folder Options" from the menu.
2. Click the "View" tab and in the list, checkmark the option called "Show All Files".
3. Remove the checkmark from the option "Hide file extensions for known file types".
4. Click "Apply/OK". 5. Go to Start > Find > Files & Folders.
6. In the "Named" field at the top, type "*.PWL" (without quotes) and press Enter.
7. Click the word "Edit", choose "Select All" from the menu and then hit the "Delete" key on your keyboard.
8. Reboot the machine and you'll get the Windows password dialog box again. Type a name, but leave the password field blank if you don't want to logon in this way every time you boot up.

As an added precaution since it's a used machine, follow these next steps:
1. Right click the "Network Neigborhood" icon on your desktop and choose "Properties" from the menu.
2. Click the "File & Print Sharing" button and uncheck both boxes if they are checkmarked.
This will prevent anybody anywhere in the world from accessing all the files on your hard drive every time you go on the Web.


On Friday, November 28, 2003 at 6:11 am, Becky wrote:
>Hello thank you for any help with this problem. I bought a computer used, Is there
>anyway to find out the password if I lost it and or is there any way to get rid of
>the password if I dont know it, dont really want to reinstall if at all possible
>besides I think if I try to do that I will be promted for the password. Thank for
>any help

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Oops! forgot a tag :)
Here it is again, but in chronological order:

Win98(SE) is not a secure system in the same way that Win 2000 or XP is. All the Windows password does in Win98 is to protect your own desktop environment, that is to say, the colours you've defined. Anybody with access to your machine can simply click the "Cancel" button when the Win password dialog field pops up on bootup and the machine will boot to the desktop.

To remove existing passwords, you should first of all make sure that they system can see hidden files. To do that, follow these steps:
1. Double click the "My Computer" icon, click the word "View" and choose "Folder Options" from the menu.
2. Click the "View" tab and in the list, checkmark the option called "Show All Files".
3. Remove the checkmark from the option "Hide file extensions for known file types".
4. Click "Apply/OK".
5. Go to Start > Find > Files & Folders.
6. In the "Named" field at the top, type "*.PWL" (without quotes) and press Enter.
7. Click the word "Edit", choose "Select All" from the menu and then hit the "Delete" key on your keyboard.
8. Reboot the machine and you'll get the Windows password dialog box again. Type a name, but leave the password field blank if you don't want to logon in this way every time you boot up.

As an added protection since it's a used machine, follow these next steps:
1. Right click the "Network Neigborhood" icon on your desktop and choose "Properties" from the menu.
2. Click the "File & Print Sharing" button and uncheck both boxes if they are checkmarked.
This will prevent anybody anywhere in the world from accessing all the files on your hard drive every time you go on the Web.


On Friday, November 28, 2003 at 6:17 am, worm wrote:
>Win98(SE) is not a secure system in the same way that Win 2000 or XP is. All the
>Windows password does in Win98 is to protect your own desktop environment, that is
>to say, the colours you've defined. Anybody with access to your machine can simply
>click the "Cancel" button when the Win password dialog field pops up on bootup and
>the machine will boot to the desktop.
>
>To remove existing passwords, you should first of all make sure that they system
>can see hidden files. To do that, follow these steps:
>1. Double click the "My Computer" icon, click the word "View" and choose "Folder
>Options" from the menu.
>2. Click the "View" tab and in the list, checkmark the option called "Show All Files".

>3. Remove the checkmark from the option "Hide file extensions for known file types".
>
>4. Click "Apply/OK".
>5. Go to Start > Find > Files & Folders.
>6. In the "Named" field at the top, type "*.PWL" (without quotes) and press Enter.
>
>7. Click the word "Edit", choose "Select All" from the menu and then hit the "Delete"
>key on your keyboard.
>8. Reboot the machine and you'll get the Windows password dialog box again. Type
>a name, but leave the password field blank if you don't want to logon in this way
>every time you boot up.
>
>As an added precaution since it's a used machine, follow these next steps:
>1. Right click the "Network Neigborhood" icon on your desktop and choose "Properties"
>from the menu.
>2. Click the "File & Print Sharing" button and uncheck both boxes if they are checkmarked.

>This will prevent anybody anywhere in the world from accessing all the files on your
>hard drive every time you go on the Web.
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Excellant Advise. Thanks for the tip on NN file & printer sharing, drew


On Friday, November 28, 2003 at 6:39 am, worm wrote:
>Oops! forgot a tag :)
>Here it is again, but in chronological order:
>
>Win98(SE) is not a secure system in the same way that Win 2000 or XP is. All the
>Windows password does in Win98 is to protect your own desktop environment, that is
>to say, the colours you've defined. Anybody with access to your machine can simply
>click the "Cancel" button when the Win password dialog field pops up on bootup and
>the machine will boot to the desktop.
>
>To remove existing passwords, you should first of all make sure that they system
>can see hidden files. To do that, follow these steps:
>1. Double click the "My Computer" icon, click the word "View" and choose "Folder
>Options" from the menu.
>2. Click the "View" tab and in the list, checkmark the option called "Show All Files".

>3. Remove the checkmark from the option "Hide file extensions for known file types".
>
>4. Click "Apply/OK".
>5. Go to Start > Find > Files & Folders.
>6. In the "Named" field at the top, type "*.PWL" (without quotes) and press Enter.
>
>7. Click the word "Edit", choose "Select All" from the menu and then hit the "Delete"
>key on your keyboard.
>8. Reboot the machine and you'll get the Windows password dialog box again. Type
>a name, but leave the password field blank if you don't want to logon in this way
>every time you boot up.
>
>As an added protection since it's a used machine, follow these next steps:
>1. Right click the "Network Neigborhood" icon on your desktop and choose "Properties"
>from the menu.
>2. Click the "File & Print Sharing" button and uncheck both boxes if they are checkmarked.

>This will prevent anybody anywhere in the world from accessing all the files on your
>hard drive every time you go on the Web.
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

The suggestions are a good idea. 

Just for a little clarification, Windows2000 and XP are not that much more secure 
as far as people logging in locally. A simple free boot floppy readily available 
for years will allow you change any local password you want. I need to use it regularly 
for clients who forgot their administrator password. There are also simple boot floppies 
that will let you access all files on the computer without even needing to log in. 
While most folks might not use them, please don't have a false sense of security 
when using Windows2000 or XP. It is very easy to bypass.

With any operating system, as far as Internet security, the best option is the get 
some sort of firewall. This can be hardware like a DSL router, or software like ZoneAlarm. 
This way you can still have a local network and be relatively safe from Internet 
hassles.

Bob Cerelli






On Friday, November 28, 2003 at 6:17 am, worm wrote:
>Win98(SE) is not a secure system in the same way that Win 2000 or XP is. All the 
>Windows password does in Win98 is to protect your own desktop environment, that 
is 
>to say, the colours you've defined. Anybody with access to your machine can simply 
>click the "Cancel" button when the Win password dialog field pops up on bootup and 
>the machine will boot to the desktop. 

>

>To remove existing passwords, you should first of all make sure that they system 
>can see hidden files. To do that, follow these steps:

>1. Double click the "My Computer" icon, click the word "View" and choose "Folder 
>Options" from the menu. 

>2. Click the "View" tab and in the list, checkmark the option called "Show All Files".
 
>3. Remove the checkmark from the option "Hide file extensions for known file types". 
>

>4. Click "Apply/OK". 
>5. Go to Start > Find > Files & Folders. 

>6. In the "Named" field at the top, type "*.PWL" (without quotes) and press Enter. 
>

>7. Click the word "Edit", choose "Select All" from the menu and then hit the "Delete" 
>key on your keyboard. 

>8. Reboot the machine and you'll get the Windows password dialog box again. Type 
>a name, but leave the password field blank if you don't want to logon in this way 
>every time you boot up. 

>

>As an added precaution since it's a used machine, follow these next steps:

>1. Right click the "Network Neigborhood" icon on your desktop and choose "Properties" 
>from the menu. 

>2. Click the "File & Print Sharing" button and uncheck both boxes if they are checkmarked.
 
>This will prevent anybody anywhere in the world from accessing all the files on 
your 
>hard drive every time you go on the Web. 
>
>

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