Screen Saver Password

[BYarn]

I have a PC purchased from someone else. Its running Win98 2nd Ed. It had a P/W for screensaver.They unchecked the PW, but in order to change the P/W to a new one I need to know the old one-How can I delete the old PW so I can put in my own?
Thanks

 

[paulovey]

BYarn,

Have you tried asking the person you brought the computer off??

Paul

 

[paulovey]

Byarn,

You need to reboot the PC and before it goes into the screen saver right click the desktop, select properties.

Go to the screen saver tab,uncheck the password protected tab and reboot.

Once rebooted right click again on the desktop go to properties, retick password protected and click on change. You should then be able to change the password without using the old one.

Paul

 

[BYarn]

Thanks everyone..

>the PC was a demo at a store, I might be able to get it But it's probably the P/W they use for all their PCs'
> I tried the uncheck reboot, etc, but it still wants old P/W.

I know there's a fix, I can't remember it.

Where is the P/W stored-maybe it can be edited out?

 

[paulovey]

byarn,

Oh that worked on my system, never mind??

A bit risky but you could try deleteing, or probably better to rename the screen saver file.

It will be in the c:\windows folder with a extestion of .scr

so screensave.scr would become screensave.bak for example.

Paul

 

[B0012]

at the desktop hit F3.....do a search on the C: drive for *.pwl this should find the windows passwords on the system. Delete the files found on the search and then try to change it.....

maybe this will work....

 

[BYarn]

I previously deleted "PWL's" and again retried it with no lucl I get either a wrong P/W message or a dialog box with no text, a red box with and X and an OK button. So still can't change w/out the P/W

Thanks and keep those ideas coming!

 

[disconockerated]

Goto start>ru>type "msconfig" (without quotations!). Click system.ini tab. Uncheck password lists. Reboot. If this doesn't work....please contact whoever gave you the PC.

 

[paulovey]

Hi,

OK, think I have it.

It means playing with the registry, so I would suggest that you backup the registry first, the files are system.dat and user.dat in the c:\windows folder.

Find Key,

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveUsePassword

this value will be 0x00000001(1)

If you change all the "1" to "0", that should remove the screen saver password.

But please use this fix with care. I dont want to be responsible for breaking your machine.

Good Luck,

Paul

 

[Guest_imported]

Keep those great ideas coming. Feel a little guilty when they don't always pan out! Appreciate the feedback!

Running MSCONFIG, sort of solves P/W problem, but not really-what it effectively does is remove the P/W currently in effect, but u still can't change it from old P/W to new

I had done the registry thing before (searching for/changing refs to P/Ws (+ S/Savers) I tried it again. All that (this value will be 0x00000001(1)and change all the "1" to "0&quot does is check or uncheck the "password protected" box on the display properties/screen saver dialog

Thanks anyway guys!

 

[paulovey]

Oh Bugger... (-:

Ok, you could try changing the "screensaveractive" value from 1 to 0, after that I am clean out of ideas.

Do you still know the person you brought the machine from, as you may have to ask them from the password.

Sometimes the non techy approach is the best

Paul

 

[disconockerated]

Looks like we have a solution::>

thread615-37314 of "HKey LocalUser" go to "HKey CurrentUser" and delete Screensave_data.

Let me know if this works ;-)

 

[AndyHo]

The reboot and change password will solve the problem.

 

[rmbs2]

Well, the way I solved it on this old Win98 PC that no one used for 18 months was by right-clicking password on Control panel and linking the screensaver password to match the Windows password. I took a page from the Windows Password link herein:

thread615-64114

The deletion of ALL *.pwl files in C:/windows did the trick. I don't know if this will work for all of you....since my wife and I will be the only users and we aren't inclined to establish multiple profiles.

Without re-booting I was able to go to Control Panel/ Display Properties/Screen Saver. I checked the enable Password box and clicked the "Change" button. I was not prompted for the old password - - only the new one and confirm!

 

[reghakr]

Had one at work

tapped the Alt_Ctl_Del keys and ended task on marquee.

Simple.

reghakr

 

[MiggyD]

I don't believe you've checked out control.ini in your windows directory.

change the screen saver to mystify (hopefully you have an older version that writes to the ini file) and check the password protect.

reboot your system.

open explorer (or whatever filemanager you are used to) and goto the window's directory.

located and open control.ini file.

look for the screensaver you just selected and see if there is an encrypted key.

if NOT, then sorry I can't think of anything else...

if SO: simply delete the value (not the whole string)
[tt]
EX: BEFORE AFTER
PASSWORD=ABCDE PASSWORD=[/tt]

exit and save changes.

go and try changing the password.

If it still asks for the old PWD then just press return as the answer.

Good Luck, --MiggyD

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.