Disabling passwords

This computer has recently been acquired second hand and we need to install a second hard drive into it. The problem being is that the setup screen (when you press del to enter setup which hopefully will get the computer to auto detect the new hard drive) is password protected and therefore the drive is not being detected. What can I do to rectify this?

This question was answered on November 19, 2001. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Thanks for your question

Disabling the Windows 95 / 98 password

No Local Network

Please Note: When following the below steps upon rebooting the computer you may get a Network login however it may have a message explaining if you do not enter your password you will not see this window again If you see this message enter your user name with no password and verify the password Once this is completed reboot the computer and you will not receive the log in again

Select All users in Password - Click Start / Settings / Control Panel / Passwords / click the User Profiles tab / select the first option "All users of this PC use the same preferences and desktop settings." Reboot computer.

Delete Stored Passwords and Profiles - If you continue to get the password click Start / Shutdown / Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode Once at the prompt type cd\windows and press enter When at the C:\WINDOWS> directory type del *.pwl and press enter and delete all files found The pwl files are the actual encrypted password files windows stores Once each of these files have been deleted type deltree profiles and press enter Once this has been completed press CTRL ALT DEL to restart the computer

Local Network

Please Note: If the Network you log into is run by somebody other then yourself it is recommended that they handle the passwords as additional issues may arise if user does not have the correct privileges Additionally when following the below steps this will also disable your network login

If you wish to not have a login prompt each time you turn on the computer it is recommended that you create a log-in script for your network

Remove Protocols - Click Start / Settings / Control Panel / Network / select any TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI and remove the protocols When removing protocols if you wish to continue to connect to the Internet do not remove any Dialup adapters / protocols Once completed click Ok and restart the computer Good luck

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Posted by Jeffrey of Chandler-Gilbert Community College on November 19, 2001

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