But I Don't WANT to be Prompted for a Password!

If you have multiple users who access your computer and you are using Windows NT, 2000, or XP, it’s helpful to use passwords to protect individual’s data.

But, if you are using Windows 95, 98, 98SE, or ME, you know true security is not a reality unless you use third party software anyway, so you might as well just turn off that password box that appears when you log on.

However, many times when you try to disable the password prompt it doesn’t work, for various reasons, so here’s a list of the steps you can try. Try them in this order, since the ones listed first are usually all you need.

First, try assigning NO password:

1. Click on Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.
   
2. Double click the Passwords icon.
   
3. Click on the Change Windows Password button.
   
4. Type in your old password (if any), but do not type ANYTHING for a new password.
   
5. OK your way out of these boxes.
   
6. Reboot your computer and, if prompted for a password again, DO NOT HIT CANCEL, but instead, leave the Password box empty and click OK. The next time you reboot, you should not be presented with a password box at all.

If this didn't work, you can try this next:

1. Click on Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.
   
2. Double click the Network icon.
   
3. Make sure that the Primary Network Logon is set to Windows Logon.
   
4. Go back to Control Panel and double click on the Passwords icon.
   
5. Click on User Profiles tab, make sure All users of this PC use the same preferences and desktop settings is checked.
   
6. OK your way out of these boxes and reboot. The password box should not appear. If it does, leave it blank and press OK. It should not be there the next time you reboot.

However, if the box is still there, try this next:

1. Click on Start, select Find and enter *.pwl
   
2. Highlight all the *.pwl entries you find and delete them. However, make sure that you only delete files in the C:\Windows directory, since you don’t want to delete the passwords for anything other than Windows.
   
3. Restart your computer. When prompted for a new logon and password, leave the selections blank and press OK. The box should be gone the next time you reboot.

Don’t tell me it’s STILL there? OK, then try this:

1. Click Start then select Run.
   
2. Type in: sysedit and click OK.
   
3. Close the first three windows until you see the window marked System.ini. Scroll to the bottom of the window. Now slowly start scrolling up and stop when you see [Password Lists]
   
4. Delete all the entries under [Password Lists] that look similar to: (USER=C:\WINDOWS\USER.PWL) but leave the actual words [Password Lists] there.
   
5. Close all the windows and when asked to save the file click Yes.
   
6. Restart your computer. When prompted for a new logon and password leave the selections blank and press OK. Hopefully, the next time you reboot, the box will not be there.

OH NO!! It’s STILL there? Well then, make sure you try this:

1. Click on Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.
   
2. Double click on TweakUI if it is installed. If not installed, go here and get it:
   http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/tweakui
   
3. Click on the Network tab.
   
4. Uncheck the Log on automatically at system startup, if it is checked.
   
5. Erase User name, if any.
   
6. Erase Password, if any.
   
7. Follows directions about the Paranoia tab

Well, hopefully you now have removed that nagging password box. If not, it’s possible you have some other security measure activated in Windows or through some third party software. For a better understanding of Windows security, I recommend Vic Ferri’s article available here: http://personal-computer-tutor.com/vic14.htm

For more tips, see Linda's Computer Stop at: http://personal-computer-tutor.com