Windows 98 acting up

RollWave

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,201
3
81
I lent an old ass computer to a friend and just recently he sent me this email.

Hi,

I cant get into Control Panel/Settings...(mouse, keyboard, time/date, etc).....I think ever since I upgraded the memory and insatalled SBC Yahoo DSL system...........

I keep getting Access denied, unauthorized path message........

There is an Enter Network Password screen on startup:

Username: xxxxxx OK
Password: ? Cancel

which I dont know, which I have just been hitting cancel upon start up each tim e and has worked till now......

do you remember what password went to this?

+++++++++++++++++++++

I dont think we ever set a password so what do you think has happened now?
 

redbeard1

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
3,006
0
0
Have him do a search for any .pwl file on the system, usually it is in the windows directory. This is where 98 stores windows passwords. Deleting it will get rid of most passwords, though it may prompt him for a new one when he reboots, then he could choose his own. If the password is from some secondary program, then this probably won't fix it. Has he scanned it with ad aware or spybot lately? Some spyware do odd things.
 

RollWave

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,201
3
81
yeah but its a P2 300mhz and I'm not sure how much ram! Whats the min specs for xp anyways?
 

slancaster

Banned
Jan 28, 2004
12
0
0
Min
300 MHz (single CPU for Home edition, Single or dual for Professional edition)
RAM 128 MB
Disk Space 1.5 GB free
Video Card Super VGA (800x600)
Media CD-ROM or DVD

suggested

600 MHz (single CPU for Home edition, Single or dual for Professional edition)
RAM 256 MB
Disk Space 15 GB free
Video Card 1024x768
 

RollWave

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,201
3
81
I think we have the min specs in that beast of a computer. Not sure what kind of video card but I'm sure it can handle 800x600
 

redbeard1

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
3,006
0
0
deleting this wont destroy anything but passwords set?

Won't hurt anything. There may be more than one if other people have logged on and off of it. Doing a search with the line *.pwl will find all of them. The worst he could do is delete them/it and have them go into the recycle bin. He could always retrieve from there later if something comes up.

People will say that they used XP on older slow systems and it worked fine. I tend to disagree. It works, but applications start very slowly. If he does any rudimentary gaming, in that era system, 98 will run the games better. I think a better solution for stability would be 2000 if you can find it.