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Windows 98 question

D

de8212

Diamond Member
A guy at work has 98 on his machine. When windows boots up, it asks for a password. You can click cancel and still get into windows. I assume it's becasue there is no password set????
Where in windows can you set a password so that the user has to enter it to get into the OS?
It's been so long since I have used 98 that I cannot remember. Also I tried looking online but most sites just explain how to disable the password prompt.

thanks
 
There isn't an option to password protect Win98 using the OS itself, to prevent a logon. There may be 3rd party apps that would add a degree of security - or you could add a BIOS password.

The password in '98 will not prevent any user from accessing files on the local computer - it is meant more to allow for security to network resources.
 
Third party applications like Fortres 101 from Fortres Grand Corporation are excellent at locking down systems running Microsoft operating systems. I have extensive experience with the product, both at the Win3x level and at the Win9x level. Now that my work is at the Win2k level though, we've been able to secure most everything with GPOs and thus have no need for Fortres.

BTW, it's not just folks inside the US that continue to use Win9x - there are a LOT of folks outside the US using it, with no plans to upgrade either. Even as *you* may not use DOS-based apps any longer, there are many people who do that still need a real DOS OS to support said programs.
 
Originally posted by: airfoil
There isn't an option to password protect Win98 using the OS itself, to prevent a logon. There may be 3rd party apps that would add a degree of security - or you could add a BIOS password.

The password in '98 will not prevent any user from accessing files on the local computer - it is meant more to allow for security to network resources.
Click to expand...

So the password that this article talks about is only relating to networking?
It has been forever since I messed with 98. i remembered seeing the password prompt but I always disbled it.
BTW no chance of upgrading the OS as the system he has is below specs of win2000 and the like. And don't even suggest Linux or a vareity of UNIX. He would never be able to work with it.
 
Originally posted by: Gravity
Convince him to upgrade. It bothers me when people want to live in the past.
Click to expand...

My dad has an eMachines he bought several years ago. Circa 1997/1998? Anyways, it's a Celeron 500MHz, Windows 98, 32MB of RAM, and 3.2GB harddisk. Believe it or not, it's all he needs. 🙂 I upgraded his RAM to 128MB just because I have so many old sticks laying around.

It's not living in the past. It's called having machines that get the jobs you need done. In his case, it's email and eBay. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: de8212
Originally posted by: airfoil
There isn't an option to password protect Win98 using the OS itself, to prevent a logon. There may be 3rd party apps that would add a degree of security - or you could add a BIOS password.
The password in '98 will not prevent any user from accessing files on the local computer - it is meant more to allow for security to network resources.
Click to expand...
So the password that this article talks about is only relating to networking?
Click to expand...
Yep. Boot with a Win98se floppy or CD, and then delete the \WINDOWS\*.PWL files. Reboot - look ma, no passwords!

A BIOS password is useful too, to prevent casual B&E into your machine, if someone attempts to reboot it using a boot disc. But they can always also take the machine apart, and clear the CMOS, etc. So then you enable the chassis security sensor, and use a managed network card with a PXE2.0-capable boot rom, that can report things like chassis intrusions to some central server somewhere, etc. For every measure, there's a counter-measure. If someone has enough tools, expertise, and patience, and phsyical access, they will eventually get in.
 
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Originally posted by: Gravity
Convince him to upgrade. It bothers me when people want to live in the past.
Click to expand...

My dad has an eMachines he bought several years ago. Circa 1997/1998? Anyways, it's a Celeron 500MHz, Windows 98, 32MB of RAM, and 3.2GB harddisk. Believe it or not, it's all he needs. 🙂 I upgraded his RAM to 128MB just because I have so many old sticks laying around.

It's not living in the past. It's called having machines that get the jobs you need done. In his case, it's email and eBay. 🙂
Click to expand...

ain't it the truth! my mom uses a HP 233mhz Intel Machine with 64 megs of ram. I can't upgrade to 128 megs of ram b/c its an old TX chipset hence won't work with more than 64.

But she runs it at 800*600 16bit color (1024*768 requires i have to move down to 256 colors...its called "shared memory") and she never complains

a lot of people don't undersatnd that computers are becoming like appliances to the MAJORITY of people: you buy one and use that. They assume everyone is in a constant upgrade craze like AT is 😉
 
If security in any form is required, then win98 should be avoided. Password protecting logins will accomplish little when one just needs to boot into dos and view your entire file structure without any restrictions.
 
Originally posted by: magomago
ain't it the truth! my mom uses a HP 233mhz Intel Machine with 64 megs of ram. I can't upgrade to 128 megs of ram b/c its an old TX chipset hence won't work with more than 64.

But she runs it at 800*600 16bit color (1024*768 requires i have to move down to 256 colors...its called "shared memory") and she never complains

a lot of people don't undersatnd that computers are becoming like appliances to the MAJORITY of people: you buy one and use that. They assume everyone is in a constant upgrade craze like AT is 😉
Click to expand...

ROFL! Now she's a real trooper! That res issue makes me cry, though. 😛 My dad bought a 19" Mag montior at Best Buy a few years ago and for whatever reason, a couple extra rebates printed out making the monitor free after MIRs! I think it was suppose to be something like $80 after the instant rebate. Anyways, he at least runs 1024x768, but he has an ATi 8MB card of some sort. Sometimes while browsing the web, the text on hyperlinks gets blurred or pixelated...I've never seen it before and it's hard for me to describe. 🙂

The way you say most people think of a computer as an appliance is extremely true! They buy it, use it, and stick with it until it dies or becomes infected with viruses or so much spyware that it renders the machine unusable. When it's 'broken', the user buys a new one. 🙂

:thumbsup:
 
I could believe people are still using win 3.1😉

I have 98 on one machine its to old to pay bill for another copy of xp to be worthwhile.
 
There are plenty of people still running Win9x, my grandma was until her old computer crapped out and I had to get her a new one.

As long as I'm not affected by it, I don't care.
But when someone wants help with their Win9x computer I just tell them I'm a technie, not an antique dealer 🙂
 
Some people use Win98 because it does what they need it to do. That, and they can't afford an upgrade. $90 for WinXP Home is a good chunk of change. And, their computer might not be able to handle WinXP - more money for an upgrade that might not offer much utility to the user.
 
I thought you could get a brand new machine with win-xp for $250 to replace whatever old piece of trash you have running the win98. Maybe this seems like a lot (?!?!) and maybe these people are used to wait 5...10..15...20...25 seconds for every click and operation they do with their computer, but the truth is that they don't have to anymore because (newsflash !) newer faster better technology exists which will save them time, money, effort, be more flexible, versatible and compatible !!!! IT WILL INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING THEIR COMPUTER !!! I know many people are afraid of change, but clinging to the past will only be worse for them, even if they think that what they have is good enough. Based on this logic, why even start using a computer at all if you feel you can get by just fine without one (but actually, you're just afraid to try it cause it seems too complicated) ?
 
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Originally posted by: Gravity
Convince him to upgrade. It bothers me when people want to live in the past.
Click to expand...

My dad has an eMachines he bought several years ago. Circa 1997/1998? Anyways, it's a Celeron 500MHz, Windows 98, 32MB of RAM, and 3.2GB harddisk. Believe it or not, it's all he needs. 🙂 I upgraded his RAM to 128MB just because I have so many old sticks laying around.

It's not living in the past. It's called having machines that get the jobs you need done. In his case, it's email and eBay. 🙂
Click to expand...

True that.
W98 runs fine on older machines.
 
I could believe people still use Windows 98 if they have an older computer . But why would anyone in their right mind use Windows 98 as their primary OS on a relatively modern PC (computers sold within the last 3 years). Windows 98 has no place on relatively modern hardware!!
 
Originally posted by: Garlic
If its not broken dont fix it.
If its working fine dont upgrade it.
Click to expand...


that way you will never discover anything better. btw, the people living deep in the jungles also think "it's not broken"
 
my compaq lappy still run with win98se I can't upgrade to Linux or W2000 Pro or xp due to hardware driver limitation and small ram.

 
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