Password problem fixed

Archived Articles, Internet How-Tos

Question: I use Internet Explorer 4.0. When I log onto the Internet, the “remember password” checkbox is grayed out. I would like to log on to the Internet without having to type my password each time. What do I need to do? – Don

Answer: Would you believe there are as many as 10 potential fixes to this problem? And Microsoft wonders why we get mad at them. What follows are five of the most common solutions. Some of them look like a brain surgery manual. I hope somewhere in the gore you’ll see something that eloquently solves your problem.

SOLUTION 1

Install the client for Microsoft Networks in Network properties applet. To do this:

  1. Pop your Windows 95 install CD-ROM into your machine.
  2. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel, and click on Network, then click Add.
  3. In the box that opens up, click Client, and then click Add.
  4. In the next box, click Microsoft on the left, and Client for Microsoft Networks on the right, and then click OK.
  5. Windows will ask you to tell it where your Windows 95 CD-ROM is (or it may find it by itself). It will then install a series of drivers and ask you to reboot, but don’t reboot it yet.
  6. Go back into the Network panel and select Client for Microsoft Networks, and then the Properties button. Uncheck the logon to NT domain and select Quick logon.
  7. Now reboot.

Did you follow the instructions and it didn’t solve the problem? Don’t worry, there’s more fun where that came from. Keep reading.

SOLUTION 2

  1. Go into Network in the Control Panel again, and this time click on the Identification tab.
  2. In the Computer name box, type in the User ID you use to logon to the Internet.
  3. Click OK and restart Windows.
    4. Now try to log on to the Internet again. This time your User ID should show up in the User name field. It should also allow you to type in your password and check the Save Password option.

Didn’t work? Try Solution 3.

SOLUTION 3

  1. Go into My Computer (top left corner of your desktop), and then select the Dial Up Networking icon.
  2. Use Add New Connection to create a new dial-up process that replicates the behaviour of the one causing you problems.

That failed? Let’s move on, then.

SOLUTION 4

Follow the Microsoft instructions provided on-line. There are articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Click on Support Online at http://www.microsoft.com/support/. Before you go any further, be aware that you may be required to register first (it’s free). On the Advanced View page, search for the articles Q137361 or Q148925 by selecting Specific article ID number typing the number into the frame that says, “My question is…”

And here’s one more idea, in case your password file is corrupt:

SOLUTION 5

Find any files in your Windows folder that end in .PWL, and then delete them. When you restart your system, all the passwords will be forgotten by Windows and you can start from scratch. If that is too confusing, annoying or you’re just not feeling up to it, then you can always buy the useful book

Windows 98 Annoyances by David A. Karp and published by O’Reilly and Associates, which goes into even more detail.