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Unknown password Windows 95

Evan -  
bendrop Posted messages 12662 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -
Hello,

I retrieved a desktop computer running Windows 95 at my workplace, and I don't know the password.
Unlike a personal computer, this one does not allow me to perform various actions (F8) to start in safe mode, I can't even access the BIOS...
Do you know if simply launching a Windows 95 installation CD would erase the password? Since it's a desktop computer, I was planning to reset everything anyway because I have 0 user rights.
I just hope the computer will recognize the CD directly from the password screen...

I hope to receive some help!

Sincerely,

Configuration: Android / Chrome 97.0.4692.98

4 answers

  1.
    bendrop Posted messages 12662 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   8 527
     
    Good evening,

    As far as I remember, you just need to press cancel when Windows 95 asks for the password, and then you can access it. Then in c:\windows, you need to delete the username.pwl files to no longer have the password window at startup.
    It really was a useless security feature back then.

    Best regards.

    1
    1. Evan
       
      Good evening,
      Unfortunately, I don't have an "undo" option; after the startup screen, I go directly to the password entry (except when I press F2, where I can see the BIOS loading, but I can't perform any actions there). After that, I only have 3 attempts before I have to restart the computer.
      I have searched various forums, and none discussed desktop computers that had administrator permissions.
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      1. bendrop Posted messages 12662 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   8 527 > Evan
         
        Otherwise, start your computer and when you see "starting Windows" press the "F8" key and choose to boot in MS-DOS mode.
        Then delete the file.pwl

        So no need for a floppy disk.
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      2. jee pee Posted messages 9445 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 984 > bendrop Posted messages 12662 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention  
         
        I restarted an old Windows 95 virtual machine; grabbing the boot menu is tricky, F8 must be pressed immediately when the blue screen appears, before the autoexec.bat commands are displayed.

        Pressing Escape at the password prompt allows you to enter.

        And deleting the .pwl files allows you to enter a new password upon reboot, which can be left blank.
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      3. bendrop Posted messages 12662 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   8 527 > jee pee Posted messages 9445 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        Hi jee pee,

        Our friend should logically be fine.

        See you later
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  2. jee pee Posted messages 9445 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 984
     
    I had forgotten what bendrop indicates, delete the files username.pwl

    you could do it by booting from the floppy disk

    this avoids the CD drive and even finding a license, which would be difficult

    1
    1. Evan
       
      Anyway, I plan to reinstall a CD player for the use I want to make of it; I have my old Tomb Raider games just waiting for that!
      Very well, I will try to find a Windows 98 boot as you advised me.
      Thank you both for your advice!
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  3. jee pee Posted messages 9445 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 984
     
    Hello,

    No, since the CD there was no password deletion.

    But if you want to reinstall it, that's not important. However, there is a small issue, most W95 CDs were not bootable, we had a boot disk.

    --
            a stranger is a friend we haven't met yet.
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    1. Evan
       
      Thank you for responding so quickly!
      Hmm I see, thank you, I will prioritize the boot disk if I manage to find one on the internet haha.
      I admit that it's not from my era at all, being 23 years old, but I would really love to get it working normally again!
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  4. jee pee Posted messages 9445 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 984
     
    Do you need a floppy disk drive on the computer? And another computer to create the floppy disk?

    Most of the websites I had in my bookmarks no longer exist, I've found these:
    http://cube10.free.fr/tuto/boot.htm
    http://gerard.lyannaz.free.fr/tips/progs/d-boot.htm

    Even for WIN95 later we used the W98SE boot disk which was more comprehensive

    Do you have the license with your W95 CD?

    --
            a foreigner is a friend we haven't met yet.
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    1. Evan
       
      On this computer, the floppy disk drive is indeed present, but the CD-ROM drive has been removed... So I need to order one, but I found some easily on Le Bon Coin, I will buy them tomorrow.
      But indeed, I also came across a site to create a boot on a blank floppy disk, except that I don't have a second computer with a floppy drive, haha.
      So I will try to burn the boot onto a CD and hope it works.
      In any case, thanks for the advice about Windows 98, I will try to see if I can find it!
      No, I don't have a CD license, nor a CD because I don't even have a drive yet! But I will buy all that tomorrow.
      Thanks again for your information!
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