PAssword for win98

[Xcoder]

I need some kind of program to set a password for my Win98 box, I want to control the access to this machine, any useful hints? thanks

[Dave Sell]

TweakUI?

[Ideas Man]

Windows 98 passwords can be overridden by clicking Cancel. If you want true security, you'll need to update to either NT, 2000 or XP (Highly recommended).

[Xcoder]

what about a BIOS-level password, I have seen those before

But cant I do anything to prevent access to the pc at all?

[Acidic]

BOIS password can be broken. There are tools to reset it, there are also backdoor passwords, which are built in.

As a last resort people can remove and re-insert the BIOS batteru which resets it to nothing. If they did that they might as well just run off with the HDD though.

[dglienna]

W98 is known for its lack of security.

[Ideas Man]

Originally posted by dglienna
W98 is known for its lack of security.

Windows 98 was never designed to be as strong as Fort Knox, it was to provide some security and the ability to logon to a network (Which is really all the password does, allows you to enter network credentials), The NT or business product line provided all that, the 98 line was for home users, who really didn't care about that at all at that point in time.

[mendhak]

If you're trying to simply protect it from snotty cousins and dumb family members, the BIOS password will do.

[dglienna]

I used to have a QB45 program loaded into the autoexec.bat that was a black screen with "Enter Password:" and then an input area.

The program told the attempt number, and added "After 3 incorrect attempts, all files on the hard drive will be erased."

It kept everyone out, and I just had to reboot to enable it!

You could surely do something better in VB, and have it run at start-up, couldn't you? Hard-code a password into it, and then shutdown windows if the password is incorrect. You could disable task manager also. (I like opening the task manager .exe with LOCK that I saw as an example of doing that)

[Xcoder]

Originally posted by Acidic
BOIS password can be broken. There are tools to reset it, there are also backdoor passwords, which are built in.

As a last resort people can remove and re-insert the BIOS batteru which resets it to nothing. If they did that they might as well just run off with the HDD though.

As Mendhak said I just want family members out of the machine, how can I set the password at this level?, I have set a BIOS password in the past but only to enter the BIOS hitting the DEL key, this doesnt prevent access to the machine at all.

[cid]

I dont want to read that whole section....so here is your answer for locking down a windows 98 machine:

Two words...

Policy Editor

[Acidic]

Originally posted by Xcoder
As Mendhak said I just want family members out of the machine, how can I set the password at this level?, I have set a BIOS password in the past but only to enter the BIOS hitting the DEL key, this doesnt prevent access to the machine at all.

In your BIOS there should be two passwords, a system one and a user one. If there is a user one, then it'll ask for that one on booting up.

Option no. 2, ugrade to XP and shove a password on there.

[Xcoder]

I just set the user password and the supervisor password in the BIOS and nothing, it doesnt prompts me for the password at the beggining of the power on checking routine...

[dglienna]

Don't you have to ENABLE password checking somewhere?
They are pretty easy to defeat, though.

[Xcoder]

Originally posted by dglienna
Don't you have to ENABLE password checking somewhere?
They are pretty easy to defeat, though.

If you mean taking off the battery Im aware of that.

[dglienna]

most of the major manufacturers have a default password that works in addition to the one that you pick. You can jump pins on the motherboard for others, then unjump them, and *poof* No Password!

[Xcoder]

I know, but since this kids know little about computers Ill be safe till they turn 14 or something