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Q.  I have just installed Windows 98 with Service Pack 1 and it keeps on asking me for a password when I log in. During the install, I entered a blank password to stop the password box coming up but it still will not go away. What can I do?

This procedure will work for Windows 95, 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition provided you are not using individual profiles. The first step is to check whether you have inadvertently enabled individual profiles by going to Start, Settings, Control Panel and selecting the Passwords applet. Choose the User Profiles tab and ensure that "All users of this computer use the same preferences and desktop settings" is set. If you change the settings you will need to reboot your computer before proceeding with the next step.

Make sure that all users of this computer use the same preferences and desktop settings in the User Profiles tab of the passwords applet.

Now go to Start, Settings, Control and select the Network applet. Go to the configuration tab and select Windows Logon as the Primary Network Logon.

Choose Windows Logon as the Primary Network Logon in the Network applet. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart your computer choose No.

Do not restart your computer after changing the Primary Network Logon. Go back to the Control Panel and select the Passwords applet. Change your password to a blank password by typing your current password in the Old Password box and leaving the New Password boxes blank. Click OK.

Clear your Windows password by typing your old password in the password dialogue box while leaving the new password blank. Finally shutdown and restart your computer and you should find that the password box will no longer appear. If the password box still appears you may be using a desktop application such as TweakUI from the Power Toys collection. You will need to remove this application to stop the password box from appearing.

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