windows 98 screensaver password not valid - FIXED

[Tiger]

Hello. thinkpad i series and windows 98se . The problem I have is that the screensaver does not recognize my password. I know my password and even checked it with a screensaver crack program and it said that the password was what I thought it was . So the password has not changed. When I type it , it says invalid. When I go to screensaver properties and try to change it , it does not recognize my old password. How do I get my screensaver password active? How can I reinstall the screensaver? I have the original IBM disks as I am the original owner. Can I delete the screensaver somewhere and reinstall it ? I tried in the registry to change the screensaver password to "0" but nothing happened . A newbie thanking in advance for your help.

[selvan777]

I don't think you'll find much help here, not even from me. Most probably feel you've either stolen it or got your hands on one that was.

But, I understand things, strange things, do happen in windows. So my only suggestion would be to make sure cap lock is on or off, keep trying other password recovery methods (search google for Defeat 98SE Screen saver Password), and I guess the last resort would be to back it all up then do a format and re-install.

Good luck.

[Tiger]

Thanks for the reply. I never thought of it in those terms but can understand where ppl would get that impression after rereading my question. Nevertheless, I've narrowed the problem to this - when I go into screensaver properties and enable the password protection and then allow the screensaver to appear on the screen, when I touch a key or the mouse, the screensaver disappears without having a password prompt window appearing as it should. Any suggestions as to what is causing the password prompt window from not appearing.

Thanks for any suggestions. I forgot about the password prompt window not appearing because I've been living with the problem for a while and was focusing on the password thinking someone changed it somehow. I think the password is fine, I just need to get the password prompt window to appear.

[selvan777]

You're welcome.

It's been a while since I used Win98 so it's a case of the blind leading the not so blind here.

After enabling the screen saver password do you click "Change" to set the password before clicking "Ok" to exit the screen saver properties?

If you are and it's not prompting you for it, I would have to blame the doings of the crack you mentioned, I don't know.

[MadeInJapan]

I'm trying to remember Windows 98 too. Can you not boot into safemode and then go into Control Panel and slect passwords? Is it not in there? Also in Safemode, check where you normally see the password entry window that you say is usually missing. Safemode can fix a number of problems.

[Tiger]

Problem fixed . Thanks for the suggestions - they got me thinking and experimenting and retracing steps over the last few months. This is what happened. In control panel, under users, I created a user name and password. Somewhere along the line when I restarted it, to get rid of that select user name dialog box I clicked cancel and the box disappeared. Ever since I would always click cancel to get to my desktop. However, this way the screensaver password dialog box does not appear when the screensaver activates. Nor does it recognize the password under display properties - screensaver -change -old password. However, when I selected my user profile, entered my password and clicked ok , when the screensaver appeared and I touched a key the screensaver password prompt dialog box appeared and recognized my password. Everything normal . I even changed it a few times and worked perfect.

I do not know if all Windows 98 systems work like that but I understand how mine works. Once again thanks for the advice.

One other question - is there a way to get a shortcut on to the desktop for the screensaver that one could click onto it and leave their laptop without waiting for it to appear? I have the i series screensaver on my desktop but its a bit embarassing to activate that one lol.

[selvan777]

Got to hear you got it all squared away.

Create a shortcut to DefaultScr.exe after installing Default Screensaver.

[Tiger]

Thanks for the tip, but got "Egyptian hyroglyphics" when it opened in wordpad and did not know what to do next. Stumbled on an easier way.

Click Start then Find then Files or Folders. In Named type scr and in Look in enter Windows 98 (C) then hit find. In the found screensaver files click once on the screensaver you want under the name column to highlight it , then right click and scroll down to send to and then scroll down to desktop (create shortcut) and click. It should appear on your desktop now. I even set up one of my Easy Launch buttons to activate my screensaver.

[Tiger]

Thanks for the tip, but got "Egyptian hyroglyphics" when it opened in wordpad and did not know what to do next. Stumbled on an easier way.

Click Start then Find then Files or Folders. In Named type scr and in Look in enter Windows 98 (C) then hit find. In the found screensaver files click once on the screensaver you want under the name column to highlight it , then right click and scroll down to send to and then scroll down to desktop (create shortcut) and click. It should appear on your desktop now. I even set up one of my Easy Launch buttons to activate my screensaver.

[selvan777]

Strange that an .exe file opened in wordpad for you but looks like you found another way about it, great.