Invalid Password Error Message After You Upgrade to Windows 98

ID: Q185612

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to connect to a computer that requires a password after you upgrade to Windows 98, you may receive an Invalid Password error message. This may occur even though the password you enter is the correct password, and this password worked before you upgraded to Windows 98.


CAUSE

This behavior can occur because Windows 98 does not send unencrypted network passwords to Server Message Block (SMB)-based server computers. Some older SMB-based server computers that do not support encrypted passwords may incorrectly interpret the encrypted password as an invalid password.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this behavior, use a plain text password.

NOTE: When you enable the use of a plain text password, your network passwords are no longer encrypted, and can be a security risk. Microsoft recommends you do not use the following procedure unless absolutely necessary.

To enable the use of a plain text password, use either of the following methods:

Method 1

Right-click the Ptxt_on.inf file located in the Tools\Mtsutil folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM, and then click Install.

To disable the use of a plain text password, right-click the Ptxt_off.inf file located in the Tools\Mtsutil folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM, and then click Install.

Method 2

NOTE: You should use the following method only if you do not have access to the Windows 98 CD-ROM.

Use Registry Editor to view the following registry key:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Vxd\Vnetsup

Under this key, create a new DWORD registry key named "EnablePlainTextPassword", set its value to 1, and then restart your computer.


STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words: 98 


Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 3, 1999