# Another computer question... network password **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329 "2000-11-30T05:19:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/1 "2000-11-30T05:19:25Z")
I recently got a new computer and cable modem… when I boot up the computer upon entering windows I get this annoying “enter network password” box, with “user” in the name field and nothing in the password field. If I exit out of it windows 98 continues to boot up normally. I tried deleting the “user” name… but next reboot it comes back… I cant find a way to shut this off in any settings! Can you help?? ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/2 "2000-11-30T05:21:33Z")
I don’t remember the steps off hand but if you go to the Help menu from the Windows start button (inlower left) and look there it will tellyou. Do a search on password and it will let you know how to get rid of the prompt. I assume this is the windows password and not a network password prompt. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/3 "2000-11-30T05:37:40Z")
Actually its not a windows password prompt… its a network prompt… I assume because I am on cable modem… if I cancel it without entering anything it goes on normally… but its annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/4 "2000-11-30T05:44:34Z")
You can just hit Cancel, or set no password and hit OK without enterying the password. I think to disable it you have to use a config program that is not in your control panel by default, but I can’t recall which one - I’m wanting to say TweakUI, but I think for this particular thing it’s something else. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/5 "2000-11-30T05:50:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Badtz Maru \* > \*\*You can just hit Cancel, or set no password and hit OK without enterying the password. I think to disable it you have to use a config program that is not in your control panel by default, but I can’t recall which one - I’m wanting to say TweakUI, but I think for this particular thing it’s something else. \*\* Dude… I always hit cancel without entering anything and have tried numerous times to delete the default “user” in the user name and leave the password blank and hit cancel one time and OK the next time… but no go… it always comes back. …I’m pretty sure TweakUI is not it… thats a registry tweak for high bandwidth speed if I’m not mistaken… …hell… I’m usually mistaken though… ---
**Author:** ![romanticide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@romanticide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romanticide)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/6 "2000-11-30T06:05:35Z")
Go to Start -\> Setting -\> control panel -\> network -\> and change “Primary Windows Login” to “Windows login”. That’ll get rid of it for ya :o). ---
**Author:** ![romanticide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@romanticide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romanticide)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/7 "2000-11-30T06:06:38Z")
That’s actually supposed to be a :). But I’m used to using an o for a nose. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/8 "2000-11-30T17:19:33Z")
“Go to Start -\> Setting -\> control panel -\> network -\> and change “Primary Windows Login” to “Windows login”. That’ll get rid of it for ya” The first time, yes. But he has probably PWL files with his PW still. He would have to delete those. I know that sailor answered this question here about 20 times already & a search for ‘network password’ should bring those up. ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/9 "2000-11-30T17:36:41Z")
Start\>Find(Search)\>\*.pwl\>Enter. Delete all \*.pwl files found. Reboot. Inform us. ---
**Author:** ![john\_e\_wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@john\_e\_wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john_e_wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/10 "2000-11-30T18:09:34Z")
Note: Usually when you delete thw PWL Windows will then ask for user name password. Then If you just hit ok it usually will set the computer not to ask again. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by peace \* > \*\*Start\>Find(Search)\>_.pwl\>Enter. Delete all \*.pwl files found. Reboot. Inform us. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2000, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/11 "2000-12-01T12:06:15Z")
Nope, TweakUI changes the User Interface - i.e. you can do away with those animations where you see the window grow and shrink when you maximize and minimize, and other things. I know what app you are talking about, I just can’t remember the name - I used it to tweak my modem settings to get lower pings in online games. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2000, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/12 "2000-12-01T17:06:04Z")
The best place to visit on the net if you have any questions whatsoever about W98 is: [http://www.annoyances.org/](http://www.annoyances.org/) There, everything you want to know & then some is answered there. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-computer-question-network-password/43329/13 "2000-12-02T18:58:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by romanticide \* > \*\*Go to Start -\> Setting -\> control panel -\> network -\> and change “Primary Windows Login” to “Windows login”. That’ll get rid of it for ya :o). > \*\* AHA! It worked… I knew it was something simple I was overlooking… Thankie!