Forgot my password on Win3.1

[ncr3170]

Hello,

I have a NCR 3170 laptop.

PhoenixBIOS(TM) Version 1.01
PhoenixBIOS(tm) LAP386 for Intel 386L

Residents Diagnostics:

CPU (i80386, 25 MHz) Pass
CMOS RAM Pass
....

a long list of things that pass..

That is all I can see and then the password prompt, but I forgot my password!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not used this laptop since 2001 and now I don't remember my password. Could anyone give me aclue as to where to start if I can retrieve my password at all?

I appreciate your help.

Thank you,

NCR3170

I chose that user name because it is the model of my very nice and very old laptop.

[Rob Pomeroy]

On Windows 3.1 if I remember rightly, you just hit ESC to bypass the password prompt.  Passwords are stored in *.pwl files under the C:Windows folder.

[Neil]

What is the point of that?

[Rob Pomeroy]

Good question.  

We're on something like the ninth iteration of Windows for home users, and STILL it doesn't have a decent security system.  Possibly Vista will be better...

[Dilbert]

Possibly Vista will be better...

If I know Microsoft, they'll make it impossible -- not just hard -- to access any "behind-the-scenes" components of their operating system, because you as the end user "do not need to know".

[GX1_Man]

Are you sure this is a WIndows password and not a laptop password? If it is a password for the laptop itself you may be SOL.  

[Rob Pomeroy]

*smacks head*

Good point, Mark.

This is the second person we've had on here recently needing a Phoenix BIOS password.  >See here<.  Something in that thread may apply to you.

[ncr3170]

Thank you,

You are right, think it is the laptop password, I went to the link above and it does not help me. I tried "F1" "Delete" and 'Esc" but the starting seems to be quite fast, the screen comes up right away all the way to the password prompt.

What does it mean 'SOL'?

Do you think I must take my laptop to a technician to see if they can retrieve my password?

Thank you,

NCR371

[patio]

For a laptop password recovery it is going to take a proffessional....don't be shocked by the prices.

patio.  8-)

[GX1_Man]

And it may require a new mainboard. That is what SOL means. Another laptop would be cheaper.

[Dilbert]

SOL = "aw, Shoot, i'm Outta Luck!"

(Grammar police, please note that the lack of capitilization on "aw" and "i'm" was intentional. )

[ncr3170]

Thank you!

I guess I better shop for a new laptop  :-/

NCR3170

[GX1_Man]

Sorry for the bad news, but there is a danger to password protecting laptops, unlike desktops. That's the downside of security.

[Raptor]

Hold on..

Did you forget your Windows 3.1 password or your BIOS pasword?

The subject and contents of the message conflict.

[ncr3170]

Opps! I am not sure which one is it. It is the very first prompt I get so that I can open anything else in the laptop. Would that be a laptop password?

I mentioned Windows because I know the laptop has Win3.1 installed.

I remember that once before I forgot my password and there was a way to get to the DOS prompt and change my password. But it has been so long that I may be mistaken ot confused now.

NCR3170

[Raptor]

Does it appear right away when you turn it on or after it's gone through the logo, boot process, Windows load screen, etc?