Controlling access to my PC?

[kbkatz]

I have a PC at work with Win 98, and I would like to "Control Access" to it with a password. What I want it to do is at start up, have the "Users" enter a password instead of just hitting "Cancel" and still have access to the PC. I can't figure out how to have Win 98 do. Is there some kind of program (freeware/shareware) available that can do this for me. I'm getting tired of unauthorized users, using my PC just by hitting the cancel button.

[N/A]

you can put a CMOS(or BIOS?) password.when your pc power up,hit ESC or F12 or DELETE or whatever the key needed to enter to CMOS setup.look around there should be a place where you can put a password on your pc.
be sure to remember this password because the only way to remove the password is to open the pc case and remove a small battery,which you dont want to do.
*i shouldnt tell that should i?*
you can also put a screensaver password so that u wont find unexpected guests using your pc when you come back from lunch.
go to control panel->display settings->screen saver.select a screensaver and check "password-protected"box.then click Change.type in your password.
also check out this thing...its same as windows builtin screen saver thing but lil nicer.http://www.rjlsoftware.com/software/security/black/

ALI

[kbkatz]

I have tried the BIOS password but that only works to keep unwanted personnel out of the BIOS. I have a screen saver password in. That works fine but it doesn't keep anyone off if they turn on the PC and hit the "Cancel" button. Any other ideas?
The only people I want to allow access to my PC are the ones I give a user name and password to.

[N/A]

...if u have bios password on and someone enters wrong pw,it doesnt let him boot up windows....if he cant boot up your pc...what would he do?stick a hammer right up your pc?

[ktkendall]

You should see two things where you found the place in your bios to set the password that keeps anyone without the password out of your bios. Supervisor and user level, set the user level and that won't even let the computer boot without the password, I used it before I got winXP, and it works great. Additionally there should be a jumper on the mobo just for defaulting this password without defaulting the whole cmos!

[kbkatz]

Unfortunately that option is not available in my CMOS.

[ktkendall]

It may be called something a little different, but I have not seen one that does not have it, but if you've looked and you understand what it is your looking for, then I agree you must not have it, next best thing is to go with Win2000 or XP!

[dldz]

You mean you don't see Power On password or anything like it at all in your Bios ?

[ChromWolf]

Hey kbkatz,

Typically, the BIOS is setup in one of two ways:

(1) You have a password you can enter. Elsewhere in the BIOS, you can tell it to ask for the password during "Setup" (that is, whenever someone tries to access BIOS), or during "System" (that is, whenever the computer is turned on, regardless of trying to get into BIOS or not). You could set the password, and tell it so check for password during "System" instead of "Setup".

(2) There are two seperate password entries; one place that lets you set the "Setup" password, and one place that lets you set the "System" password. otherwise, it works the same as #1, above.

Pretty much, you gotta make sure it's doing "System" password check, or yes, anyone can just restart to bypass the screensaver.

Beyond that? I would unfortunately have to agree, you'd either have to go with Windows 2000, or Windows XP. it's not the cheapest option, but the easiest, and certainly the most effective way of handling it.

[kbkatz]

unfortunately no other password option is available through the BIOS other than the BIOS password. It is a older PC that XP/2000 will not work with. Although I did find a simple program online that should let me do what I want.

[Tom Brodrick]

Put a shortcut to the screensaver in your startup.
Then, enable the password protection on the screensaver.
As the computer boots up, it starts the screensaver immediately and they have to know the password to access the machine.

Of course, Save mode gets around the startup screensaver.

[kbkatz]

That's sounds like a good idea, but I'm not sure how to do that and for some reason my PC is telling me I keep entering an invalid password (for the screensaver password I'm currently running). So I had to disable the screensaver password because when I try to change it to something else it tells me "invalid password" is there someway I can eliminate this password and start fresh?

[dldz]

Ok Kbkatz heres a link for Access Software you can try I think it will work for you however it doe's cost $34.00 if you buy it. It does cover all the bases for you so it is worth the $$ at this point I think. Good Luck
Don

[kbkatz]

I've checked that link out previously. The problem I now have is when I try to change the screensaver password or the screensaver becomes active, it then asks for a password; but when I enter the correct password it gives me the message of invalid password. If I go through the control panel to "change Passwords" it asks me to enter the old password then it gives me the message "invalid password" and I am possitive it is correct and in lower case. So how do I "erase" the old password and start fresh?

I do like the idea of activating the screensaver password at start up. How is that done?

[Tom Brodrick]

Do a search on your machine for all the .pwl files. (Search for *.pwl) Delete them all (or put them in the recycle if you're not comfortable) reboot the machine. The .pwl files keep your password record. After deleting them, it regenerate new ones as soon as you log back in with a new password. Some security huh?
Each person that has ever logged onto a Win95/98 machine and set a password will have a .pwl file representing them.

To put a screensaver in your startup, you have to choose one that you want to use. Then, find the file in the Windows directory and create a shortcut in the startup folder in your start menu. Search for *.SCR and you'll find where all the screensavers are stored.

[pillainp]

HI,
Try installing Policy Editor from the Tools\Reskit\Netadmin folder on your Windows 98SE CD.
It's mainly meant for controlling access to remote computers and networks but I think it can be used locally too.

[Iman74]

Originally posted by kbkatz I have tried the BIOS password but that only works to keep unwanted personnel out of the BIOS. I have a screen saver password in. That works fine but it doesn't keep anyone off if they turn on the PC and hit the "Cancel" button. Any other ideas? The only people I want to allow access to my PC are the ones I give a user name and password to.

Can't be done on Win98. Win98 doesn't have the local security you are looking for. To get what you want you would need the partition to be converted/formated for NTFS which offers local security, BUT Win98 doesn't support NTFS. To take advantage of NTFS you will need to go to one of the following OS's: NT, Win2000, or XP. Otherwise, no dice.

[Iman74]

The only other options you have if you want to stick with Win98 is mostly everything that has been suggested to you, Screensaver, Licensed software, Power on password (but that only protects you from powering the PC on).
Also, there are so much stuff out there that I can get around all these "security" options. NTFS is the way to go. You can still get around it but you really need to know what you are doing to do it.

[kbkatz]

The screensaver with password at start up did what I wanted it to. No need to download or install anything. Thanks