Help! I am using my husband's old Hansol windows 98 computer. I am a novice, but here goes, does anyone know how to retrieve old business records from the hard disc drive if the original password is forgotten?
by 
calunda
ANSWERS: 4
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Which password? If you mean a password to turn the computer on get somebody to open the case and remove the CMOS battery for a few hours and then replace it (it looks like a giant watch battery).
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Actually it's not hard to dig it out. If you can log onto the computer you can get it. Do a search for .pwl and include hidden files and folders in the search. That's the file extension of the win 98 password list file. Open it with a normal text reader like word pad. All the passwords on that PC are stored there. There may be a couple of these files, each for a different user of the PC, the one you want is the one with the user name of the person who created the original password in the .pwl name.
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Try resetting the Cmos battery which looks like a watch battery on the motherbotrd lies.
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there are more complicated methods then the ones listed but not all of the ones i saw where "sure fire" here is a list of what i have successfully done: 1. boot your computer into linux. you can download and burn the .iso free. or go to any computer stare and get a copy of "unbuntu" it should only be $1. then boot to it. once in you can access files in the same way as XP. all of them will be there. another one (@20) is to get "password genious" from spotmau. it is self explanity after you boot from it. 3. re-program the computer in DOS(service pack 2 or later and this becomes rediculous and nearly impossible) 4. just take the computer to a professional. the unbuntu option is the quickest and easyies for me. but i do this on the side for a few extra bucks and have several tools. unbuntu is just linux with a windows-like interface and ability. you can find it useing google in about 30 seconds and it is gaurenteed. once you have it(or any linux) get "deep burn" and then copy the .iso image to a disc useing a CD/DVD burner.
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