Microsoft KB Archive/310562

= Passwords Are Lost After Upgrading to Windows XP =

Article ID: 310562

Article Last Modified on 11/8/2001

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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This article was previously published under Q310562



SYMPTOMS
After you upgrade to Windows XP from Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), certain passwords may no longer be saved. Uninstalling Windows XP does not restore these passwords.



CAUSE
Windows XP uses a more secure encryption method for saving passwords. To prevent older, less-secure password list files from being available to malicious users on the Internet, password list files are deleted and new files are created during the upgrade to Windows XP. To make your computer more secure, these files are not saved with the Windows XP uninstall information.



RESOLUTION
There is no workaround for this issue. You must re-create your passwords when you are prompted for them.



MORE INFORMATION
This issue involves Windows passwords such as:
 * Dial-up connection passwords
 * Logon passwords
 * Domain passwords
 * Network share passwords

The password list files are deleted because of security issues that could occur if the files remained on the computer. If you backed up your password list (.pwl) files before upgrading to Windows XP, and you then decide to revert to Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Me, you can restore the .pwl files that you backed up.

Note that this issue does not occur if you upgrade from Microsoft Windows 2000.

Keywords: kbupgrade kbprb KB310562

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