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Dial-Up Networking Refuses to Remember Passwords

Intended For
Windows 98
Windows 95
Several users have reported that Dial-Up Networking will not remember passwords. This behaviour manifests itself either by disabling the Save Password checkbox, or by ignoring its setting. Although Microsoft will not recogize this problem, it does exist and is due to a rather irritating bug in Windows's Dial-up Networking.


Solution #1:

  • Double-click on the Network icon in Control Panel, and choose the Identification tab. Although the Workgroup and Computer Description have no use in Dial-up Networking, the Computer Name must be your login for your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
  • Make any necessary changes, and press OK when finished. You'll have to restart Windows, but once you're back in, try again.
  • Double-click on your connection icon. This time, your correct login will be in the login field, and you should be allowed to type in your password. Remember to turn on Save Password if it's not grayed out.

  • Note: If you don't have an Identification tab, see Installing and Coping with Dial-Up Networking to make sure Dial-Up Networking is installed correctly.


Solution #2:

  • Try re-creating the connection by opening up the Dial-Up Networking Window and double-clicking on Add New Connection.


Solution #3:

  • Check out Microsoft's technical note describing why the password isn't saved.


Solution #4:

  • Double-click on the Passwords icon in Control Panel, and click on the User Profiles tab.
  • Select Users can customize their preferences..., choose the desired options below, and click OK.
  • Restart Windows - when asked for a username and password, leave the password field blank.
  • When asked if Windows should remember settings for this user, answer Yes.


Solution #5:

  • Your service provider may not authenticate your username and password normally - see Special Considerations.


Solution #6:

  • Occasionally, the Password List (pwl) files get corrupted - try deleting (or renaming) all *.PWL files in your Windows directory.


Solution #7:

  • Refer to Installing and Coping with Dial-Up Networking to make sure Dial-Up Networking and all the necessary components are installed correctly.
  • Note: try adding the Client For Microsoft Networks into the network section of Control Panel if it's not already there.


Solution #8:

  • If you have more than one connection, and the password checkbox is turned off for at least one, none of them will work.


Solution #9 (if the password box is disabled):

  • Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
  • Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Network\ Real Mode Net.
  • If you see autologon (on the right side) with a value of 00, double-click on it, and replace the value with 01 00 00 00 00.
  • You'll have to restart Windows for this change to take effect.


Written by: Annoyances.org
Last updated: Saturday, August 11, 2001

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