Passwords Are Lost After Upgrading to Windows XP (310562)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
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.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/8/2001
Keywords:kbprb kbUpgrade KB310562
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.