PWL files

What are .pwl files, and how can they affect my passwords?

In Windows 95/98.

Whenever you log into a Windows 95 or 98 PC, Windows creates a file with a .pwl extension. This file contains your username and password, in a format that can be recognized only by the operating system (i.e., your password's security is not compromised). Windows can then use this information as needed, especially in instances (such as Dial-up Networking) in which you check a Remember Password option.

Sometimes these .pwl files become corrupted. Windows may use the information in a .pwl file incorrectly, or even use the wrong .pwl file for a particular resource. This frequently occurs with Dial-up Networking. If the .pwl file becomes corrupted, Windows might submit a cached password even if you manually type in a different one. This behavior can cause Windows to return error messages saying that your username or password is incorrect, even if you are typing the information correctly.

If you are having problems with your password and you are confident that you are typing it correctly, you should delete the .pwl files on your computer. Deleting these files does not have an adverse effect, as Windows automatically regenerates them as needed.

To delete the .pwl files on your computer, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button. Select Find, then click Files or Folders.
   
2. In the "Named:" box, type *.pwl .
   
3. In the "Look In:" box, from the drop-down menu, select My Computer.
   
4. Click Find Now.
   
5. Windows will search your computer and list the files on the lower half of the screen. You can then click a file to select it, and press the Del key to remove it.
   
6. You should restart your computer to reset the password files.

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