PwlTool
v5.0

password recovery tools for MS Windows 95/98

(c) 1998 Vitas Ramanchauskas & Eugene Korolev, vitas@webdon.com

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Old Pwl files

Please note! This page is related to old (original Windows95 and Windows 3.11) PWL files only!!

Old PWL files are significantly less protected than new. Ususally it's possible to read stored passwords instantly even if you don't know a login password. There is a well-known program named glide.exe that shows all passwords stored in old PWL file. However glide often doesn't work, because it uses an incorrect algorithm. PwlTool now provides similar function (also named glide). PwlTool uses enhanced algorithm and works better than original program. However some PWL files are still uncrackable with this algorithm. Sometimes glide's output contains garbage and parts of deleted records. Also some passwords can be truncated or even missed. So please consider glide function as a fast alternative way to extract passwords from PWL file. It's imperfect but fast. Why not to try it ? Use regular methods if glide fails. Of course, glide doesn't work with new PWL files. Also it's inappropriate for you if you need for login password.

Another feature of original Windows 95 is an ability to accept multiple login passwords. For example, if your login password is 'anywhere' then you can use 'nwwlmru' as well. Theoretically there are infinite number of such variations. So PwlTool may find not an original login password. Usually there is no problem - you may use found password for login as well as for access PWL file contents. But sometimes it's necessary to know the original password exactly. You can use Password Variator to find all compatible passwords. You should enter password you have, specify expected length of the original password and examine resulting list (usually original password is "human-like" among a number of senseless passwords).

CAUTION! Password variator is an experimental feature. You may encounter various problems (like Windows General Protection Fault or missing of right password).