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"Invalid User ID or Password" Message When Signing In to
ISP
SYMPTOMS
========
When you attempt to connect to your ISP you may receive
the following error message:
Invalid Member ID or Password.
CAUSE
=====
This message can occur for the following reasons:
- Dial-Up Networking uses your password file, <Username>.pwl, for
password validation. This file may be damaged.
- The MSN connections in Dial-Up Networking are damaged.
- Dial-Up Networking is damaged.
- Your account is not available because it is locked or it has expired.
- MSN is temporarily unable to validate your account.
RESOLUTION
==========
To resolve this issue, follow the steps below in the order in which they
are presented. After completing each section, attempt to connect to MSN.
If you are unable to connect to MSN, continue to the next section.
Rename Password List Files
--------------------------
To eliminate password file problems, locate and then rename your
password list file. The file is named <Username>.pwl, where <Username> is
the name you use to log on to MSN, and should be located in the Windows
folder. To rename the file, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type "*.pwl" (without quotation marks), and then
click Find Now.
3. Right-click your <Username>.pwl file, click Rename, and then type a new
name for the file (such as <Username>.old).
4. Close the Find window.
5. Double-click the MSN icon to open the Sign-In screen.
6. Click the Remember My Password check box to clear it.
7. Type "xxxxxxxx" (without quotation marks) in the Member ID and Password
boxes, and then click Connect. Do not use your existing password.
8. When you receive the "Invalid member ID or password" error message,
click OK.
9. Type your correct member ID and password in the Member ID and Password
boxes.
10. Click Connect.
Replace Damaged MSN Connections in Dial-Up Networking
-----------------------------------------------------
To replace damaged MSN connections, use the appropriate steps.
MSN 1.x or 2.0:
1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Double-click Dial-Up Networking.
3. Right-click an MSN connection, and then click Delete. Repeat this step
until all other MSN connections are deleted.
4. Close the Dial-Up Networking window.
5. Right-click the MSN icon on the desktop, and then click Connection
Settings.
6. Click "MSN is my dial-up Internet access provider."
7. Click Access Numbers.
8. Click the appropriate primary and backup access numbers for your
region.
9. Click OK until you return to Windows.
MSN Version 2.5:
1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Double-click Dial-Up Networking.
3. Right-click an MSN connection, and then click Delete. Repeat this step
until all other MSN connections are deleted.
4. Close the Dial-Up Networking window.
5. Right-click the MSN icon on the desktop, and then click Connection
Settings.
6. Click Phone Book.
7. Select the appropriate primary and backup access numbers for your
region.
8. Click OK until you return to Windows.
Remove and Reinstall Dial-Up Networking
---------------------------------------
There may be a problem with Dial-Up Networking. To remove and reinstall
the Dial-Up adapter, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network.
3. On the Configuration tab, click Dial-Up Adapter, and then click Remove.
4. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.
5. In Control Panel, double-click Network.
6. On the Configuration tab, click Add.
7. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, click Adapter, and
then click Add.
8. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft.
9. In the Network Adapters box, click Dial-Up Adapter, and then click OK.
10. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, click Protocol, and
then click Add.
11. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft.
12. In the Network Adapters box, click TCP/IP, and then click OK.
13. On the Configuration tab, double-click Dial-Up Adapter.
14. On the Bindings tab, make sure "TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adapter" is the
only protocol selected. If any other protocol is selected, click the
check box to the left of the protocol to clear it.
15. Click OK, and then click OK again.
16. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.
Account Is Locked or Expired
----------------------------
If your account is locked or expired, call MSN Member Support for
assistance.
This can be tested by accessing the account via the LAN using MSN 1.x.
If you receive the error message "Account is Locked," there is an
unknown problem with the account. The credit card used to create the
account may have expired or have been reported as lost or stolen, or
the account may have been closed by MSN or the user.
MSN Is Temporarily Unable to Validate Your Account
--------------------------------------------------
If MSN is temporarily unable to validate your account, please try again
later.
This page Last updated: Monday, 24. May 1999 09:46:59 -0500 |
