DOSSHELL.INI and Password Encryption (74449)


The information in this article applies to:
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
This article was previously published under Q74449

SUMMARY

MS-DOS Shell allows you to create program items and groups with password protection. The password can be entered either through Shell when the program/group item is created, or manually by adding the appropriate lines under the [programstarter] section in the DOSSHELL.INI file.

MORE INFORMATION

Adding a program/group item through Shell with a password containing lowercase letters results in the rewritten DOSSHELL.INI file to remap the lowercase letters of the password to uppercase, six alphabetic characters away from the original letter. For example, if you enter the password

abcd

it will be written to the DOSSHELL.INI password section as

password = GHIJ

Thus, a = G

b = H
c = I
d = J
e = K
f = L
g = M, and so on.

If you manually edit the DOSSHELL.INI file and enter a password with any lowercase letters, the program/group item will not be accessible when prompted for the password, even if you type it exactly as it was entered. If you manually edit DOSSHELL.INI and change the password to all capital letters, the password will not be encrypted.

Example

    • In the MS-DOS Shell main window, highlight Command Prompt.
    • From the File menu, choose Properties. In the Password text box, enter abcd. To run the command prompt from now on, you must enter the password abcd.
    • Open DOSSHELL.INI in MS-DOS Editor.
    • Note that the password for Command Prompt is encrypted as GHIJ.
    • Change the password to ZZZZ and save the file.
The password to start the command prompt is now ZZZZ.
Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 10/13/2003
Keywords: KB74449
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.