This section is for those who have lost and/or forgotten the password for their wireless network (wireless internet connection). This usually happens when they have used the password supplied by their broadband supplier, which is normally located on the router's labelling, only to change that password and subsequently forgot it. A typical case of the changed password being "Easy To Remember" at the time, but now "Can't For The Life Of Me Think What It Is!".

To retrieve a lost and/or forgotten wireless network password begin by going to the NETWORK AND SHARING CENTER control panel and then click on the MANAGE WIRELESS NETWORKS link. Doing so will bring up the Manage Wireless Network window (Fig 1.1) whereby you then need to right click on the wireless network (icon) you are interested in. In this example I am going to right click on the wireless network (icon) called Yoingco. It is the only wireless network (icon) to choose from anyway!

Fig 1.0  Click on the MANAGE WIRELESS NETWORKS link to continue




Fig 1.1  Right click on your desired wireless network (icon) to bring up its Options menu

Right clicking on your desired wireless network (icon) brings up an Options menu whereby you then need to left click on its PROPERTIES menu-item (above). This in turn will bring up the Wireless Network Properties window (below) which you can ignore as a window - Just click on its link called COPY THIS NETWORK PROFILE TO A USB FLASH DRIVE to start the Copy Network Settings wizard.

Fig 1.2  Click on the link called COPY THIS NETWORK PROFILE TO A USB FLASH DRIVE to continue

The Copy Network Settings wizard first detects whether or not you have a USB Flash Drive plugged into the computer. If you have not, you will see the following error message until you plug a USB Flash Drive into the computer. Or until you click on the CANCEL button or red X (Close) button.

Fig 1.3  Insert a USB Flash Drive into the computer to continue

When you do have a USB Flash Drive plugged into the computer you will see the following message. Simply click on its NEXT button to save your wireless network settings onto the inserted USB Flash Drive.

Fig 1.4  Click on the NEXT button to save your wireless network settings




Fig 1.5  Your wireless network settings have been saved onto the inserted USB Flash Drive

At this point you would normally click on the CLOSE button to close the Copy Network Settings wizard (its final window) and then close down any opened windows to do with this network project (lesson), which you can do if you wish. However, before you do, you should click on the VIEW MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS link. It allows you to view the, lost/forgotten, password associated with this wireless network.

There are other ways you can view the password (explained in a minute) but this is the quickest and easiest. Clicking on the VIEW MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS link shows you the, lost/forgotten, password directly.

Fig 1.6  Viewing the text file that is storing the, lost/forgotten, password.

As said; the above link is the quickest and easiest way to view the, lost/forgotten, password (wireless network password). However, if you manually want to view that, lost/forgotten, password you will need to open the text file that is storing it. That text file is called WSETTING.TXT and is located on the USB Flash Drive inside a sub-folder called SMRTNTKY.

Fig 1.7  Double click on the plain text file called WSETTING.TXT to continue




Fig 1.8  The WSETTING.TXT file displaying the, lost/forgotten, password (wireless network password).

Another way to view a lost/forgotten wireless network password, when you are connected to that wireless network, is to use a Wireless Network Password Viewer. These aren't always successful or reliable though, for whatever reason(s). The tool I have just linked, from Nirsoft, is very good and works on Windows 7 - 32 bit and 64 bit versions.