password changes?

[legomac]

Hi, I have an adsl connection - speedtouch usb modem, mac mini, 10.4.5. about once a week my machine won't connect to the inet. (failure to negotiate a connection) I noticed that my password seemed to be 'longer' than it should be - I re-type it & I'm back in business. How can my internet password suddenly change? Is there something I can do about this - does it sound screwy?

Thanks
EL

[ElDiabloConCaca]

If you're referring to the number of "dots" that make up your password, then yes, that will appear to be longer or shorter than your real password -- it's a security thing. It would be silly to put the exact number of dots there as characters in your password, since that would give the exact length of your password away.

I don't think your password is changing... perhaps something else?

[legomac]

Thanks for the response. I can see the sense in what your saying & I don't want to sound (too) dopey but my machine won't connect - I open up the internet connect, highlight the password, re-enter over this & then it'll connect. This has happened at least five times over the last month with no input from me - no new kit, software etc. If it's something else what could it be? I'm relatively new to macs & lovelly as they are I'm sometimes a bit lost.

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Hmm... perhaps you should try deleting all the associated internet passwords relative to this account from your keychain -- you can use Keychain Access in the /Applications/Utilities folder. Then, you can re-set the password, and it should stick... sometimes your Keychain's passwords get corrupted or just somehow stop working, and clearing them out and resetting them can help.