Is this closer to what you need?
sync on
while returnkey()=0 and len(pass2$)<=16
if inkey$()="" then last=0
if (inkey$()<>"") and (last=0)
cls
char = asc(lower$(inkey$() ))
if char = 8
rem the backspace
pass2$ = left$(pass2$,len(pass2$)-1)
else
if (char>=97) and (char<=122)
pass2$ = pass2$ + chr$(char)
endif
endif
text 0,0,left$("* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ",len(pass2$)*2)
last=1
endif
if len(pass2$)>16
ink RGB(255,0,0),RGB(0,0,0)
text 190,255,"ABOVE 16 CHARACTERS!...try again"
sync
wait 2200
pass2$ = ""
ink rgb(255,255,255),0
cls
endif
sync
endwhile
text 0,32,"Debug:"
text 0,48,"Pass2$ = " + pass2$
text 0,80,"press any key"
sync : sync
wait key
Programming anything is an art, and you can't rush art.
Unless your name is Bob Ross, then you can do it in thirty minutes.