Help needed ASAP! I can't log onto XP!

[Bob Newmam]

I installed a new HD & reinstalled XP, everything has been working fine for
about 2 weeks. Today I shut down the computer and on boot up it shows my
name and is asking for my password. To my knowledge I have never setup a
password for XP (it seems to be asking for an XP master password and not a
user indentity password). I do use the same password 95% of the time and it
says that is not it. I have updated XP several times since my install as
the version I have had no SPs or anything (I did install SP3). I don't
recall when the last time I shut off the computer was however. As I say,
the logon screen is new, it has never come up before, there are no options
for a hint or anything else.

Help please. I need to get into my computer ASAP!

Bob

 

[Tim Meddick]

As soon as the PC's 'Self-Test' has finished (just before the "XP
Loading..." screen) press the F8 key a few times to bring up the black
and white startup menu options screen.

From the list of Start-up choices - choose "Safe Mode"

After starting the PC in 'Safe Mode' the 'Welcome' screen should show
the 'Administrator' as a logon option together with your usual login
name.

Choose the 'Administrator' login (there should be no password set for
this by default).

After starting your computer in 'Safe Mode' in the 'Administrator'
profile - you should now go to the 'Control Panel' and choose the 'User
Accounts' item.

From the 'User Accounts' control, you should be able to click on the
user account you were having a problem with and then choose either the
"Change the password" or the "Remove the password" items.

*Please note - if you change a user accounts password, any encrypted
files in that account will no longer be accessible to that, or any
other, user for evermore.

Hope this helps...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Bob Newmam]

I think I will wring Bill G's neck! There was a button marked "options",
when clicking that the only change was that a "shutdown" button displayed.
After trying several possible passwords with no luck I just left the
password square blank, clicked okay, AND IT LOGGED ON OKAY!

How do I get it so it does not ask in the future?

Thanks in advance... Bob

 

[Brian A.]

Click Start > Run, type in: control userpasswords2 and press Enter or
click Ok.
Uncheck the box "Users must enter a username and password....."
Click Apply > Ok.


--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Tim Meddick]

The 'options' screen I was referring to (in order to get into the 'Safe
Mode' Administrator account) is a BLACK & WHITE text-based screen that
shows itself when you press the F8 key repeatedly as the computer boots
(please re-read my earlier post).

You should know how to start your PC in 'Safe Mode' for loads of
reasons.

Safe Mode is a very basic configuration where only the most essential
drivers are loaded and none of the 'Startup' group items are loaded.
For instance, you can start your PC in 'Safe Mode' when it will not
start normally so that you can disable or uninstall something you
recently installed that prevents Windows from starting.

There's no rational explanation why a user account that has no password
set should suddenly ask for one, that I know of. So one day, you may
have to follow the steps I explained in my previous post.

If you have gained access to your account you can make sure there's no
password set by going to the 'User Accounts' item in 'Control Panel' and
clicking on your user name and if there IS a password set - there will
be an item showing to "Remove the password" for this account.

If there is no password set for this account, then this option will not
be shown and there will just be an option to "Set a password" instead.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Bob Newman]

I did that it seemed to go okay. Thanks.

Bob

Click Start > Run, type in: control userpasswords2 and press Enter or
click Ok.
Uncheck the box "Users must enter a username and password....."
Click Apply > Ok.


--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Brian A.]

You're welcome, have fun and enjoy.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Bob Newmam]

I have gone into user accounts in the safe mode. There is no password, only
an option to add a password.

Bob

 

[Tim Meddick]

So, do you still have the problem, or not?

What happens, if, on clicking the affected login and the "password box"
shows itself, you just press [ENTER] with no password?

Does the affected profile still ask for a password in "Safe Mode" ?

It might just be simpler just to delete this user account and create
another, after making sure you move all the files in it's "My Documents"
folder to the "Shared Docs" folder.

As this behaviour is definitely *not* normal.

What IS normal is for an account either to have a password set, and the
system asks for it, OR, no password is set for the account and none is
therefore required or asked for by the system...

So my advice would be to just remove the account and create another
(after saving any important data files from the "My Docs" folder).

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Kelly]

According to his post, there are several issues that present a possibility:

He is speaking of the old W2K login
He is speaking of a bios password
He is speaking of the ole never had a password and now needs one (Old news)

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

So, do you still have the problem, or not?

What happens, if, on clicking the affected login and the "password box"
shows itself, you just press [ENTER] with no password?

Does the affected profile still ask for a password in "Safe Mode" ?

It might just be simpler just to delete this user account and create
another, after making sure you move all the files in it's "My Documents"
folder to the "Shared Docs" folder.

As this behaviour is definitely *not* normal.

What IS normal is for an account either to have a password set, and the
system asks for it, OR, no password is set for the account and none is
therefore required or asked for by the system...

So my advice would be to just remove the account and create another (after
saving any important data files from the "My Docs" folder).

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

I have gone into user accounts in the safe mode. There is no password,
only an option to add a password.

Bob