microsoft xp unable to log on

[Susan]

i inadvertently disabled my administrator account and
don't have another account set up. i am unable to log on
at all to my computer. the program came installed on my
computer.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Try treating this as a lost password, after which you should be able to
enable your Administrator account:
If you have XP Pro on your computer, at the log in screen type
ctrl-alt-delete
twice. In the user account type administrator, leave the password blank and
press enter. You likely didn't create a password for this hidden account
during setup and if the computer was purchased with XP pre-installed it
doesn't likely have one either,

If you have Home, boot into Safe Mode (F8 after the post test and before
Windows starts. Once Windows starts loading, you've missed it and will have
to try again). You'll have an option to log on as Administrator. Again,
the same procedure, you'll be asked to log in to get into safe mode, type
administrator, leave the password blank and press enter.

This will get you in. Then go to Control Panel, user accounts, select the
specific user and select change password. Once you've changed the password
it would be advisable to create a Password Reset Disk by clicking "Prevent a
Forgotten Password" link in the left pane.

 

[Guest]

hi michael,
i have the exact same problem as susan, but i am using xp pro and it did not
response with the F8 key. please help.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Actually, you have to tap F8 at the proper moment which is why most just
say, "Start tapping F8. Nonetheless, on XP Pro, the following is the
procedure:
If you have XP Pro on your computer, at the log in screen type

ctrl-alt-delete
twice. In the user account type administrator, leave the password blank
and
press enter. You likely didn't create a password for this hidden account
during setup and if the computer was purchased with XP pre-installed it
doesn't likely have one either,

 

[Guest]

Hi Michael,
Thanks, I manage to log on following your ctl-alt-delete. But I still have a
problem. The username did not show administrator. Anyway, I press enter as
told. It logon but without administative right. I cannot add new User etc.
Appreciate your help again.

Campus

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

There should have been a drop down box or you should have been able to type
in Administrator for the user name.

If they above doesn't work, try the other method again, boot the system,
start tapping F8, that's not one tap, as soon as the system starts to boot,
start tapping F8 and keep tapping until the menu appears, at the menu choose
safe mode, at Safe Mode, again, you should be offered the option of logging
in as Administrator or should be able to type in that user name and then
leave the password blank and press enter.

 

[Guest]

Hi Michael,
Did the F8 tap and manage to get to the safe mode. Chose the Safe mode and
followed as led by the system. At the prompt to log on, the user name "showed
Administrator". Did the enter key but was shown that password needed. Then I
did the ctrl-alt-del, twice, then I did manage to get into another window log
on prompt. It showed "administrator" as username again, and I pressed enter
key again, and still get the response that a password is needed.
I then changed to another username, and press enter. I was able to log on
but as before the log on was as a guest account.

i need to be able to come back to an administrator account to run other CD
rom software.

Appreciate your help again.

Thanks.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

There are no more tools within XP to resolve this issue. You either need to
format and start over, which will wipe the drive, costing you all the data
on that drive or you can try installing XP to a separate partition if you
have one. If you do, you can follow the steps below, install XP to a
separate partition and try copying your data from your current setup to the
new one:

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

A few screens into the boot process, if you see the message on the boot
screen to "Press any key in order to boot from the CD," do so.

After loading drivers and files, you should be taken to a screen with
the following:

To Setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To Repair a Windows XP Installation using Recovery Console press R.
To Quit setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

In your case, press ENTER.

Agree to the License agreement by pressing F8.

You will then be taken to a screen with two options.

To repair the selected Windows XP installation press R.
To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing,
press ESC.

This will bring you to a partition map where you
can delete, create and format partitions.
Select the drive you wish to format, delete the partition, then create a new
partition, format as desired and continue with XP installation.

If you don't have a separate partition into which you can place another
installation of XP, you would have to use third party software such as
Partition Magic, www.powerquest.com, now owned by Symantec, in order to
create the partition and then install XP into that partition. While none of
this is particularly complicated if you've done it before, it can be a
little daunting to the first timer, especially when their data is at stake.
Unfortunately, there's nothing else I can offer. If you have a backup of
your data, you don't need to go through all of this, just follow the
instructions above for formatting and starting over, then reinstall your
applications and restore your data from backup. If you don't have such a
backup, then there's not much else you can do except perform the more
complex functions listed, try to install to a separate partition and then
copy your data which should tell you, in the future you should not run
without a backup.