PLEASE HELP! Cannot Logon, need to return to Restore Point

[Ted Kerin]

I somehow changed the logon information so that I cannot log on. (I was
trying to set an office laptop to be able to log into my home workgroup, and
now neither the work nor the home login info will work.)

I first created a System Restore Point, thinking that if I messed things up
(which I did!), I'd be able to get back to where things were. The machine
has WinXP Pro, and was originally set up at my wife's office (by a guy who
won't be available for days).

What I failed to consider is that, having unsuccessfully tried to make
changes to the username, and from Domain to Workgroup logon, etc, I now
cannot get past "Ctrl Alt Del to Logon" -- so, I am unable even to get to
the Win XP System Restore program!!

I'd be thrilled just to get back to the Restore Point I created before I
began messing with the logon. Can I somehow get to it during startup?

Please, any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I somehow changed the logon information so that I cannot log on. (I
was trying to set an office laptop to be able to log into my home
workgroup, and now neither the work nor the home login info will
work.)

I first created a System Restore Point, thinking that if I messed
things up (which I did!), I'd be able to get back to where things
were. The machine has WinXP Pro, and was originally set up at my
wife's office (by a guy who won't be available for days).

What I failed to consider is that, having unsuccessfully tried to make
changes to the username, and from Domain to Workgroup logon, etc, I
now cannot get past "Ctrl Alt Del to Logon" -- so, I am unable even
to get to the Win XP System Restore program!!

I'd be thrilled just to get back to the Restore Point I created
before I began messing with the logon. Can I somehow get to it during
startup?

Please, any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

First - understand that a System Restore will not help you with YOUR
settings or YOUR files. It is to restore system files only.

Also, you shouldn't need to change anything to use the DOMAIN laptop in your
home WORKGROUP.. You should just have to know your normal logon for the
domain (unless they turned off caching) and then your usename/password for
file sharing on ytour home network. You MAY have to know the IPs of the
machines in your home network as well.

You may be able to hack the password to the administrators account.. Change
it to somehting you know - but being a work computer - I hesitate to
assist - as it shouldn't have gotten this far in the first place. heh

 

[Ted Kerin]

Thanks, Shenan. At this point it seems I'm locked-out, apart from other
reasons, from too many unsuccessful attempts. I'll wait for the admin to get
back from vacation.

Thanks again.

 

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

Try booting to Safe Mode, if you can access Safe Mode, you should be able to
get to System Restore. Boot the system, start tapping F8, when the menu
appears, select Safe Mode and Press Enter.

 

[wlievens]

Also need help with login to WinXP
I am having similiar issue. Previously computer was set to use domain and my login/password worked for that. I was trying to find a local computer/printer on network and when I looked for a new workgroup to join, it (and to be correct "I") inadvertantly changed the computer to only work locally and not via the domain. Now my login does not work. The computer was still logged in yesterday, but then it restarted 2/2 windows update and now I am stuck and cannot login. Other than contacting IT (which is a pain as I am in a remote location from them) any other recs on getting in I have only known loging/passwords related to the domain and not the local ones for the machine only. Thanks!