Accounts missing on welcome screen

[rmcbane]

When my computer boots up there are no longer any accounts on the welcome
screen. So it is not possible to select a user and get to any programs. I
don't see any way to get past the welcome screen. This is a problem that
just started after an automatic Windows upgrade.

The computer appears to be functioning as I can see the computer on my
network and access shared files and printer over the network.

It appears that the automatic updates may have just or recently updated to
SP3, I'm using XP home edition.

Trying to access the computer in Safe Mode doesn't work as I still get to a
welcome screen with no accounts. Trying to boot to last successful boot
doesn't work as apparently it is successfully booting the OS.

Any ideas on how to get past the welcome screen?

 

[Tim Meddick]

Hi rmcbane,
Boot into 'safe mode' by repeatedly pressing F8 as soon as
you switch on your computer. Select 'Safe Mode' from the list. Go into the
administrator account and to 'Control Panel' then 'User Accounts'. Uncheck
the box marked 'Use the Welcome screen' and click on 'Apply Options' Reboot
and you will have a box to type user names and passwords into instead of the
welcome screen. If you have any problems doing this, please repost.

 

[rmcbane]

Tim,
Thanks, but when I try to boot into safe mode, I briefly see a black screen
with safe mode in the corners and the build across the top. Then in goes to
the blue welcome screen with no accounts and no indication of safe mode. So
I'm still stuck on the welcome page with no accounts after trying to boot
into safe mode.

 

[Mike Torello]

Tim,
Thanks, but when I try to boot into safe mode, I briefly see a black screen
with safe mode in the corners and the build across the top. Then in goes to
the blue welcome screen with no accounts and no indication of safe mode. So
I'm still stuck on the welcome page with no accounts after trying to boot
into safe mode.

You probably need to run a repair install.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Tim Meddick]

Yes, it shouldn't do that! (famous last words of the dying IT repair man)
When booting into 'safe mode' the Administrator account should be
automatically displayed. That's the limit of my knowledge on the subject.
Maybe someone can tell us if there's a key combination that activates
Administrator onto the Welcome screen - I did hear something about that...

 

[Mike Torello]

Maybe someone can tell us if there's a key combination that activates
Administrator onto the Welcome screen - I did hear something about that...

Forget that you heard it.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Hi rmcbane,
Yes, I thought I'd heard something about a key combination
to get to the 'Login Box' from the Welcome Screen - Unfortunately, I have
also, just heard, that it's for XP PRO - But, you might be lucky - At the
Welcome screen, press Ctrl-Alt-Del - TWICE - and that should get you the
Login dialog box so that you can manually enter the account name. If you
can do this, and can't remember a username and/or password, then. The
Administrator account, by default, has no password, so you could go into
that account and manage the others from the 'User Accounts' control panel.
Hope it works. Best of luck!