Hi J,
In older versions of Windows (95/98) you could probably delete the password
list file(pwl) and get going easily enough. The world was much more
trusting then. How many hacking or major virus incidents were reported
between 1995 and 1998?
In the past few years we've improved security of the OS in response to an
escalation of malicious activities. Computing security or security flaws
are making headlines daily these days. So it is no longer possible to just
rename a password file to break into Windows as an administrator. Hackers
would just love it if it were that simple.
You mention that the symptom happens when the computer shuts down:
" the computer has been blocked and only the Administrator ( me) can
unlock it"
What is the exact error message?
Here are some steps for changing AutoAdmin login settings:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type "control userpasswords2" (without the
quotation marks), and then click OK.
3. In the dialog box that appears, set the "Users must enter a user
name and password to use this computer" check box, and then click OK.
REFERENCE:
315231 How to Enable Automatic Logon in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=315231
ADDITIONAL STEPS:
Jupiter Jones' Security Site:
Steps Lost / Forgotten / Expired Passwords
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm
[Courtesy of MS-MVP Jupiter Jones]
=========
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Windows XP Security Homepage:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/security/default.asp
Windows 2000 Security Homepage:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/security/default.asp
Top 10 Windows Newsgroups Security Questions:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/newsgroups/default.asp?url=/technet/newsgro
ups/nodepages/sectop10.asp
=========
Paul Hayes, MCSE
Product Support Services
Microsoft Corporation
(e-mail address removed)
--------------------
| From: "j" <
[email protected]>
| Subject: Administrator password
| Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 01:56:43 -0800
|
| There has to be some way to get past this.. I remember in
| older versions of windows you could explore to a certain
| file in the windows directory and just delete it. Then
| you could log onto windows with just a blank entry in the
| password field.
|
| Any ideas if you can still do that in XP? Or change
| regestry options for AdminAutoLogin?
|
|
| >-----Original Message-----
| >I've had my XP computer for over a year and, being the
| only user, I haven't used the Administrator name and
| password. Now, when I attempt to shut donw, I am
| receiving a message that the computer has been blocked
| and only the Administrator ( me) can unlock it. If I ever
| had a password, I can't remember it, and I cannot locate
| any info to help me!
| >Any ideas?
