Does anyone have a remedy?

[Doug Burt]

When I open User Accounts from Control Panel, the list of
users is blank and the error is "The system cannot find
the file specified." Period. End of message.

Users can log on but if anyone logs off (not switch users)
the system hangs with a blank screen.

Through Computer Management, if I open Local Users and
Groups:
If I open the Member Of tab for any user other than Admin
or Guest, "The following error occurred while attempting
to read the properties for the user ...: The system cannot
find the file specified."
If I try to delete a user: "The system cannot find the
file specified."
If I try to create a new user: "The system cannot find the
file specified."
If I try to change the password for administrator: "An
unknown directory object was requested."

Last night I did a WinXP Pro reinstall with repair
option. It didn't help.

 

[davetest]

When I open User Accounts from Control Panel, the list of
users is blank and the error is "The system cannot find
the file specified." Period. End of message.

Users can log on but if anyone logs off (not switch users)
the system hangs with a blank screen.

Through Computer Management, if I open Local Users and
Groups:
If I open the Member Of tab for any user other than Admin
or Guest, "The following error occurred while attempting
to read the properties for the user ...: The system cannot
find the file specified."
If I try to delete a user: "The system cannot find the
file specified."
If I try to create a new user: "The system cannot find the
file specified."
If I try to change the password for administrator: "An
unknown directory object was requested."

Last night I did a WinXP Pro reinstall with repair
option. It didn't help.

Are there any further messages or elaboration in the event viewer?

Dave

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----

Are there any further messages or elaboration in the event viewer?

Dave
.

Not much, Dave.
The actions through Computer Management do not seem to
trigger any event recording. Trying to open the User
Accounts applet causes events to the effect that a
program or process tried to logon as administrator but
supplied a bad password. This makes sense in that
administrator - how shall I say this - has no password at
all, not even a null password. I can set a new password
for administrator in Computer Management but when I try
to logon, the just set password is rejected as wrong.