Downloaded ie7, now Windows wants password

[Clark]

Windows XP-SP2 on an eMachine T3256. Last night I upgraded ie6 to ie7, when
the upgrade was finished I got a window telling me to restart the computer.
It booted back up with a logon window. I've had this computer for two years,
there is only one account (owner) and I have never set a password. I tried
leaving the password box blank and hitting enter, but a little note came up
telling me I had put in the wrong password. I tried starting the computer in
safe mode, but it said there was a file missing or corrupted
(system32\hal.dll). I can't get into Windows. Any ideas on how to fix this
miserable situation?
Clark

 

[saksofsuccess]

I did something similar only not with upgrading IE. I deleted a user
account on XP sp2, and when I booted the next time I got the login
screen. I've NEVER set an administrator password and never entered a
password before for either account (Admin & user). Now I can't log in.
I tried SafeMode but also gets you a login box. Please let me know if
you find a cure; I can't use that computer at all!