Guest Login Password

[Chuck]

I hope that this is the right newsgroup to present this problem.
I installed Vista Beta 2 in a separate partition giving me a dual boot
system. Worked well.
I wanted to uninstall Vista and could not find any solution. Posted a
request in another newsgroup and had a MVP advise to re-install XP to change
the Boot.ini back to original booting. Then delete the Vista partition.
After completing the re-install process, the first screen to appear (never
did this before) was a log in for Guest asking for a password. To my limited
knowledge, The default password for Guest is BLANK. That gave an error
saying that the configuration was not set to accept blank passwords.
I can not get past this screen. Safe mode does not work nor does trying to
boot from the CD
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

TIA
Chuck

 

[Larry Gardner]

Why did that MVP tell you to re-install. Wish you would have ask earlier.

Next time, just do this:

1. Control Panel | System Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery
2. Click on Edit button
3. Delete the entry for Windows Vista partitions
4. Set Default Operating System to Windows XP

After you reboot in Windows Xp:

1. Administrative Tools | Computer Management | Disk Management
2. Delete Vista partition.

Now to the current problem.

When the system reboots, and you are at the Welcome Screen, have you tried:

1. Ctrl+Alt+Del, Ctrl+Alt+Del (this should bring up the old Windows Logon
screen - basically it really is Ctrl+Alt+Del+Del)
2. Type in Administrator (or some Administrator name - did you ever rename
the Administrator's name) for username
3. Type in password for your Adminstrator (or leave blank). Since you
reinstalled, it may have reset your old password - if you had set one up).

If that doesn't work, did you have any user names?
Did you ever set up an Emergency Password Reset Disk?

It sounds like the re-install wiped out your Account names. Administrator
should still be there ... but the default is not to show on Welcome screen.
It should still be there ... you just need to know the password if it was
saved from previous install ... or it maybe just blank.

By the way, is the Vista partiton still there?

 

[John John]

Why did that MVP tell you to re-install. Wish you would have ask earlier.

Next time, just do this:

1. Control Panel | System Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery
2. Click on Edit button
3. Delete the entry for Windows Vista partitions
4. Set Default Operating System to Windows XP

After you reboot in Windows Xp:

1. Administrative Tools | Computer Management | Disk Management
2. Delete Vista partition.

That would not have worked, Larry. The Vista boot manager is completely
different than the loader for previous NT versions. It has to be
uninstalled properly to have the XP boot loader regain control of the
boot process.

John

 

[Chuck]

Thanks. Your response is so much easier than re-installing XP. When a MVP
says something, I normally bow to superior knowledge. Win some, lose some.

I will try your suggestions and get back to you.

Yes, the partition is still there. I was never able to get by the login
screen. Does that make a difference?

Thanks again.
Chuck

 

[Larry Gardner]

Well, you learn something everyday. Does this also hold true if you use a
third-party boot manager.

Regardless, I hope they can access the Administrator account from Welcome
screen.

I use Acronis and used to use System Commander. I believe Acronis builds
it's own Boot Partition and moves everything there for the different OSs.

 

[Larry Gardner]

Read reply from MVP. I did not know about the Boot Manager being different
than the normal Windows XP boot manager.

But check out the other things I wrote about.

Don't worry ... there is also another alternate that I found recently (How
to Reset Administrator SAM password)

 

[John John]

I use BootIt NG from time to time, usually when you want to return the
boot process to ntldr you are told to uninstall the third party boot
manager first. It might be possible to do it in some other manner but I
have never tried it.

As for Vista, I only found out about the changes a few months ago when I
too was trying to help someone with a similar problem. Upon doing a bit
of research I found out that Vista does not use ntldr and that you have
to use Vista tools to properly remove the boot loader, that failing you
can try other measures but they are not as easy as using the tools.

John

 

[Larry Gardner]

Leave to Microsoft ... if this is not suppose to be a Security feature ... I
hope they explain WHY they did this.
Are they planning on putting Boot Managers out of business with Vista?

 

[Chuck]

Putting in Administrator log in got me in but......

All desktop icons missing, programs still in Program Files. Seems normal
except some of the items below.

I went to Control Panel to setup a User. Just a blank window.

Able to update the virus definitions so internet still working and
connected.

Tried IE and got reframe.dll missing. Is that file available on the XP CD?
Can the IE program be saved to a hard drive or must you Run from location? I
ask this because I have three computers networked. I can then download one
and install on another, if that will work.

Thanks for at least getting me this far.

Vista partition still there.

 

[John John]

Put third party boot managers out of business? From the comments and
feedback that I have read I very much doubt it! Most comments refer to
the thing as an absolute nightmare to work with. Some software writers
are writing helper applications to make work with the abomination
easier. Also, in true Microsoft fashion, the thing still has the
different operating system use a common system partition, go figure!
Apparently the new boot manager was designed to allow booting with new
types of specialized hardware.

John

 

[Larry Gardner]

I've seen this happen ... in fact to me. The problem you have is that you
know have a mix and match Windows XP system.

If you were updated fully prior to the re-install, you now have Windows XP
from the re-install (whatever version - SP1? SP2?) and any leftover patches
from the previous install.

Basically, you have bit-and-pieces of original, Service Packs, and patches.
I searched my system, Windows XP, and I don't have a reframe.dll. SO in the
final version (I'm fully updated ... there is no reframe.dll).

You may want to check IE Add-ins .... open Tools | Manage Add-ins and see if
you have any third party add-ins that you can disable until you get updated.

Check Desktop Icons:

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. CLick on Desktop
3. Are there any to show?

If so, right-click on desktop somewhere and see under Arrange Icons by... if
Show Desktop Icons is unchecked.


I would expect that in this late state in the game, any pre-Vista System
Restore Ceheckpoints are gone.

What version is your Windows XP on your installation CD? Do you have SP1 on
CD, and do you have a copy of SP2 to install?

Do you have any backups?

Have you tried System Restore? See if you get an empty blank page!

 

[Larry Gardner]

Interesting ....

Put third party boot managers out of business? From the comments and
feedback that I have read I very much doubt it! Most comments refer to
the thing as an absolute nightmare to work with. Some software writers
are writing helper applications to make work with the abomination easier.
Also, in true Microsoft fashion, the thing still has the different
operating system use a common system partition, go figure! Apparently the
new boot manager was designed to allow booting with new types of
specialized hardware.

John

 

[Chuck]

First of all, I am sorry I put you thru so much trouble for my mis-spelling.
The file that they say is missing is ieframe.dll. I searched and found it
in the System32 folder so it is not missing - just some pointer.

I used one of my other computers and found that I can save ie file (7 beta).
Installing completed I get error message saying that it is already installed
and to use the Add/Remove. I can not find it there. I used another program
to uninstall it and it also could not find it. (No browse). DL ie6. Tried
installing and found that it balked at a newer version.

I used a CD XP Pro SP2

You also assumed that I can get to IE to get the tools section - I can't. I
may have to use Firefox or something else.

I am not worried about the icons. They are the least of my worry.

Hope that answers your questions.

Chuck

 

[Chuck]

I found in the Vista directories, a folder labeled Users. It has all my
accounts in it. Is there some place that can be copied/moved to the XP
Windows directory or root directory?

 

[Larry Gardner]

My understanding, that is equivalent ot Windows XP Documents and Settings
folder. That is how Windows Vista saves Users profiles and files.

These files are for Vista and should not be copied to Windows XP, unless
they are Document or other personnal files. They have different formats in
support of Vista.

Two different animals.

 

[Larry Gardner]

How extensive do you want to get into to fix this? Are you familiar with
the registry? How well?

As far as ieframe.dll ... that does not exist on non-IE 7 Beta ever
installed systems. My C:\Windows\System32 has not record of it.
You may want to verify ... what IE is coming up when you click on Internet
Explorer. Looks like it is still pointing to IE7.

Have you tried this yet?


Uninstalling Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2

To uninstall Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 and return to Internet Explorer 6 on
Windows XP

a.. Click "Start," and then click "Control Panel."
a.. Click "Add or Remove Programs."
a.. Check "Show Updates" at the top of the dialog box. (If you are running
Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview - March 20, or a newer version of IE7,
this step is not necessary.)
a.. Scroll down the list to "Windows XP - Software Updates," select
"Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview," and then click "Change/Remove."
If "Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2" does not exist, run
%windir%\$NtUninstallie7bet2p$\spuninst\spuninst.exe. (To do this, you need
to have "view hidden folders" enabled.)

Hangs During Uninstall--If the uninstall process hangs while removing
Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2, delete any custom sound schemes created after
installing the Internet Explorer 7 Beta and retry the uninstall.

 

[Todd]

I hope that this is the right newsgroup to present this problem.

The right newsgroup is microsoft.public.windows.vista.general

This is a recurring problem, and they know how to deal with it there.

Todd

 

[Chuck]

Thanks. I will take my baggage there. I have to answer Larry Gardner first.
He has been trying to help me.

Chuck

 

[Chuck]

Every incidence of iexplore is for ver. 7 I can not install IE 6 because of
another newer version (7) is installed. No IE comes up. Cannot find
ieframe.dll.

Went to add/remove and clicked updates. Media player, fixes were the only
ones. No listing of IE, either 6 or 7. Oh well, we tried. Oops, you tried. I
do thank you for that.

Chuck

 

[Chuck]

I thought so. That is why I asked before I jumped.

I was advised by Todd to take this problem to another group. More specific
to my problem. I will do that.

I will monitor this thread awaiting any gems of wisdom that you may have for
me.

Thanks for you effort.

Chuck