I cannot login as no user names are visible

[Alan]

I'm running a new installation of XP Pro but it's a
standalone pc. I should mention that I have loaded the SP2
(beta) and then further updated on Microsoft's Windows
site but I don't think this is the issue as it was working
fine for a week.

A young friend had been loading some internet game and I
now find I can't log in because the Login screen shows on
left "To begin, click your user name" but in right half,
where the names should be, there is nothing !

I tried pressing CTRL+Alt+Del twice (as another Microsoft
response refers) and can see the classic username and
password boxes but whatever I put in them, only
returns "The local policy of this system does not permit
you to login interactively.

Thanks for any help Guys

 

[Alex Nichol]

A young friend had been loading some internet game and I
now find I can't log in because the Login screen shows on
left "To begin, click your user name" but in right half,
where the names should be, there is nothing !

I tried pressing CTRL+Alt+Del twice (as another Microsoft
response refers) and can see the classic username and
password boxes but whatever I put in them, only
returns "The local policy of this system does not permit
you to login interactively.

Use Administrator there as the user name and hopefully it is a blank
password.

While you could work through the Admin tools - Local Policy (and
gpedit.msc) to put that one point right, there is no knowing what else
he has done, and I think the sensible course then is to use System
Restore to go back to a time before he got at things. If that removes
his games, too bad.

If it is not a blank password, boot with F8 as BIOS info goes to black;
take
Safe Mode - Command prompt and get at System Restore there by running
the line
C:\Windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe