Installed XP Pro and computer trying to connect to a domain

[solo1235]

I have installed XP Pro on a computer that had a corrupted version of XP
Home. It asked me for usernames, which I entered 2 users, and when it gets to
the login flash screen, it asks for a password. I have tried all previous
passwords, even in SafeMode, and I get the same error. The error states that
the "Domain cannot be found". I don't believe I have setup any domains. What
actions should I take to correct this issue as I cannot use the computer at
all.
Regards
solo1235

 

[John John - MVP]

Are you sure that you didn't you make the computer a member of a domain
during the installation?

Was this a clean installation or was it an in-place upgrade? An
in-place upgrade cannot repair a damaged Security Accounts Manager (SAM)
database, nor does it change any user names and passwords. If the SAM
database was damaged then the upgrade to XP Pro would not have fixed
this. If this was a clean installation then something was botched
during the installation, start again, format the drive during the
installation and do a new clean install of the operating system.

John

 

[solo1235]

Hi John
It was an upgrade, I didn't delete XP Home. Should I try and re-install XP
Pro and take more notice of any domain oriented questions?

 

[John John - MVP]

Do you have a known good working backup of all your user files? Be
absolutely sure that you do before you continue with your attempts to
resolve the problem, 'stuff' sometimes happens when you install
operating systems!

You say that the previous XP Home installation was corrupt, we don't
know for sure what was corrupt, if the problems were caused by SAM
corruption no amount of in-place upgrade or repair install would ever
fix this, the only way to repair SAM corruption is to replace the SAM
database with a backup copy or to cleanly install the operating system.

Try logging on locally. At the logon screen hit Ctrl+Alt+Del twice then
try logging on with the built-in Administrator account.

If you cannot logon locally you can try to re-install again and when at
the Workgroup/Domain selection screen make sure that you select the
Workgroup option. If it still asks for a domain name when you try to
logon try using the Workgroup name.

John

 

[Daave]

I have installed XP Pro on a computer that had a corrupted version of
XP Home. It asked me for usernames, which I entered 2 users, and when
it gets to the login flash screen, it asks for a password. I have
tried all previous passwords, even in SafeMode, and I get the same
error. The error states that the "Domain cannot be found". I don't
believe I have setup any domains. What actions should I take to
correct this issue as I cannot use the computer at all.

Depending upon how "corrupted" your version of XP Home was, upgrading to
XP Pro might very well have been a bad idea.

What is the make and model of your PC? Did you purchase it new or did
you obtain it after it had been used by someone else? What method did
the manufacturer provide you with to return it to its original
condition -- XP Home installation CD, recovery or restore CD, or hidden
recovery partition? (That information can be found in its literature. If
you don't have it handy, I'm sure a Web search would turn up that needed
information.)

Did you save all your important data prior to the upgrade? Do you recall
the specific problem you had with your PC?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have installed XP Pro on a computer that had a corrupted version of XP
Home. It asked me for usernames, which I entered 2 users, and when it gets to
the login flash screen, it asks for a password. I have tried all previous
passwords, even in SafeMode, and I get the same error. The error states that
the "Domain cannot be found". I don't believe I have setup any domains. What
actions should I take to correct this issue as I cannot use the computer at
all.

You say "installed." Does that mean clean installed or upgraded? If
you upgraded, it was a very bad mistake. The one time you should never
do an upgrade is when you are having such problems. Your only
alternative at this point may be to do a clean installation.

 

[solo1235]

Hello all
Thanks for the suggestions below. It seems that I took the option of saying
that the computer was part of a domain, when I was running the install. That
was obviously the wrong option. I re-ran the install and specified that the
computer was not part of a domain, and everything appears to work correctly.
Once again thank you for your assistance.

 

[John John - MVP]

You're welcome.

John

Hello all
Thanks for the suggestions below. It seems that I took the option of saying
that the computer was part of a domain, when I was running the install. That
was obviously the wrong option. I re-ran the install and specified that the
computer was not part of a domain, and everything appears to work correctly.
Once again thank you for your assistance.