Limited User Logon Problem

[Buster]

I made some security changes to my WinXP Pro single user
system, checking after every two or three changes to see
if the limited user account was still ok. Well,
unfortunately, I got carried away near the end and forgot
to check it, and after the last dozen or more changes I
discovered that I got locked out of the limited user
account!

Even though I never set a password, it asks for one when
I try to logon. And if I set a password for it, it
doesn't accept it. Also, when I created a new limited
user account, Windows automatically set it as password-
protected. Anyone have any idea how I can fix this
problem so I can logon to my user account again without
changing the account type? I want to be able to connect
to the Internet in a limited user account.

 

[Seeker]

What sort of changes did you make?

You may also want to try 'promoting' the account to the Administrators
group, and then 'demote' it later once you can log on. If that does not
work, then delete the limited accounts and start all over again, and this
time make note of every change you make

 

[sasquatch1955]

Also, go into the User accounts section in Control panel.

Then "Change way users log on or off"

Then make sure that both "Use the Welcome Screen" and "Use fast use
switching" are checked, you should then be able to switch back an
forth from accounts without password
-
sasquatch195

 

[Buster]

I made changes to Security Options, File permissions, and
others, but not Password or Lockout Policies. I already
tried changing the account to admin type and then back. I
was able to logon when admin type, but was refused again
when limited user type. You're probably right. I guess
it's best I just start over. Thanks.

 

[Buster]

Thanks, but I've been using the Welcome Screen. That's
where the password prompt appears when I try to logon to
the limited user account. Once I get everything working
though, I'll be logging on without the Welcome Screen, to
be secure.

 

[Buster]

I found the cause of the problem. I had the properties for
the Security Log in Event Viewer set to 512KB and
"Overwrite events older than 7 days," and "Audit: Shutdown
sytem immediately if unable to log security audits" in
Local Security Policy/Security Options set to Enabled. So
when the Security Log file got full, it made the password
prompt appear and locked me out of the limited user account.

I had disabled that Audit setting several times before to
see if that's what was causing the problem, but all I had
done was log off. I had never restarted the computer.
Apparently you have to restart to change the setting,
'cause when I restarted it, the password prompt didn't
appear when I tried to logon to the limited user account
and I was able to logon.

But unfortunately, changing the Security Log properties to
"Overwrite events as needed" after re-enabling that Audit
setting doesn't fix the problem. Anyone know how I can get
this to work? If not, I guess I'll have to clear the
security log manually when I get locked out.

Happy computing!