Log-on problem

[Raymond S. Wise]

One of my brothers is visiting here in Minnesota and told me about a problem
that recently developed with his computer. The following lacks some details,
but that is because (1) my brother is away from his computer and is relating
the situation from memory and (2) he's staying at our mom's apartment and
I'm back at my apartment posting this from my computer, based upon the notes
I took when I talked to him about the matter.

The situation:

He is running Windows XP Home Edition on his computer.

Normally, when he boots up he is presented with two choices, represented by
two icons. The second one is for "guest," which he never uses. Via the other
he enters his log-in name and password.

One day recently the introductory screen came up with only the icon for the
guest showing. The icon for the log-in name was gone.

After some fiddling (involving Ctrl-Alt-Del), he is presented with the
administrator dialog box, but it does not accept his password.

After some additional fiddling, he comes across a box which accepts his
log-in name and password, but this opened only a guest account, not one with
administrator privileges.

 

[Muhammad Usman]

The introductory screen is called Welcome Screen. The administrator dialog
box will accept password of the administrator account not his account.
Someone may have change your borhters account level.

 

[Alex Nichol]

He is running Windows XP Home Edition on his computer.

Normally, when he boots up he is presented with two choices, represented by
two icons. The second one is for "guest," which he never uses. Via the other
he enters his log-in name and password.

One day recently the introductory screen came up with only the icon for the
guest showing. The icon for the log-in name was gone.

Boot to Safe mode by hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to black.
Administrator will be on the Welcome screen. Use it and assume the
password has been left blank.
From that Start - run the line
control userpasswords2
You should find the account showing - if Users must give a password is
not checked, check it. Highlight the Account, Properties, and on the
Group page select it as a member of the Administrators group.