Password screen

[ms]

This is a used W2K computer, was booting with no password screen. Ran
TweakUI for it's useful settings, but it has some default settings I never
use and usually unselect. This time IIRC, logon during boot waa not
unselected. So on the next boot, see a password screen, the previous
owner's password is unknown, left with only option to shut down.

Had just loaded my utilities so ERUNT either saved it's first registry
before I ran TweakUI, or just afterward.

I have the 4 boot disks and emergency disk from my other W2K computer, but
IIRC they are not useful on this machine.

I got into Safe Mode, but then see the password screen.

Tried Safe Mode - Debugging mode, but windows starts with the password
screen.

Since I can't get into the OS, I can't even replace the previous owner's
password with my own.
'

How to remove the password screen on bootup?

ms

 

[Dave Patrick]

You can reset it.

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/



--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Greg Russell]

You can reset it. http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Ah yes, Linux to the M$ user's rescue ... again.

 

[ms]

You can reset it.

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Thanks, Dave.

I got the data on the website, downloaded the floppy, and digested the
data. For me, its involved. Maybe a last resort.

I had run the machine for at least 4 cold boots before TweakUI, did not yet
notice if System Restore was present.

With an othewise working OS, is there any other way to either get to an
earlier registry, or bypass that screen?

ms

 

[Dave Patrick]

It's really the only way short of calling the previous owner or clean
install.



--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Thanks, Dave.

I got the data on the website, downloaded the floppy, and digested the
data. For me, its involved. Maybe a last resort.

I had run the machine for at least 4 cold boots before TweakUI, did not
yet
notice if System Restore was present.

With an othewise working OS, is there any other way to either get to an
earlier registry, or bypass that screen?

ms

You can prevent the automatic logon by holding down a shift key during the
Windows startup process.

The registry file c:\WinNT\repair\Sam holds password but it may be too old
for the purpose. To get replace the current Sam with the old one you need to
access the registry folder in off-line mode. Here are three options:
a) By booting the machine into Recovery Console mode
b) By booting it with a boot CD such as the Bart PE boot CD
c) By connecting the disk as a slave disk to some other WinNT (or higher)
PC.

 

[ms]

You can prevent the automatic logon by holding down a shift key during
the Windows startup process.

Thanks, it works.

Holding down the shift key, I wind up with the user name screen, select OK,
and the OS loads.

It will be a nuisance, but I will have to live with it.

The registry file c:\WinNT\repair\Sam holds password but it may be too
old for the purpose. To get replace the current Sam with the old one
you need to access the registry folder in off-line mode. Here are
three options: a) By booting the machine into Recovery Console mode
b) By booting it with a boot CD such as the Bart PE boot CD
c) By connecting the disk as a slave disk to some other WinNT (or
higher) PC.

You mentioned replacing the current password with an old one. How does that
help as I would want to replace the current password with a new one?

How to boot into Recovery Console? I didn't see that in the F8 setup
screen.

ms

 

[Dave Patrick]

You're original post led us to believe you were locked out.

for an "NT"ish operating system you can run regedit.exe and navigate
to;
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
edit the Reg_Sz string values
"DefaultUserName"
and
"DefaultPassword"
to reflect the correct username and password. (note: the password for an
autologon account can not be blank) and set the Reg_Sz value of
"AutoAdminLogon" to "1"

(if they don't exist then ADD them)

Make sure you know the password for the local administrator account before
doing anything!


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[ms]

You're original post led us to believe you were locked out.

for an "NT"ish operating system you can run regedit.exe and navigate
to;
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
edit the Reg_Sz string values
"DefaultUserName"
and
"DefaultPassword"
to reflect the correct username and password. (note: the password for
an autologon account can not be blank) and set the Reg_Sz value of
"AutoAdminLogon" to "1"

(if they don't exist then ADD them)

Make sure you know the password for the local administrator account
before doing anything!

Yes, I was locked out. The Shift key got it going again. I will save your
post for the future.

Now, on bootup, I see a screen "can't logon with your password", close it,
see the username screen, but *now* I can click OK and the OS loads
normally. As long as it works this way, it's fine. If later I have to
change the old password, I will use the data in this thread.

Thanks to all for the help.

ms