username/password don't work in Safe Mode

[harpo_]

Hi,

I have a PC with XP SP2 pro , but it's some 'customized'
installation.

I have admin rights, and can logon in 'normal' mode without problems.

But if I try to boot in Safe Mode and logon, Windows gives me a
message stating that either username or password are wrong (can't
recall the exact text).
I surely don't mistype username/password as I know them and type them
every time a logon in 'normal' mode.
username/password contain only English letters and numbers - no
special characters, spaces, non-English chars etc.

What could be the problem?
Is it possible an administrator not to be allowed to boot in safe
mode? If yes how to fix this?

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

Hi,

I have a PC with XP SP2 pro , but it's some 'customized'
installation.

I have admin rights, and can logon in 'normal' mode without problems.

But if I try to boot in Safe Mode and logon, Windows gives me a
message stating that either username or password are wrong (can't
recall the exact text).
I surely don't mistype username/password as I know them and type them
every time a logon in 'normal' mode.
username/password contain only English letters and numbers - no
special characters, spaces, non-English chars etc.

What could be the problem?
Is it possible an administrator not to be allowed to boot in safe
mode? If yes how to fix this?

Is this machine a member of a domain?


Malke

 

[Nightowl]

What could be the problem?
Is it possible an administrator not to be allowed to boot in safe
mode? If yes how to fix this?

Hi Harpo

It would really help if you could post the exact text of the error
message you're getting.

 

[Peter Foldes]

harpo

I also would like to know as what Malke asked. This computer is it a member of a domain

 

[harpo_]

yes, it is a member of a domain, I forgot to mention that.
But the problem appears when I'm disconnected too.
As for the error message, I don't remember it exactly (and I'm not on
this PC now to check), but the meaning was either user didn't exist or
password was wrong.

 

[Malke]

yes, it is a member of a domain, I forgot to mention that.
But the problem appears when I'm disconnected too.
As for the error message, I don't remember it exactly (and I'm not on
this PC now to check), but the meaning was either user didn't exist or
password was wrong.

You are trying to log in locally ("This Computer") instead of into your
domain user account. Most domain workstations don't have any local users
except for the built-in Administrator and possibly one for IT. I usually
make a local "tech " account when I'm setting up workstations for a domain.

So your domain user account doesn't exist as a local account which is
why you can't log in. Either you are trying to log into "This Computer"
erroneously (use the drop-down arrow or click "More Options" on the
login screen to change to the domain) or your computer has become
disjoined from the domain.

Contact your company's IT Dept. for help. This is not something you can
handle yourself. If this is a computer that formerly belonged to a
company and you have somehow acquired the machine, you need to do a
clean install of Windows.

If you need more help, you'll need to provide more details. This link
will show you how:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Malke

 

[harpo_]

You are trying to log in locally ("This Computer") instead of into your

domain user account. Most domain workstations don't have any local users
except for the built-in Administrator and possibly one for IT. I usually
make a local "tech " account when I'm setting up workstations for a domain.

So your domain user account doesn't exist as a local account which is
why you can't log in.....

==========

Thanks for the reply Malke.

However I believe my account is local, because I can unplug the LAN
cable, start the machine and logon with my user/pass combination
without any problem.
In fact this is what I usually do, because the machine starts faster
this way (no 'applying security policies' etc., and many useless
applications do not start). Only after the machine fully starts, I
plug the LAN cable in.
So it should be a local account - it could be at the same time a
domain account, not sure as this is the first time I deal with
domains.
My problem is only that my user/pass which work OK when I start XP in
normal mode (with or without LAN cable) do not work when I start it in
Safe mode (with or without LAN cable).
Is it possible safe mode to be disabled for a local admin account?
If yes, it should be possible to fix this as I'm admin, just don't
know where to look.

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the reply Malke.

However I believe my account is local, because I can unplug the LAN
cable, start the machine and logon with my user/pass combination
without any problem.
In fact this is what I usually do, because the machine starts faster
this way (no 'applying security policies' etc., and many useless
applications do not start). Only after the machine fully starts, I
plug the LAN cable in.
So it should be a local account - it could be at the same time a
domain account, not sure as this is the first time I deal with
domains.
My problem is only that my user/pass which work OK when I start XP in
normal mode (with or without LAN cable) do not work when I start it in
Safe mode (with or without LAN cable).
Is it possible safe mode to be disabled for a local admin account?
If yes, it should be possible to fix this as I'm admin, just don't
know where to look.

Windows caches your credentials for when you are away from the domain,
so your assumption that you are logging into a local account is not a
good one. I'm not sure why you are unplugging the network cable either.
If the machine is starting slowly when connected to the domain, your DNS
settings are probably incorrect.

Check with your IT Dept. and have them look at your machine.


Malke