Windows Login password fails. Can switch user without getting login screen and bypass password !?!?!

[Dooger]

I have had the same problem as others in this group with XP randomly
asking for a password. I have two user accounts one with a password
and one without. It is annoying and sometimes logging off and on fixes
this or rebooting will.

The last time it happened my wife was on the user account without a
password and I tried logging into the account with the password and I
couldn't (password wouldn't enter as before). I logged back into the
my wife's account. I then used Process Explorer to see what processes
were running that may be causing the problem and I found nothing
definitive. I then stopped all the processes running under the
password account thinking I could log back in that way.

Here's the funny part, when I switched user I didn't get the login
screen I got a blank desktop with the password accounts wallpaper (no
icons or task bar). I then hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and went file/run/explorer
and guess what, I was into the account???!!!???

 

[Guest]

If XP has two or more users, even a blank password account should ask for a
password on logon. All it is supposed to take is hitting enter, or OK, but it
should ask, as expected behavior.
One way I can see to arrive at your condition is to upgrade to XP from
win2k, having the autologon already in place. Another is to use the command
from start/run: 'control userpassword2'. This calls up a utility that has a
checkbox and wizard to set some one account to autologon. You might consider
using userpasswords2 to toggle this option on and off, to see what happens.

 

[Dooger]

I have run that utility a number of times without success. I started
having the problem around November. As with many others it is random,
I can go for a week or so without problem and then sometimes it will
happen several times in a day. Sometimes I can get into one login
account and not the other sometimes I can't get into either and have
to reboot. I reinstalled XP 5 or 6 weeks ago on a reformatted hard
drive hoping to solve the problem (I hate doing that). Got all the
updates available and within a week it started happening again. As
many others have reported it seems to have started after doing updates
around the end of October beginning of November. Other common issues
seem to be multiple accounts and fastuser switching. It also appears
to be random with everyone and most everyone seems to have tried the
'control userpassword2' to fix the problem without success.

The thing that shocked me the most was when this happens, that running
the Process Explorer utility (I suppose task manager would do the same
thing) and ending all the processes under the users account that would
not except the password, I am able to switch users and get direct
access the users desktop without getting to the login screen. I can
then start Task Manager and run/explorer and I am into the account. I
have done this successfully twice now both times I have attempted it.
I haven't had the problem for a few days so I am not sure if it will
happen every time or not.