Windows login screen - HELP!

[Mike D.]

Hi, we recently opened a new real estate office and are drawing many
new agents to our business (a good thing). However, one of the new
agents came from a broker that had established a domain and password
(the password was originally blank). The new agent tried to eliminate
the 'Log on to Windows' window and changed something (she doesn't
remember what) in attempt to eliminate this login screen. Now she
can't get into anything. No matter what we try, this login screen will
not let us pass (message: "The system could not log you on. Make sure
your user name and domain are correct ....") The old administrator is
not available for help (thought he might have setup an admin. password)
but no help. I have even tried to restart in safe mode, but this login
screen still appears. She desparately needs the information on her
computer. How can I bypass or eliminate this screen to get her system
up and going. Her system OS is XP Professional running on a Dell (if
that makes any difference). I need your help as soon as possible - she
is dead in the water. Any assistance to get her up and running again
will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks ....
Mike D.

 

[myweb]

Hello Mike D.,

Look here for reset the local admin pw

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Best regards

myweb
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

You have told us much about what is not there, but to really
help we need to know what is. For example, there was an
account that could be used, but trying this account now does
not work? and you are sure the account and its password
are being entered correctly?
Only one account is available to try ?
Is the machine in a domain ? If so ask the admins from the
central domain. Can you tell us anything of what she did ?

 

[Mike D.]

You have told us much about what is not there, but to really
help we need to know what is. For example, there was an
account that could be used, but trying this account now does
not work? and you are sure the account and its password
are being entered correctly?
Only one account is available to try ?
Is the machine in a domain ? If so ask the admins from the
central domain. Can you tell us anything of what she did ?

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

??? did I miss something here ?

 

[Mike D.]

??? did I miss something here ?

I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can:
(1) Originally the 'account' was set up by a past administrator who,
again, is not available.
She simply turned on her system and hit enter to wake up the system
and go directly to the typical
Windoes screen. Her username was already entered and she never used a
password (blank).
(2) The correct account and password are suspect, although her
contention is 'that's the way it always was'.
This is the primary reason that I need to bypass this 'Log on to
Windows' screen to get her system
to go directly to 'Start'.
(3) This is a one user system (especially now). This system never was
set
up for multiple users. (
4) The machine is not in a domain as far as I can tell (no 3rd
pulldown box on the login)
although the machine might possibly think it is. And finally,
(5) I wish I did know what she did. I might be able
to backtrack her keystrokes, or at the very least, provide additional
information.
Again, thanks for you help, Roger. I really appreciate your
effort to resolve this issue.

Mike D.

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can:
(1) Originally the 'account' was set up by a past administrator who,
again, is not available.
She simply turned on her system and hit enter to wake up the system
and go directly to the typical
Windoes screen. Her username was already entered and she never used a
password (blank).
(2) The correct account and password are suspect, although her
contention is 'that's the way it always was'.
This is the primary reason that I need to bypass this 'Log on to
Windows' screen to get her system
to go directly to 'Start'.
(3) This is a one user system (especially now). This system never was
set
up for multiple users. (
4) The machine is not in a domain as far as I can tell (no 3rd
pulldown box on the login)
although the machine might possibly think it is. And finally,
(5) I wish I did know what she did. I might be able
to backtrack her keystrokes, or at the very least, provide additional
information.
Again, thanks for you help, Roger. I really appreciate your
effort to resolve this issue.

Mike D.

Well, it sounds like the machine is pretty much in an unknown
state and with no way to even see what accounts are defined.
You could try one of the password setting codes to see if you
can get contol over login via the built-in admin account and
then take things from there.
The poster "myweb" has already provided link to one of the
most common such codes, or you can drill in to Karl's listing
at http://securityadmin.info
I needed to hear that this is not domain joined and that you
are otherwise roadblocked before making such recommendation.