Windows XP Home Logon Error

[Guest]

When I tried to log onto "Owner" on my personal machine running Win XP Home
SP2, I received the following error:

Logon Message
The system cannot log you on due to the following error:
The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted.
Please try again or consult your system administrator.

Win XP was running fine just a week ago which was the last time I logged on
successfully. Since then, I had powered off the computer and it sat idle for
a week. I've tried rebooting in Safe Mode and get the same error with either
"Owner" or "Administrator". I tried last best known configuration to no
avail. I also tried Recovery Consul, but it tells me the Administrator
password is incorrect. I havent changed it from the default, blank, and cant
figure out how it might have been changed. I even tried to repair the WinXP
Home installation from the system disc. Gateway (the manufacturer) said I
need to reformat and reinstall WinXP Home. I'd rather not do that unless I
have to. The computer is connected to a broadband connection. Could this be
malicious activity? Any ideas on how to work around this or am I doomed to
reinstall?

 

[Guest]

Are you connected to any kind of network? Or perhaps ".Net" is giving out the
error. Unfortunately, unless there is some way to remotely log on via a
network with administrator privileges, you may end up having to reinstall.
Did you change the computer name or change the group name the last time you
were using the computer?

 

[GTS]

Take a look at "How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents
Windows XP from starting"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/EN-US/

 

[Guest]

That is a good document to keep handy, thanks for the link.

 

[Guest]

Found this too, How to log on to WinXP if you lost your password or it
expired. (I hoe it's not this easy in real life! : ) )
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321305

 

[GTS]

You're welcome.

--

That is a good document to keep handy, thanks for the link.