XP Pro log on problems

[Ratbert]

Oh dear. I was messing around with a borrowed laptop and
was trying some networking things on it. Anyway one of the
things the trouble shooter listed as a possible problem
was the domain or workgroup the laptop was trying to log
on to. This was to access files on another computer on my
LAN, I could log onto windows fine at this point.

Anyway, I changed the domain of laptop to the workgroup.
Then I had to restart. Now I can't logon to windows.
Previously I had the full log in screen with the domain
etc. Now I have the Logon To Windows logon screen, with
fields for just username and password. How do I get back
in? My username and password don't work now. I had full
admininstrator rights, although I wasn't *the*
administrator.

But it is really my dads work laptop. He doesn't use it
much, but he won't be able to now.

How can I get back into windows? All I need to do is to be
able to change the domain back, just to log on.

I'm begging somebody to help.

 

[Ratbert]

Now that the hysteria has passed, I can offer a bit more
information in the hope that somebody has the answer.

It seems that what I used before was a Domain log-in, what
I need now is a local log-in.

What confuses me is that the domain log-in worked even
though the computer was seperated from the works network.
I could just turn it on at home and mash in the password
and it would work.

Can't do that anymore. I have come across some utilities
that will reset the administrator password. Will I find an
administrator local account? If so, I should be able to
reset the password on it, log-on locally as the
administrator, change back from the work group to the
domain and then use my original log-in right?

Is there a simpler way of doing this?

And finally a side point: for those who are network admins
out there, how angry would you be at somebody who changed
the administrator password to blank? Bear in mind that I
did have administrator rights with my domain log-in, so it
isn't like I breached security. I just locked myself out.

 

[Guest]

I got the same problem with my laptop. Please share with
me if you find out a way out of this.

My laptop was part of my old work domain. I accidently
changed it to join a workgroup. I did not have admin
rights to the laptop and don't think I had a local user
account either. If I could make it join back to the
domain and somehow logon using my old domain credentials
that would be great. Otherwise, if I can somehow reset
local user name and password that would be great as well.

Regards,

HH

 

[Ratbert]

Not sure yet about getting back on to the original domain,
but I can get you back on to the laptop. I went here:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm
and downloaded Austrumi. Burned it to disc and then used
it to boot up from. It allowed me to blank the
administrator password, meaning that I could at least get
onto the computer. Being away from the entire network
means I can't log on to the domain.

However, getting back into windows is a start. At least
then I can make changes. Hope this helps at least a bit.