15 replies to this topic

[hawk62]

good day.fixing dell for friend.when starting winxp,error message "the system could not log you on.make sure your user name and domain are correct,then type your password again.letters must be typed using the correct case" shows up instantly in front of log in box.i've cleared bios password so that's not it.even trying to enter safe mode it shows up.put hard drive in my machine and scanned for viruses but ok.any suggestions?thanks.hawk62

[Man'n'Black-4xp]

Did you try the f10\f2?
is this before windows comes up?

[Broni]

More info is needed.
What did lead to this situation?
Was the computer removed from a domain by any chance?

[hawk62]

don't know what led to problem.person told me yahoo email account was infected.scans show no infection.have tried f2 thinking it was referring to bios password which i cleared by removing jumper om motherboard.when booting,xp logo appears starting to load.next,the error message box appears over top of login box.i click ok,try to login but can't.it wants user name and password but was told he didn't recall using one (pc has been in closet for a few years).Broni,i'm wondering about the domain possibility too,but am not familiar with that,have googled and read up on it but don't know how to go about checking plus can't get into system.ran ubuntu alongside windows to extract sam file to see if i could recover password but i'm trying to figure out process.think i need a floppy to copy to.thanks guys.any more suggestions will be greatly appreciated.terry.

[Broni]

There are several ways to reset XP password.
Give them a spin:
http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/
http://www.howtogeek...cd-for-windows/

[hawk62]

usb boot option isn't listed in boot options.how can i boot from cd ? i was going to scan with av but when couldn't open cd tray while it was starting up.is there another way to open the cd tray?

[Broni]

Hold the button on CD tray while computer starting.
It should open at some point.

[Man'n'Black-4xp]

Quote

up.is there another way to open the cd tray?

Paper clip, poked in the hole in front panel of the cd...In the gx 270 you have to pop off the decorative piece.

[hawk62]

ok.changed out cd-rom.i think chassis button wasn't making contact with button on cd-rom.have power now to use cd to reset password hopefully.which program to reset password is best to use?any suggestions?

[Broni]

I used the tool form the first link successfully on couple of occasions.

[hawk62]

did try that link and burned image but wouldn't boot to it.i'll burn another disc to see if something went wrong with first one.thanks for the help.

[Broni]

Make sure you use appropriate burning program to make the CD bootable: http://neosmart.net/...+to+a+CD+or+DVD
Personally I use ImgBurn.
Make sure you use CDR not CDRW.

[hawk62]

just my luck.cd i burned that i screwed up happened to be my last blank one.found a floppy so i'll try a reset program on that.noticed the cd-rom wasn't original one for the p.c. and when i took it out of chassis i was able to power it up.that case has a button that is supposed to make contact with the button on the cd-rom to power it up but wasn't.i'm still wondering why it mentioned domain in login error message.although it has xp pro,i see a product key sticker on the case for win 2000.thanks for the help and i'll post back with results.she's only got a couple months left due to cancer.she can't get out of house that often now so i'm giving her the p.c so she can skype with family and friends.thanks a lot.terry.

[Broni]

I'm really sorry to hear about her very sad situation....

[hawk62]

success.couldn't boot from floppy.i think the drive is bad.found a Hiren's boot cd i had made a few years ago.was able to delete account password.typed in administrator without password and was able to launch into windows.now just a bit of tinkering and some updates and all will be good.thanks for the help.

[Broni]

Good news :)