Guest krisani Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 My daughter runs XP Pro and cannot get into her PC because, out of the blue, when she switches on Windows wants a password. She has never been asked this before and doesn't have p/w???
Guest Curt Christianson Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? What happens i she ignore the password request, and just hits "Enter" without one? -- HTH, Curt Windows Support Center http://www.aumha.org Practically Nerded,... http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:22070565-DB83-46D5-A2D9-B6A83256DE10@microsoft.com... | My daughter runs XP Pro and cannot get into her PC because, out of the blue, | when she switches on Windows wants a password. She has never been asked this | before and doesn't have p/w???
Guest krisani Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? Nothing. What's more it is asking for a 'username' and password. She has never had to fill this in before. It was working fine this morning??? "Curt Christianson" wrote: > What happens i she ignore the password request, and just hits "Enter" > without one? > > -- > HTH, > Curt > > Windows Support Center > http://www.aumha.org > Practically Nerded,... > http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm > > "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:22070565-DB83-46D5-A2D9-B6A83256DE10@microsoft.com... > | My daughter runs XP Pro and cannot get into her PC because, out of the > blue, > | when she switches on Windows wants a password. She has never been asked > this > | before and doesn't have p/w??? > > >
Guest Gordon Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:8F9BB304-50BB-4A36-BBE6-D0B4BF67DA4F@microsoft.com... > Nothing. What's more it is asking for a 'username' the username is the name of her account...... > and password. And if she has never set one then there isn't one....
Guest Alan Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? Hi Curt, Try this. Click Start | Run and type "control userpasswords2" (without the quotes) in the Open: window. In the General Tab near the top there is a line that reads: "Users must enter a name and password to use this computer." If there is a tick mark in the check box next to this line, de-select it, and click on the Apply and OK buttons. Reboot and see if this fixes it. Alan "Curt Christianson" <curtchristnsn@NOSPAM.Yahoo.com> wrote in message news:%23qDWv6syHHA.4820@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > What happens i she ignore the password request, and just hits "Enter" > without one? > > -- > HTH, > Curt > > Windows Support Center > http://www.aumha.org > Practically Nerded,... > http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm > > "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:22070565-DB83-46D5-A2D9-B6A83256DE10@microsoft.com... > | My daughter runs XP Pro and cannot get into her PC because, out of the > blue, > | when she switches on Windows wants a password. She has never been asked > this > | before and doesn't have p/w??? > >
Guest Alan Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? Hi krisani, I meant to address my reply to you rather than to Curt Christianson. Please see my instructions in that reply to him. Alan "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:8F9BB304-50BB-4A36-BBE6-D0B4BF67DA4F@microsoft.com... > Nothing. What's more it is asking for a 'username' and password. She has > never had to fill this in before. It was working fine this morning??? > > "Curt Christianson" wrote: > >> What happens i she ignore the password request, and just hits "Enter" >> without one? >> >> -- >> HTH, >> Curt >> >> Windows Support Center >> http://www.aumha.org >> Practically Nerded,... >> http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm >> >> "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:22070565-DB83-46D5-A2D9-B6A83256DE10@microsoft.com... >> | My daughter runs XP Pro and cannot get into her PC because, out of the >> blue, >> | when she switches on Windows wants a password. She has never been asked >> this >> | before and doesn't have p/w??? >> >> >>
Guest krisani Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? Hi Alan, Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those details. Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. "Alan" wrote: > Hi Curt, > > Try this. Click Start | Run and type "control userpasswords2" (without the > quotes) in the Open: window. > > In the General Tab near the top there is a line that reads: "Users must > enter a name and password to use this computer." If there is a tick mark in > the check box next to this line, de-select it, and click on the Apply and OK > buttons. > > Reboot and see if this fixes it. > > Alan > > "Curt Christianson" <curtchristnsn@NOSPAM.Yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:%23qDWv6syHHA.4820@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > > What happens i she ignore the password request, and just hits "Enter" > > without one? > > > > -- > > HTH, > > Curt > > > > Windows Support Center > > http://www.aumha.org > > Practically Nerded,... > > http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm > > > > "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > > news:22070565-DB83-46D5-A2D9-B6A83256DE10@microsoft.com... > > | My daughter runs XP Pro and cannot get into her PC because, out of the > > blue, > > | when she switches on Windows wants a password. She has never been asked > > this > > | before and doesn't have p/w??? > > > > > > >
Guest Gordon Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:649F943B-AE05-467D-A2B7-FCBAA408CE46@microsoft.com... > Hi Alan, > > Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those details. > Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. If a password has never been set, then just press "enter".....
Guest Jim Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? "Gordon" <gbplinux@gmail.com.invalid> wrote in message news:emTtUFwyHHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:649F943B-AE05-467D-A2B7-FCBAA408CE46@microsoft.com... >> Hi Alan, >> >> Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those details. >> Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. > > If a password has never been set, then just press "enter"..... > Is it possible that, by now, the number of failed login attempts have caused XP to lock the account? If so, then the OP should try logging into the administrator account in Safe Mode. Jim
Guest krisani Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? Yes Gordon, thanks for that. I get the message - if a password has not been set, Windows cannot ask for one? Unfortunately I, as I am sure are you, am aware that logic does not always follow with any PC related problem. This morning my daughters PC worked fine. She had a problem with her internet connection playing up so she did what you or I might do - viz. she switched the 'damn' thing off and started again. When the PC tried to start up (XP Pro) it asked for a username and password, something that it had never asked for before because one has not been set. "Gordon" wrote: > "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:649F943B-AE05-467D-A2B7-FCBAA408CE46@microsoft.com... > > Hi Alan, > > > > Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those details. > > Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. > > If a password has never been set, then just press "enter"..... > > >
Guest Elmo Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? krisani wrote: > Yes Gordon, thanks for that. I get the message - if a password has not been > set, Windows cannot ask for one? Unfortunately I, as I am sure are you, am > aware that logic does not always follow with any PC related problem. > This morning my daughters PC worked fine. She had a problem with her > internet connection playing up so she did what you or I might do - viz. she > switched the 'damn' thing off and started again. When the PC tried to start > up (XP Pro) it asked for a username and password, something that it had never > asked for before because one has not been set. > > "Gordon" wrote: > >> "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:649F943B-AE05-467D-A2B7-FCBAA408CE46@microsoft.com... >>> Hi Alan, >>> >>> Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those details. >>> Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. >> If a password has never been set, then just press "enter"..... So, the default user name is probably damaged. Start in Safe Mode, and select the Administrator account. Then use Control Panel's Users applet to change the account, make a new account, or whatever it takes to get it going. Once a new account is up and running, ask for advice on moving the preferences from the old account to the new account. I've seen the subject mentioned here, just don't know the details myself. hth, -- Joe =o)
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:7077754B-5C86-4065-BF41-34115E82BECE@microsoft.com... > Yes Gordon, thanks for that. I get the message - if a password has not > been > set, Windows cannot ask for one? Unfortunately I, as I am sure are you, am > aware that logic does not always follow with any PC related problem. > This morning my daughters PC worked fine. She had a problem with her > internet connection playing up so she did what you or I might do - viz. > she > switched the 'damn' thing off and started again. When the PC tried to > start > up (XP Pro) it asked for a username and password, something that it had > never > asked for before because one has not been set. It does sometimes happen that XP suddenly decides an account had a password, and asks for it. This isn't really a good sign for the condition of the system or account, but you should be able to restart in Safe Mode, (assuming it's XP Home), go to the Administrator account, and then remove the password from the user account. Restart in regular mode and all should be well, but take it as a sign to check your backups. HTH -pk > > "Gordon" wrote: > >> "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:649F943B-AE05-467D-A2B7-FCBAA408CE46@microsoft.com... >> > Hi Alan, >> > >> > Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those >> > details. >> > Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. >> >> If a password has never been set, then just press "enter"..... >> >> >>
Guest krisani Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? Thanks Patrick. I keep telling her about backups - but at 32yrs they still know better! We'll try that and let you know if it's successful. Regards, Krisani. "Patrick Keenan" wrote: > "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:7077754B-5C86-4065-BF41-34115E82BECE@microsoft.com... > > Yes Gordon, thanks for that. I get the message - if a password has not > > been > > set, Windows cannot ask for one? Unfortunately I, as I am sure are you, am > > aware that logic does not always follow with any PC related problem. > > This morning my daughters PC worked fine. She had a problem with her > > internet connection playing up so she did what you or I might do - viz. > > she > > switched the 'damn' thing off and started again. When the PC tried to > > start > > up (XP Pro) it asked for a username and password, something that it had > > never > > asked for before because one has not been set. > > > It does sometimes happen that XP suddenly decides an account had a password, > and asks for it. This isn't really a good sign for the condition of the > system or account, but you should be able to restart in Safe Mode, (assuming > it's XP Home), go to the Administrator account, and then remove the password > from the user account. > > Restart in regular mode and all should be well, but take it as a sign to > check your backups. > > HTH > -pk > > > > > > "Gordon" wrote: > > > >> "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> news:649F943B-AE05-467D-A2B7-FCBAA408CE46@microsoft.com... > >> > Hi Alan, > >> > > >> > Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those > >> > details. > >> > Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. > >> > >> If a password has never been set, then just press "enter"..... > >> > >> > >> > > >
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted July 22, 2007 Posted July 22, 2007 Re: XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one? "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F25D33AC-3FE6-48ED-806F-C2500526A5AE@microsoft.com... > Thanks Patrick. I keep telling her about backups - but at 32yrs they still > know better! We'll try that and let you know if it's successful. > Regards, > > Krisani. Sorry, I neglected to mention one other thing, though it only applies to XP Pro, and then, it's only a problem if the user invoked encryption (not available on XP Home), and if the user didn't back up the account certificates - as many don't. Changing the password as described will instantly cause encrypted data to be permanently lost. It'll still be there, but it can never be decrypted. Of course, the fact that the account was probably damaged made it likely that the data was already gone. The only thing to do in that case is to import the account certificates from the backups. If they weren't made, all you can do is move on. HTH -pk > > "Patrick Keenan" wrote: > >> "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:7077754B-5C86-4065-BF41-34115E82BECE@microsoft.com... >> > Yes Gordon, thanks for that. I get the message - if a password has not >> > been >> > set, Windows cannot ask for one? Unfortunately I, as I am sure are you, >> > am >> > aware that logic does not always follow with any PC related problem. >> > This morning my daughters PC worked fine. She had a problem with her >> > internet connection playing up so she did what you or I might do - viz. >> > she >> > switched the 'damn' thing off and started again. When the PC tried to >> > start >> > up (XP Pro) it asked for a username and password, something that it had >> > never >> > asked for before because one has not been set. >> >> >> It does sometimes happen that XP suddenly decides an account had a >> password, >> and asks for it. This isn't really a good sign for the condition of the >> system or account, but you should be able to restart in Safe Mode, >> (assuming >> it's XP Home), go to the Administrator account, and then remove the >> password >> from the user account. >> >> Restart in regular mode and all should be well, but take it as a sign to >> check your backups. >> >> HTH >> -pk >> >> >> > >> > "Gordon" wrote: >> > >> >> "krisani" <krisani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> >> news:649F943B-AE05-467D-A2B7-FCBAA408CE46@microsoft.com... >> >> > Hi Alan, >> >> > >> >> > Thanks for the info but XP will not load because it wants those >> >> > details. >> >> > Thus she can't get as far as the 'run' command. >> >> >> >> If a password has never been set, then just press "enter"..... >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
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