My solution

[Amy]

I'm just following up here on this problem. I never did
find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to XP
with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to logon
by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
Administrator account that way either. I never
passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had to
do, even though everyone in any kind of a support capcity
told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop and
accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD & then
reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was when
I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear of
runs into same problem that I had.

Thanks, Amy

[Shenan T. Stanley]

So.. You did what everyone told you to do..

But how did you access your files? Did it ask for a username/password when
you mapped to your computer using the network or did you have open shares
where EVERYONE had read rights at the very least?

Most people would not have an option to map to their computer - because on
one that doesn't already have an obvious security hole - you shouldn't be
able to access your old files..


"Amy" <> wrote in message :
> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never did
> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to XP
> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to logon
> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
> Administrator account that way either. I never
> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had to
> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support capcity
> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop and
> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD & then
> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was when
> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear of
> runs into same problem that I had.
>
> Thanks, Amy
>

[Amy]

No. I did not do what everyone told me to do. All support
people told me to just reformat my computer, therefore
losing all of my information. My laptop came preloaded
with XP. I loaded Win2000 as a 2nd OS, which let me into
my files at long last. Then I copied them off to CD.
After I rescued my precious files from the clutches of
the evil XP then I reformatted my computer and started
new, only I had my files in hand on CD, ready to
reinstall. I could not go through my network to get my
computer as it was not showing up since I could not logon
to XP in any way shape or form.

Amy


>-----Original Message-----
>So.. You did what everyone told you to do..
>
>But how did you access your files? Did it ask for a
username/password when
>you mapped to your computer using the network or did you
have open shares
>where EVERYONE had read rights at the very least?
>
>Most people would not have an option to map to their
computer - because on
>one that doesn't already have an obvious security hole -
you shouldn't be
>able to access your old files..
>
>
>"Amy" <> wrote in message :
>> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never
did
>> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to
XP
>> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to
logon
>> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
>> Administrator account that way either. I never
>> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
>> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
>> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
>> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had
to
>> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support
capcity
>> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
>> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop
and
>> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD &
then
>> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was
when
>> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear
of
>> runs into same problem that I had.
>>
>> Thanks, Amy
>>
>
>
>.
>

[Shenan T. Stanley]

Ah - yes.. Installing a 2nd version of XP would have worked too.

Or a repair installation - did no one suggest a repair installation?

"Amy" > wrote in message
...
> No. I did not do what everyone told me to do. All support
> people told me to just reformat my computer, therefore
> losing all of my information. My laptop came preloaded
> with XP. I loaded Win2000 as a 2nd OS, which let me into
> my files at long last. Then I copied them off to CD.
> After I rescued my precious files from the clutches of
> the evil XP then I reformatted my computer and started
> new, only I had my files in hand on CD, ready to
> reinstall. I could not go through my network to get my
> computer as it was not showing up since I could not logon
> to XP in any way shape or form.
>
> Amy
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >So.. You did what everyone told you to do..
> >
> >But how did you access your files? Did it ask for a
> username/password when
> >you mapped to your computer using the network or did you
> have open shares
> >where EVERYONE had read rights at the very least?
> >
> >Most people would not have an option to map to their
> computer - because on
> >one that doesn't already have an obvious security hole -
> you shouldn't be
> >able to access your old files..
> >
> >
> >"Amy" <> wrote in message :
> >> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never
> did
> >> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to
> XP
> >> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to
> logon
> >> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
> >> Administrator account that way either. I never
> >> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
> >> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
> >> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
> >> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had
> to
> >> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support
> capcity
> >> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
> >> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop
> and
> >> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD &
> then
> >> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was
> when
> >> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear
> of
> >> runs into same problem that I had.
> >>
> >> Thanks, Amy
> >>
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[Amy]

Nope. I tried the repair option on my own and it didn't
work either...just the 2nd OS. I was going to try a 2nd
version of XP but you can't do that without setting up
another partition which would have wiped out my hard
drive right? I couldn't get to a place where I could set
it to install to another folder so I opted for the
Windows2000 which worked like a charm.

>-----Original Message-----
>Ah - yes.. Installing a 2nd version of XP would have
worked too.
>
>Or a repair installation - did no one suggest a repair
installation?
>
>"Amy" > wrote in message
...
>> No. I did not do what everyone told me to do. All
support
>> people told me to just reformat my computer, therefore
>> losing all of my information. My laptop came preloaded
>> with XP. I loaded Win2000 as a 2nd OS, which let me
into
>> my files at long last. Then I copied them off to CD.
>> After I rescued my precious files from the clutches of
>> the evil XP then I reformatted my computer and started
>> new, only I had my files in hand on CD, ready to
>> reinstall. I could not go through my network to get my
>> computer as it was not showing up since I could not
logon
>> to XP in any way shape or form.
>>
>> Amy
>>
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >So.. You did what everyone told you to do..
>> >
>> >But how did you access your files? Did it ask for a
>> username/password when
>> >you mapped to your computer using the network or did
you
>> have open shares
>> >where EVERYONE had read rights at the very least?
>> >
>> >Most people would not have an option to map to their
>> computer - because on
>> >one that doesn't already have an obvious security
hole -
>> you shouldn't be
>> >able to access your old files..
>> >
>> >
>> >"Amy" <> wrote in message :
>> >> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never
>> did
>> >> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon
to
>> XP
>> >> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to
>> logon
>> >> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
>> >> Administrator account that way either. I never
>> >> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where
it
>> >> came from. I tried everything I could think of,
even
>> >> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a
password on
>> >> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally
had
>> to
>> >> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support
>> capcity
>> >> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose
all
>> >> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop
>> and
>> >> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD &
>> then
>> >> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was
>> when
>> >> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you
hear
>> of
>> >> runs into same problem that I had.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks, Amy
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

[JB]

I had a similar problem a few weeks back after installing WinVNC (whether
this was the problem or not im not sure).

At the time it was set to fast user switching with no passwords, after a
reboot i could only log on with the guest account.

To cut a long story short after trying everything under the sun (including
banging my head repeatedly against the desk) I eventually tried booting into
safe mode with networking which finally allowed me to log back on as
administrator, from here i did more of everything (more head banging) and
finally thought of checking policys (control panel, administrative tools,
local security policys), for some reason my user (even though it had
previously been set as an admistrator) had been removed from not only the
"Administrators" group but also all "log on" rights and added to "Deny Logon
Locally"

Moral of the story is always set an administrator password (a user password
is always good to), and always turn of fast user switching.

Not sure whether this was the problem or similar to the problem you were
experiencing, but its always good to know something else to try.

Ive grown to hate XP over the last 6 months, to the point that i refused to
even try installing it on my work PC, settling instead for 2000 (one of the
advantages of been a computer support technician is that you can get away
with installing/reinstalling your work machine without having to phone
anyone up to do it for you ;o) ).

"Amy" > wrote in message
...
> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never did
> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to XP
> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to logon
> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
> Administrator account that way either. I never
> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had to
> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support capcity
> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop and
> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD & then
> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was when
> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear of
> runs into same problem that I had.
>
> Thanks, Amy
>

[Amy]

Well you were able to get further into XP than I was. I
couldn't logon at all...period. I could go in through the
repair console however and see that my files were there,
which was in a way comforting yet so very frustrating
since with NTFS you cannot copy your own files to a CD. I
was getting the message another security message that I
was able to remove by using the repair console, but was
still not able to logon to XP. No one anywhere was any
help to me at all. I researched and read and cried and
contemplated throwing my laptop at the wall numerous
times, but somewhere along the line stumbled upon
something that gave me the 2nd OS idea. I was not going
to use the standard "you'll just have to reformat it"
line that most support people hand out. Persistance does
pay off...*S*

>-----Original Message-----
>I had a similar problem a few weeks back after
installing WinVNC (whether
>this was the problem or not im not sure).
>
>At the time it was set to fast user switching with no
passwords, after a
>reboot i could only log on with the guest account.
>
>To cut a long story short after trying everything under
the sun (including
>banging my head repeatedly against the desk) I
eventually tried booting into
>safe mode with networking which finally allowed me to
log back on as
>administrator, from here i did more of everything (more
head banging) and
>finally thought of checking policys (control panel,
administrative tools,
>local security policys), for some reason my user (even
though it had
>previously been set as an admistrator) had been removed
from not only the
>"Administrators" group but also all "log on" rights and
added to "Deny Logon
>Locally"
>
>Moral of the story is always set an administrator
password (a user password
>is always good to), and always turn of fast user
switching.
>
>Not sure whether this was the problem or similar to the
problem you were
>experiencing, but its always good to know something else
to try.
>
>Ive grown to hate XP over the last 6 months, to the
point that i refused to
>even try installing it on my work PC, settling instead
for 2000 (one of the
>advantages of been a computer support technician is that
you can get away
>with installing/reinstalling your work machine without
having to phone
>anyone up to do it for you ;o) ).
>
>"Amy" > wrote in message
...
>> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never
did
>> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to
XP
>> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to
logon
>> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
>> Administrator account that way either. I never
>> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
>> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
>> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
>> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had
to
>> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support
capcity
>> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
>> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop
and
>> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD &
then
>> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was
when
>> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear
of
>> runs into same problem that I had.
>>
>> Thanks, Amy
>>
>
>
>.
>

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Amy,

Just an FYI. Never leave administrative accounts
without a password. In that state you system is
wide open - basically anyone that can get to your
machine, either via the network or the keyboard,
can set passwords on each and every account they
wish to, effectively locking you out and making your
machine theirs.

Also, sorry I was not around, as there are tools to
set a password, which would have gotten you an
admin account login, and you could then have started
taking back control (or actually, assessing if that
course is feasible or whether the machine is trojaned).

Roger
"Amy" > wrote in message
...
> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never did
> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to XP
> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to logon
> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
> Administrator account that way either. I never
> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had to
> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support capcity
> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop and
> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD & then
> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was when
> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear of
> runs into same problem that I had.
>
> Thanks, Amy
>

[Amy]

Hi Roger,

I'm very curious now. What tools are you referring to?
Please let me know.

Thanks,
Amy

>-----Original Message-----
>Amy,
>
>Just an FYI. Never leave administrative accounts
>without a password. In that state you system is
>wide open - basically anyone that can get to your
>machine, either via the network or the keyboard,
>can set passwords on each and every account they
>wish to, effectively locking you out and making your
>machine theirs.
>
>Also, sorry I was not around, as there are tools to
>set a password, which would have gotten you an
>admin account login, and you could then have started
>taking back control (or actually, assessing if that
>course is feasible or whether the machine is trojaned).
>
>Roger
>"Amy" > wrote in message
...
>> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never
did
>> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to
XP
>> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to
logon
>> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
>> Administrator account that way either. I never
>> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
>> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
>> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
>> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had
to
>> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support
capcity
>> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
>> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop
and
>> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD &
then
>> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was
when
>> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear
of
>> runs into same problem that I had.
>>
>> Thanks, Amy
>>
>
>
>.
>

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

These are from third-parties, both commercial and free.
see http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm
(the big bold one in section 4)

"Amy" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Roger,
>
> I'm very curious now. What tools are you referring to?
> Please let me know.
>
> Thanks,
> Amy
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Amy,
> >
> >Just an FYI. Never leave administrative accounts
> >without a password. In that state you system is
> >wide open - basically anyone that can get to your
> >machine, either via the network or the keyboard,
> >can set passwords on each and every account they
> >wish to, effectively locking you out and making your
> >machine theirs.
> >
> >Also, sorry I was not around, as there are tools to
> >set a password, which would have gotten you an
> >admin account login, and you could then have started
> >taking back control (or actually, assessing if that
> >course is feasible or whether the machine is trojaned).
> >
> >Roger
> >"Amy" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I'm just following up here on this problem. I never
> did
> >> find out what the cause was, but I could not logon to
> XP
> >> with any combination of passwords. I wasn't able to
> logon
> >> by pressing "control alt delete" and using the
> >> Administrator account that way either. I never
> >> passworded any of my accounts so I don't know where it
> >> came from. I tried everything I could think of, even
> >> NTAccess special demo to see if there was a password on
> >> the Guest account. There was not. What I finally had
> to
> >> do, even though everyone in any kind of a support
> capcity
> >> told me that I would just have to reformat and lose all
> >> my information, I installed Windows2000 on my laptop
> and
> >> accessed my files that way, copying them off to CD &
> then
> >> reformatted it, restoring it back to the way it was
> when
> >> I bought it. Just an FYI in case anyone else you hear
> of
> >> runs into same problem that I had.
> >>
> >> Thanks, Amy
> >>
> >
> >
> >.
> >