Can't logon with password set in installation (or random password, either)

[David C. Vigil]

During installation of xp Professional, I was only
required to enter one password and I did so. The user name
was truncated from my windows 98 user name "HP Autorized
Customer" to "HP Authorized Custom", for which I was
required to enter the password. I assume that this was an
administrator level logon password and user. After
installation and reboot, the "Welcome" screen appears and
calls for a password, which I assumed was the password
that I'd set up when asked in installation. Password won't
work. I've gone to support articles and read "You Are
Prompted to Type a Password After You Upgrade to Windows
XP" and the article describing the Windows XP Recovery
Console and have started the recovery console, read the
setupact.log and found the "Random password for HP
Authorized Custom", which doesn't work to logon either.
When I use the password that I set up on installation, the
words "logging off" appear under the password window.
Also, tried in uppercase - didn't work either. Many
options that I'd expected to encounter in installation
didn't ever appear. Now I dont know whether I have changed
from fat32 or not, since I never saw optioin screen.
You should also be aware that my password is effective to
start the Recovery Console when booting from the Windows
CD, so it was recorded somewhere.
Any thoughts or help?
Thanks,
David C. Vigil

[Sharon F]

On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 17:33:58 -0700, David C. Vigil wrote:

> During installation of xp Professional, I was only
> required to enter one password and I did so. The user name
> was truncated from my windows 98 user name "HP Autorized
> Customer" to "HP Authorized Custom", for which I was
> required to enter the password. I assume that this was an
> administrator level logon password and user. After
> installation and reboot, the "Welcome" screen appears and
> calls for a password, which I assumed was the password
> that I'd set up when asked in installation. Password won't
> work. I've gone to support articles and read "You Are
> Prompted to Type a Password After You Upgrade to Windows
> XP" and the article describing the Windows XP Recovery
> Console and have started the recovery console, read the
> setupact.log and found the "Random password for HP
> Authorized Custom", which doesn't work to logon either.
> When I use the password that I set up on installation, the
> words "logging off" appear under the password window.
> Also, tried in uppercase - didn't work either. Many
> options that I'd expected to encounter in installation
> didn't ever appear. Now I dont know whether I have changed
> from fat32 or not, since I never saw optioin screen.
> You should also be aware that my password is effective to
> start the Recovery Console when booting from the Windows
> CD, so it was recorded somewhere.
> Any thoughts or help?
> Thanks,
> David C. Vigil

Not sure this will work with an OEM install but it's worth a try. When you
get to the Welcome screen, press Ctrl+Alt+Del twice. The Win2000 style
logon box will appear. Type in Administrator as the user name. Type in the
password you created during the installation.

If all goes well, you should end up loggedon with the builtin Administrator
account that is hidden when there are other user accounts available. From
that account, you can get into Control Panel> User Accounts and setup a new
password for the "HP Authorized Custom" account.

If all does not go well, it's time to call HP tech support. OEM recovery
programs are often very different from the standard setup routine for
Windows. The HP customizations to setup and accounts is something that HP
tech support should be very familiar with.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP/ Windows XP - Shell/User