Windows Log In Problem

Pardon the stupidity of the user (me) but I have apparently created a problem
which I can not solve. My laptop was previously associated with a domain used
at our old offices. For the past 2 years, the office has been closed and the
domain irrelevant. My laptop however until yesterday still showed the domain
on windows log in. I have used the same username and password throughout.

I now work from my home office where I have a wireless network, without
workgroups named or domain established. In my ignorance of how this all works
(workgroups, etc) I tried to find a method to back up my laptop via another
computer on the wireless network. I have since been informed that this is
impossible without the workgroup etc.

I went to my computer/properties and went through the "change" scenario.
Apparently in doing so, asked my computer to join a workgroup that does not
exist.
Since then, windows log in page no longer shows the old domain under the
password, even after clicking options. My long time user name and password
are not recognized. I am effectively "locked out". Can anyone offer advice? I
have tried the usual...administrator cheats with no password..etc NADA

compdummy wrote:

Pardon the stupidity of the user (me) but I have apparently created a
problem which I can not solve. My laptop was previously associated with a
domain used at our old offices. For the past 2 years, the office has been
closed and the domain irrelevant. My laptop however until yesterday still
showed the domain on windows log in. I have used the same username and
password throughout.

I now work from my home office where I have a wireless network, without
workgroups named or domain established. In my ignorance of how this all
works (workgroups, etc) I tried to find a method to back up my laptop via
another computer on the wireless network. I have since been informed that
this is impossible without the workgroup etc.

I went to my computer/properties and went through the "change" scenario.
Apparently in doing so, asked my computer to join a workgroup that does
not exist.
Since then, windows log in page no longer shows the old domain under the
password, even after clicking options. My long time user name and password
are not recognized. I am effectively "locked out". Can anyone offer
advice? I have tried the usual...administrator cheats with no
password..etc NADA

When you removed your laptop from the domain, you removed the ability to log
on as that domain user. Your files are still on the hard drive (they will
be under Documents and Settings) but you can't use that user profile any
more. Now you need to log onto the machine locally. In all probability,
there is only the built-in local Administrator account. If you don't know
the password for it (and you probably don't), you will need to use a tool
like NTpasswd to change the built-in local Administrator's password to a
blank. Then log into that account and go to the User Accounts applet in
Control Panel and create a new user account for yourself. Copy the data
from the old domain user account to the new user account. You will need to
log into the new user account once before you can copy anything to it. Do
not copy settings in this case, just the data.

Once you have got this sorted you can set up network sharing on your Local
Area Network.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ - NTpasswd

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Malke, Thanks....I went to the link and see a lot of info about a CD or
floppy, but no info on how to acquire it/them...don't forget I am
compdummy....am I missing something??

"Malke" wrote:

compdummy wrote:

Pardon the stupidity of the user (me) but I have apparently created a
problem which I can not solve. My laptop was previously associated with a
domain used at our old offices. For the past 2 years, the office has been
closed and the domain irrelevant. My laptop however until yesterday still
showed the domain on windows log in. I have used the same username and
password throughout.

I now work from my home office where I have a wireless network, without
workgroups named or domain established. In my ignorance of how this all
works (workgroups, etc) I tried to find a method to back up my laptop via
another computer on the wireless network. I have since been informed that
this is impossible without the workgroup etc.

I went to my computer/properties and went through the "change" scenario.
Apparently in doing so, asked my computer to join a workgroup that does
not exist.
Since then, windows log in page no longer shows the old domain under the
password, even after clicking options. My long time user name and password
are not recognized. I am effectively "locked out". Can anyone offer
advice? I have tried the usual...administrator cheats with no
password..etc NADA

When you removed your laptop from the domain, you removed the ability to log
on as that domain user. Your files are still on the hard drive (they will
be under Documents and Settings) but you can't use that user profile any
more. Now you need to log onto the machine locally. In all probability,
there is only the built-in local Administrator account. If you don't know
the password for it (and you probably don't), you will need to use a tool
like NTpasswd to change the built-in local Administrator's password to a
blank. Then log into that account and go to the User Accounts applet in
Control Panel and create a new user account for yourself. Copy the data
from the old domain user account to the new user account. You will need to
log into the new user account once before you can copy anything to it. Do
not copy settings in this case, just the data.

Once you have got this sorted you can set up network sharing on your Local
Area Network.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ - NTpasswd

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

compdummy wrote:

Malke, Thanks....I went to the link and see a lot of info about a CD or
floppy, but no info on how to acquire it/them...don't forget I am
compdummy....am I missing something??

Yes, you are missing something. ;-) I'll tell you how to do this but you may
wish to simply have a computer professional or knowledgeable friend do this
for you. It won't be free if you have a tech do this, but only you can
decide what your time is worth. For the tech, it's a 5-minute process to
get into the machine with NTpasswd. For you...??? You decide.

Download the .iso for the CD image for NTpasswd. This needs to be burned to
CD as an image, not data. You need third-party burning software for this
since XP's built-in burner can't do it. That means Nero, Roxio, or any one
of the numerous free burners like ImgBurn, CDBurner XP Pro, DeepBurner,
etc.

Then set your computer to boot from the CD drive (this option will be in the
BIOS or your machine may have a keypress for a temporary change to the boot
order). Put the NTpasswd CD you made in the drive and boot to it. Follow
the directions, entering the asterisk for the blank password.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

"Malke" wrote:

compdummy wrote:

Malke, Thanks....I went to the link and see a lot of info about a CD or
floppy, but no info on how to acquire it/them...don't forget I am
compdummy....am I missing something??

Yes, you are missing something. ;-) I'll tell you how to do this but you may
wish to simply have a computer professional or knowledgeable friend do this
for you. It won't be free if you have a tech do this, but only you can
decide what your time is worth. For the tech, it's a 5-minute process to
get into the machine with NTpasswd. For you...??? You decide.

Download the .iso for the CD image for NTpasswd. This needs to be burned to
CD as an image, not data. You need third-party burning software for this
since XP's built-in burner can't do it. That means Nero, Roxio, or any one
of the numerous free burners like ImgBurn, CDBurner XP Pro, DeepBurner,
etc.

Then set your computer to boot from the CD drive (this option will be in the
BIOS or your machine may have a keypress for a temporary change to the boot
order). Put the NTpasswd CD you made in the drive and boot to it. Follow
the directions, entering the asterisk for the blank password.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!
Malke....you are the best!!!!!!!!!!! I was able to work through the program...and resolve the issues....MANY THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

compdummy wrote:
Malke....you are the best!!!!!!!!!!! I was able to work through the
program...and resolve the issues....MANY THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No, my dear - *you* are the greatest for going through with this! And you're
not allowed to call yourself "compdummy" any more - pick a better name like
"Intrepid Adventurer". ;-)

Glad to have helped you. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!