XP Pro wants a p/w to start up. I don't have one?

  • Thread starter Thread starter krisani
  • Start date Start date
K

krisani

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???
 
What happens i she ignore the password request, and just hits "Enter"
without one?

--
HTH,
Curt

Windows Support Center
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???
 
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
> 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???
>
>
>
 
"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....
 
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
> 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???
>
>
 
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
>> 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???
>>
>>
>>
 
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
> > 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???
> >
> >
>
>
>
 
"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".....
 
"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
 
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".....
>
>
>
 
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)
 
"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".....
>>
>>
>>
 
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".....
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>
 
"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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