Small computer issue

[Mouseykins]

This should be an easy one to solve.

My desktop is an hp pavilion windows xp media centre edition. The xp software is the newest one before vista came out.

 

So here's the problem... When booting it up it goes all the way to a log on screen. This log on screen is different than the normal log on screen that you get. It's like the ones you see on school computers. Don't really know another way to explain it.

 

Is there a way that I can bypass the login screen so that I can get access to the settings and change them?

 

I will be extremely thrilled if someone here can help me! *passes chocolate chunk cookies*

 

This issue has been solved! Thank you for all your suggestions! Sadly we decided to wipe our hard-drive and install Windows 7 and start from scratch! the good thing is we didn't lose anything entirely important.

[antiaircraft]

You mean you're getting a manual username and password entry dialog instead of the welcome screen? You should still be able to log in using your username and password if you can remember them, and then change the relevant setting (Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on or off > Use the Welcome Screen). :yes: You only have to try and bypass the security if you don't remember your username (not sure why you wouldn't though).

 

One easy way to bypass the security on a Windows XP machine (assuming the hidden Administrator account is still in its default setup) is to reboot the system, and hit F8 repeatedly just before the point where the Windows XP boot splash normally appears. You should get a menu that allows you to tell the system to boot into safe mode. Once it's booted, log in as "Administrator" (unless somebody's added a password, you shouldn't need one) and you should have full access to the system's files and settings.

[Mouseykins]

You mean you're getting a manual username and password entry dialog instead of the welcome screen? You should still be able to log in using your username and password if you can remember them, and then change the relevant setting (Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on or off > Use the Welcome Screen). :yes: You only have to try and bypass the security if you don't remember your username (not sure why you wouldn't though).

 

One easy way to bypass the security on a Windows XP machine (assuming the hidden Administrator account is still in its default setup) is to reboot the system, and hit F8 repeatedly just before the point where the Windows XP boot splash normally appears. You should get a menu that allows you to tell the system to boot into safe mode. Once it's booted, log in as "Administrator" (unless somebody's added a password, you shouldn't need one) and you should have full access to the system's files and settings.

 

That's exactly the problem it's the back door admin password that hp put in the computer and we never had a password for it so we don't know what it is and I've tried all the passwords we used for out main user account and none of them have worked. I've tried going into safe mode to reconfigure the settings but even that is passworded and I don't know how to bypass it so that I can get onto the account and change the settings so that there is no password. Any ideas? Is there a password cracking program for the admin password that I could try?

[antiaircraft]

Okay, it looks like you'll need to go one step further and reset the password then. :yes: It's a relatively simple process with a Linux LiveCD, but you'll need access to a computer that can burn one (or find some other way to obtain one). This tutorial should guide you through the process of resetting your password with Ubuntu.

[ChaoticFission]

if you're still having this issue, try starting in safe mode. i think it may bypass the login that way. if not, you may need to get something like BartPE to gain access

[antiaircraft]

:O Hey Chaotic! I haven't seen you in a while! xD

 

Safe mode has already been tried and failed unfortunately, but a Windows LiveCD might be a better option than a Linux one compatibility wise. :yes:

[Mouseykins]

I will give that s try on Monday when the library is open. I'll edit my post Monday night. Thanx for your suggestions!

[Guest Yoshinho]

Well the login style you speak of is classic login like from Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.

 

To change it you already know, Control Panel > User Accounts > Change way user logs on > Use Welcome screen.

 

Also if your school is on the network like you have a network account then it would not be able to log you in with The default Windows XP login.

 

If you are not on a network, then it would work just fine. Usually on desktops (not laptops) when you boot into Safe mode there is an open account called Administrator with no password but I am assuming that did not work no?

 

Try it out again and tell us about it and I will see if I can be able to help you.

[Mouseykins]

Well the login style you speak of is classic login like from Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.

 

To change it you already know, Control Panel > User Accounts > Change way user logs on > Use Welcome screen.

 

Also if your school is on the network like you have a network account then it would not be able to log you in with The default Windows XP login.

 

If you are not on a network, then it would work just fine. Usually on desktops (not laptops) when you boot into Safe mode there is an open account called Administrator with no password but I am assuming that did not work no?

 

Try it out again and tell us about it and I will see if I can be able to help you.

 

It's my home computer and the issue is not how it logs on but the fact that I can't log on. Still working on fixing the issue,it's hard finding time to get to a public computer when I'm working during the day.

[Guest Yoshinho]

Most likely something is wrong with your user account.

 

What error do you receive when you try to login? Like is the password wrong, username wrong. Security log full etc?