Hi there.

I wondering whether someone might be able to help me out with a loggon problem I've got with XP Home. I've recently done a fresh reintall of the OS. I was subsequently trying to bypass the mannual logon process that seems to be part of the default set up, but in the process I've completely stuffed up the loggon process.

Unfortunatly, the post exeeds the 5500 word limit, so I've posted the attachment zipped txt document instead.

If someone could have a look I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Matthew.Matthew:

What do you mean by "stuffed up the logon process"?

DocHey DOC. Have a look at the ATTACHED document. I could not FIT in all the information here, but basically it seems like I'm not logged in correctly. It's a complete balls up.

In the attachement I detail what currently happens with a start up in normal mode and then outline what I see in the User Accounts, Control Userpasswords2, and Regedit sections in normal mode and in safe mode so that someone might be able to identify what's wrong and how I might be able to fix things.

Have a look at the attchement tell me what you think.

Cheers,
Matthew.1) Can't you just reinstall Windows?
2) Is your version Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Proffessional? I knew that in Windows XP Home Edition all the users are local administrators or limited users. See here: http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/windowsxp/a/aa042204_2.htm (although I see you have experience in working with windows).
3) When appeared the problem?
4) Have you installed some program before the problem arose?
5) Did you install any program that "tweaks" the Windows registry?
6) How did you end-up modifying the registry?

You give us a lot of details of your problem. Have you create your user in the "normal" way? Control Panel ->users or at windows install?

Of course you don't have to answer to these questions, they are just sugestions.
Hi. Thanks for the reply.

1) Can't you just reinstall Windows?
Yes, but what a nightmare. I've got all this other stuff on there now and it'll takes ages to get it all back.

2) Is your version Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Proffessional? I knew that in Windows XP Home Edition all the users are local administrators or limited users. See here: http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/windowsxp/a/aa042204_2.htm (although I see you have experience in working with windows).
It's XP Home.

3) When appeared the problem?
After I started trying to bypass the default blue-screen user account loggon procedure.

4) Have you installed some program before the problem arose?
Yes, loads.

5) Did you install any program that "tweaks" the Windows registry?
No. Only mannual regedit stuff, as per below.

6) How did you end-up modifying the registry?
Occording to the directions given in the MS site on 'How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP':
C:\My Documents\Temp\How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP.htm
 
7) You give us a lot of details of your problem. Have you create your user in the "normal" way? Control Panel ->users or at windows install?
I think I created it in the Windows insatll. It's a bit foggy, but I don't recall creating a password only a user name.

If there's no fix for this and I have to reinstall Windows, is it possible to get some consensus on this? I'm reluctant to do this, so I need some sound advice before I trash all my installation work.

Cheers,
Matthew.
A good format and reinstall fixes most Windows problems....for a while.  If you remember the "old" settings in registry, you might be able to undo your modifications. But, as you say, you are unable to use the administrator account, so... Most probably you'll have to use a "hole" in your system and bring it down from another computer (take control on it remotely, as administrator, with no recommended procedures).

I really don't know how to help you. You said that you have problems with your videocard, with your accounts. I don't know. I would make a windows reinstall and after that I would make a disk image (partition image). Free software for this: Linux software (Knoppix or SystemRescueCd with PartImage). You can install programs before or after imaging the partition. Note: you'll need a Linux partition to be able to SAVE the image.mtom......   I read your discription of what you did , and my advice would be to do as GX1_Man has offered and reformat the machine and do a fresh install .
This time when your doing the install and it gets to the part about users..... just enter your name as the Administrator and do not set a password .
Now when it's finished installing , if you go into users accounts in the control panel....... there should be 2 accounts shown......Your name as admin and a guest account .   If you wish to change the way you log in .......click on the log in options.......  If you wish a password .......you can enter that in the user section as well.

dl65  Hi fellas.

Thanks for the replies. Pitty about the bad news. I'll dump all my new stuff onto the second hard drive.

Dl65, just to clarify things. You said:
Quote

Now when it's finished installing , if you go into users accounts in the control panel....... there should be 2 accounts shown......Your name as admin and a guest account .   If you wish to change the way you log in .......click on the log in options.......  If you wish a password .......you can enter that in the user section as well.

One more thing while I'm at it Dl65, I mentioned another issue with this machine regarding the having to press the F1 button at start up. At the point during start up before I get into Windows there's a black DOS-like screen. Start up stops there. The screen lists all the drives. The only unusual thing here is a sentence that says: "Floppy disk(s) fail (40)". I get a prompt at bottom of the screen that tells me to "Press F1 to continue, DEL: to entre setup". I've been told that this a CMOS problem and I have to replace the little battery (where ever that is?), but the clock seem to work correctly. Besides, it may the floppy drive warning that's causing the problem. The Floppy drives works fine by the way. I can access data on floppy disks in the drive.
 
Can you shed some light on this please?