Computer booting?

Hi,

Recently i bought a very cheap computer, to use in a secondary room. Anyway whenever i boot it up it automatically loads up a user called "user". I have tried turning on a password to that account, so that it won't load up automatically. But instead when it has a password attached to it, i have to wait for the screen saver to kick in, once that happens move the mouse and up pops a window saying that the password information is wrong. It just wants to boot this "user" account everytime i boot the computer up. Why?

I'm pretty sure it was already there when i bought the computer (second hand) but i can't remember why i didn't change it's details to mine. Or perhaps it wouldn't let me and i had to create my own account ( i prefer it to be password protected).

Just to confuse things even more, when i log off this user ccount and then load mine up, when i check windows task manager and check the processes tab, and click show processes from all users, there are some for that user account, some local service, some system (which i presume is fine) and the wierd part is it sometimes shows a user "hmm"! Yet my account "Phil" isn't mentioned once?

Whats wrong with the darn thing? I would love to get rid of this other account, but can't seem to delete it.

Many thanks in advance.

Flip.

 

Have you ever tried fooling around in Control Panel > User accounts

Like "change an account" or "change the way users log on or off"

Also if you google these titles you may find more specific info on how to use them, including links to the MS Sites own help pages. I don't play much in there so I'm not the best one to answer, but since no one else seems interested. well! there you go!

 

yeah i have played about with all those settings. as i said in my original post i have tried to see if a password would stop it booting straight up, and i have also tried to delete the account but can't for some reason?

You mention it seems that no one else can be bothered, i thought that the whole idea of this forum was for the mods to help people with problems on thier pc's. I used to use the techguys and i thought that this forum was supposed to be very similar. I registered to this forum after some recommendations.

But oh well........

 

Ok sorry sbout that.

System;
Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition (the bloke who sold me it said it was Pro, ar*e!)
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

Registered to:
user

Computer:
Intel(R)
Celeron(R) CPU 2.66GHz
2.68 GHz 480 MB of RAM

I didn't think any of that would make any difference. I have personalised my personal profile so much, that i'm really hoping that the answer to solve the problem isn't to start using this "user" profile. My profile is the administrator one and the "user" one isn't whichis another thing that confuses me. I just wanna delete it!!

 

whats the key shortvut for taking a picture of the desktop? something something PrtScn. if i can show you something i have found under my computer properties it may help??

 

I was a little too quick to comment on the lack of response from the forum. It was only after I closed my post I realized you had posted that same day. Because I found it about 8 posts down with 0 responses I made that comment, but I applogize to the forum, this is one of the best places to be for help of all kinds.

As for your problem, XP SP3 is comming out soon and when it does, most of my computers are going to be formatted and reinstalled from scratch. If you choose to go that route you had better backup your drivers first, just in case, and maybe make an image of the hard drive so you can bring it back if the reinstall doesn't take.

 

Can you explain further??

bump bump

 

Well,
Let's see...

Try going to Start, Run and type in control userpasswords2

Is the box for "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" checked or unchecked?

If unchecked try checking it. Hit OK. Window should close.
Go back to Start>Run>control userpasswords2
Highlight "User" account and hit reset password button (leaving blank should set no password but to be safe pick a temporary password say "user" or "password" and enter it in both boxes) and then OK

*********
Restart and see if you get a login screen with both accounts showing.

 

sach2,

Thanks for your reply.

When i first read your reply this morning, i started to do as requested. Unfortunately something came up and i had to go out.

The check box for "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" was unchecked. So i checked it and then highlighted the user account, but the box at the bottom of the window for "reset password" was greyed out (unable to be clicked). This is when i got a call to leave the house, so i re-unchecked the "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" box and shut the comp down and went away.

When i came to boot it up again, by surprise the account login page appeared first rather than just automatically booting this "user" account. There i had the two account options. The one i use "Phil" (which is password protected, and the "user" account. So in a way i thought that the problem is half way to be resolved.

When i have now come back to this forum to try and complete your instructions the "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" check box is now checked?

If you could remind me (as asked in an earlier post) which keys i need to prees to take a screen shot that i can paste into paint, i will be able to show you the details in that window. Because there is still something odd that makes me believe there is still a problem. In that window you asked me to open from the start>run menu, it shows as 3 different accounts. They are: 1. Administrator (group: Administrators) 2. hmm (group: Users) and 3. User (group: Administrators; Users). No mention of my account Phil which is an administrator account.

If i highlight either of the other users the "reset password" box at the bottom is clickable (if you get me), but when highlighted the "User" account that "reset password" box isn't. Perhaps this is because i turned the password off, as it was easier to let that account to just load and then me log off to use mt own. Rather than when it did have a password attached, i'd have to wait for the screen saver to kick in (was unable to do anything until this point) and a window would appear saying that the password information doesn't match the account, with an ok box, once you clicked on that then the normal account log in page would load.

Again this account log in page only lists two accounts Phil (the one i use) and User. Not the three i mentioned above that are in that window from the start>run menu.

Sorry if this is a bit long winded, and i hope you are still with me, haven't made this too confusing??! I'm sure you are, you are the expert after all. I hope you agree that there is a problem underlying here somewhere. :cry

Thanks and i wait for your reply.

Regards

Flip. (Phil)

 

Thanks for that DR.M,

I knew the shortcut included prtscn, but i thought hat you had to press other keys with it?? Haha anyways attached is the jpeg of my desktop, with that window i ran from the run menu.

You'll see what i mean about the three users, not including my account which is "Phil" and the greyed out box at the bottom whilst highlighting "user" account.

Many thanks i look forward to your reply sach2, when we will hopefully resolve this issue. Again thanks DR.M for the help with the screenshot.

Regards

Flip.

P.S. For some reason i cannot attach the file to this post, i will post again with the picture hopfully it will work in the next one?

 

Here is that picture of the desktop, including the window we have been talking about.....

Had to zip it up as it was to big evedentely. Hope this has worked.

Regards.

Flip.

 

First, let's try to straighten out the account names. I believe your Phil account is the Administrator account that shows in the window(I believe when you rename an Administrator account the change shows in some parts of Windows but not in others) but would like to be sure this is the case.

Try going to My Computer>C: drive>Documents and Settings> and let me know what folders are listed. If Phil is not listed go into Administrator and then Desktop and see if it is your Phil desktop with all the appropriate files.

 

sach2,

Thanks for your speedy reply, sorry for my slow reply. My broadband keeps going down, then up, then down (but that's another bloody annoying story).

I have done what you have asked and there are for different folders they are: All users, hmm, User and Default User (but this folder is greyed out, as if you can't click on it). Attached is a screenshot showing you what i mean. I'll zip it again.

Regards

Flip.

 

Hmmm, there is something strange going on with your computer. A quick check of your user ID would be if you have a folder on your desktop double-click it and read the address bar. Should be C:\Documents and Settings\Phil or other name\foldername. Does Phil show or something else?

 

sach2,

Done that, luckily i had a folder on the desktop (usually i have nothing but the recycle bin, to speed botting time) and this is the location of the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Desktop . Bugger does this mean an easy fix will be to delete my user profile Phil and continue with the "user" profile? Please please don't answer yes to that question, i have customised "Phil" all the way i like it!

But if you do give me those bad news I suppose it won't be such a hardship. Although I wouldn't know how to back things up and so forth. I have a really small harddisk, need to improve it, will hopefully buy an external one at some point.

Anyway this is going off topic. What can we do about merging "user" and what i'm using now "Phil", and hopefully you looked at the first screenshot picture i attached which listed 3 profiles. What do I do about the 3rd "hmm".

I hope i'm not being a pain in the arse, but you have been helping me wonderfully well so far.

Many thanks in advance,

Flip.

 

sach2,

Sorry just realised i didn't double click the icon and read the address bar, i right clicked and read the properties location, is that the same thing? I think it is. I have since double clicked and i haven't got an address bar in that window, i'm sure i could turn it on somehow, but i'm pretty sure you have the info you need, right?

 

Ok. There is a weird quirk in Windows that when you change a username it changes on the start menu and the login menu but not in the real system folders in Documents and Settings. I've never bothered to track down a fix since it really doesn't effect too much.

Now, you only have two accounts on your computer besides the emergency Administrator. There real names are Hmm and User. My rather bizarre sounding guess is that the Hmm is showing up as the User account that used to be the default login. The real User account is showing up as Phil.

To test this log into the User account and open Explore from the desktop and check the address bar to see if it says Hmm[if necessary create a folder on the desktop so you explore it]. Before you logoff click the Start button to verify that it says User. I'm fairly certain that both things will be true.

******
The good news is that you can keep your Phil account, I'll explain once you confirm I've got things right so far.

 

sach2,

Just to confirm what do you mean by open "explore"? Can i just right click on the my documents folder on the desktop in the "user" profile and check the location. Just like i did in the previous post. Because there isn't an address bar the top of the windows. I know on mylaptop there is an address bar at the top of the windows being internet explorer (obviously) or any folder within windows. How do i get the address bar to show, sorry i could probably work this out, but it is very early in the morning!!

Will the right click properties and check the location do?

Cheers Flip.

 

Yes that will work fine. I just want to verify that when logged into the user account the start menu says "User" and your files are actually in C:\Documents and Settings\Hmm.

*******
If you want the address bar in Explorer it is View>Toolbars>check the Address Bar

 

sach2,

I can confirm that you are a very clever chap (i hope you aren't female now that i have said that!).

The address bar did say "hmm" and the name at the top of the start bar did say "user".

Over to you.

Regards

Flip. Phil. User. Hmm. You decide.....

 

It is chap Thanks but more guess work than clever. I think you should go to Start>Run>control userpasswords2 and highlight the Hmm account and delete it. This will remove the troublesome User account.

******

The confusing part will be that your Phil account is actually still technically named User in some parts of Windows. So even though you sign on as Phil your actual files and desktop settings are stored in C:\Documents and Settings\User. I think this stems form changing the name of an Administrator level account when signed onto it. But am unsure if that is true and whether it can be fixed. I am going to have to test a few things out. But once you remove the Hmm account you will only have one account on the computer so there should be less confusion than now.

I would go ahead and delete Hmm. I'll mess around with a trial acct on my computer and see if we can't get your Phil account to be labeled Phil throughout the OS.

 

sach2,

Cheers you have been a wondefull help, I will delete the hmm account and look forward to your reply.

Can't thank you enough for your very useful and easy to follow instructions on the tasks i should do.

Again cheers, you have been a great help, i look forward to your reply which will hopefully solve the issue once and for all.

Regards, and goodnight (although i pressume you are not a fellow brit, and awake at a rather stupid hour of the morning!)

Flip.

 

sach2,

Just one last thing for now, i have deleted the hmm account, and you said that there would only be 1 account from now on but there are still the two.

Unless, as i am writing this i am realising you mean both accounts are acctually the same in effect? Not sure, i have been up for far too long!! Attached is a zip file with a screenshot of that window where i deleted the hmm account from, have a look and you will see what i mean.

anyways cheers for the help so far, i'll look forward to your next post, when hopefully we can sort this one once and for all!

Regards

Flip.

 

Hi, I am going to bed too

The Administrator account is a hidden account that only appears when you start in safe mode. This is normal and good.

The User account is actually your Phil account and will be the only one that shows up on the login screen (unless you start in safe mode).

******
This wouldn't thing wouldn't be so confusing if the person you got the computer from wasn't so fond of the name User. The old accounts were Hmm/User and User/Phil.

Now only the User/Phil account remains. Even though you sign on as Phil the actual path to your Desktop and documents will be C:documents and Settings\User (Not Phil as one would expect). I've tried to figure out how to change it but with no luck so far. It is very stubborn If I think of or find anything useful I'll let you know. You may just have to get used to the quirk. Simply be aware that on this particular computer Phil and User are the same account. Maybe thinking of User as yours secret identity will make it easier to accept!

*******************
Oh, and as a bit of housekeeping, check the C:\Documents and Settings folder for a Hmm folder. If it exists delete the Hmm folder only. That's the Hmm folder. Remember: the User folder is actually Phil's folder and should never be deleted.

 

sach2,

Many thanks for all your help early this morning. When i booted the computer up this afternoon, my "Phil" account was the only one there so you have solved the problem for me!

I can live with the folders being named "user" that doesn't bother me, what did was the fact that this other account would automatically boot up. But now that is sorted. I've also deleted the hmm folder in documents and settings too. Just to confirm my account is an administrator account? I believe when i set it up it was, so that i can install whatever i like and so on?

Whilst i still have your attention one last thing, with regards to general computer housekeeping as you mentioned, are there any freeware progs you recommend? I currently use, CCleaner, EndTask, a-squared Free, AusLogics Disk Defrag and the Yahoo toolbar. I have never been keen on toolbars, for a few reasons including making my browser bigger at the top, i suppose i just don't like the look of it? But it had such a good review on download.com that i went for it. Seems to be ok, and i haven't found any problems with it so far anyway, although it hasn't actually blocked any pop ups yet! Is there anything else you recommend, or would you recommend i don't use one of the ones i am already using? I try to do the maintenance thing a few times a week, because i am aware how easy it is for Windows to clog up full of rubbish. Will CCleaner get rid of any last traces of that hmm account do you know?

Once again many thanks for your help, you did a great job, with some very easy explanations!

Regards

Flip. :cool

 

Hi,

According to your first attachment showing control userpasswords 2 you are definitely an Administrator. Again, whoever chose "user" as a username certainly did a lot to confuse matters. Phil will always be referred to as User in TaskManager or control userpasswords. You can see for yourself by highlighting User and clicking the properties button in control userpasswords2. It is useless to try to change the name in that window since it doesn't actually apply system wide(although it should! :mad).

************
LOL I would be kicked off of MG if it was known how little system maintenance I do. I use CCleaner maybe once a week and Spybot once every couple weeks if I'm bored. The only time I've ever had a problem with my system was when I tried to tweak it or clean it.

I use FF browser and run antivirus, delete email I don't recognize, and stay off porn sites( as a rule anyway, I believe I admitted I was a chap). The only virus type problem I've ever run into was a few weeks ago and it was from allowing some site to run a "free" registry scan. So you may get more informed opinions on maintenance software in other threads here at MG. I don't find Yahoo toolbar particularly useful so it's not worth the reduced browser window for me. Finally, I actually like starting from a fresh install of XP about once a year. All the old documents that I never read or links I never got around to following are gone! I find it very freeing. Good Luck!