xp wants password after tweak!

Greetings!
MDA got to tweaking the registry, and now the login screen wants an administrator password where none is set.

xp pro sp3, Avast, ZA, Win Defender. Acer travelmate4500Li

Ccleaned and registry saved immediately prior to the tweak.

Boot password has always been set, but I've never used a log in password for windows itself so I know none is set.

Is it possible to refresh the registry from the boot?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Try just hitting OK.

 

Ok I feel dumb already -

Yes, I'm a novice, and perhaps mentioning the boot passwords, etc, wasn't clear- I've tried the simple stuff, but just to save time:

I clicked ok.
I tried the boot password which I use every time, as stated.
Safe mode asks for the password now also.

So again, suddenly the login screen is appearing asking for admin password and I've never set one or used one before. I use a boot log in password.

And I have a clean fresh registry saved in mydocs!

 

There is a behavior where XP will assign temp passwords and it can fail to unassign them again.

The article on it is HERE

It says that:
When you upgrade or install Microsoft Windows XP, passwords may be assigned to user accounts that previously had no password or you did not assign passwords to any user accounts during the installation process. As a result, you cannot log on to the computer.

This behavior occurs if Windows XP Setup does not complete properly. Setup assigns temporary passwords to user accounts during the upgrade process, and is supposed to remove the passwords when Setup is complete. The temporary passwords are written to the Setupact.log file that is located in the folder in which Windows is installed.

It seems that this could have happened to you if XP tried to repair itself or something in the clean up triggered it to think it was upgrading. You will need your XP CD and will need to boot from CD and follow the instructions in the link. It doesn't seem too bad. I hope that the password is there!

 

Acer recovery disks

Thanks for the info. My only question is, my recovery disk does a complete restoration. I did it once before and I dread the thought of going through it again. Is there a function to search for the file the article mentions without a complete change? Two of my recovery disks are marked xp, although the instructions direct they follow a boot disk, all made by Acer. Perhaps you can direct me what possible terms I may encounter which will all me to find the temporary password file without hosing the drive. MG is always an excellent resource.

 

I think you will have trouble using any XP CD because when attempting to enter recovery console you will be asked for the password which you don't know.

You will have to use something else to boot the computer such as a Live Linux disc or other rescue CD with a file browser. I can't think of a relatively small download one at the moment but maybe someone else can help.

 

beauty solution!

Thanks for the reply. I have a linux mint bootable disk which I will attempt to gain access. I appreciate everyone's help so far, and I'll go give linux a try. This is the weirdest result from a tweak I've ever had. I'm using an ancient emachine which is like flogging an old mule to deal with this, but woe is me if I have to do a recover! I may have more questions later.

Again-

 

I was just trying this password changing procedure for testing purposes. It worked for me in XP.

If you already have a linux mint CD and don't find the password by way of handygal's link then you may want to read through the link above to see if it seems like something you would be comfortable trying.

 

TimW has suggested ophcrack which is a 400mb download and must be burned to CD but apparently works in seconds to list all passwords.

 

Hello again! Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately the later all end up requiring the password I don't have, except the one which requires a windows 7 or vista dvd. Or Windows RE & PE. I have linux mint up and running, although I cannot find the setupact.log file through the basic file manager. Any ideas? I don't suppose there's a freeware version of the needed boot arrangement? I like to say-

 

You could do the one that says Vista/7 DVD using Linux. You can use Linux regular file manager and right-click the files to select rename and copy/paste. You just go to your Windows/system32 folder and rename sethc.exe to something like sethc222.exe. Then copy cmd.exe to sethc.exe.

Then reboot without the CD and at the Windows logon screen hit left shift key 5 times to get the command prompt.

Type net user yourusername newpassword then hit enter.

Then see if you can login with the new password.

*******
You can download a Vista or Win7 emergency CD for free at neosmart by using torrent software. They only charge for a direct download.

Ophcrack is free and doesn't ask for a password. It finds passwords. [I've never used it so I can't give any tips but I believe it is fairly straight forward.]
********

I suspect the reason you can't find the file is that it does not exist. The original MS KB article refers to a problem after an upgrade and your problem although similar symptoms was not started by an incomplete upgrade.

 

Good Morning, perhaps where you are. I've been having trouble finding an iso burner which will burn to a dvd. Mint is working off a disk so I cannot burn a disk on my laptop, and my old emachine won't read my dvd's. So I'm very interested in the cmd.exe copy affect you mention, but I do not understand how I-

*copy* cmd.exe to sethc.exe. ?? Perhaps you meant-

*copy* cmd.exe to sethc222.exe. (the name change you indicated) ??

However I believe I get the drift of that, I still do not understand the function described. Your further indulgence on my behalf is most gratifying.

 

Hello,

Boot from Linux CD in your laptop. You browse to Windows/sytem32 folder. Amongst the many files you will see cmd.exe and sethc.exe.

You will right-click sethc.exe and select rename and enter the new name sethc222.exe.
Then find cmd.exe and right-click it and select Copy.
Now right click on a blank area of the system32 folder and paste cmd.exe. It should give you an opportunity to rename the file while pasting, you will alter the name from cmd.exe to sethc.exe.

So now you have two copies of the cmd.exe command. One the original named cmd.exe and a second named sethc.exe

Remove the CD and reboot the laptop.
At the Windows logon screen hit left shift key 5 times to get the command prompt.
Type net user at the command prompt to get a list of user names. Only if needed to get your exact username

Type net user yourusername newpassword then hit enter. (Replacing yourusername and newpassword with the proper equivalents)


Then see if you can login with the new password.

 

Thank you so much for your time and energy! I did everything you indicated, however- at the logon screen five left shift keyings brings up the sticky keys dialogue. Both choices do not affect, but if I click ctrl-alt-del with the sticky keys dialogue box open I get a different log in dialogue box, which pops up just behind the sticky keys box which x's out. Then I have this new login box, but I do not get a command prompt.

I have xp pro sp3, avast, ZA, & defender.

Ok, I just got past the login by hitting enter first at the new login box, except my desktop is funky. The picture, start button and clock are there, but no task tray, and all my desktop icons open "mycomputer"! Still - Hallelujah! At least I can see my silly doodle desktop picture!

So it sits now, and I have no idea where to go to change the admin password from here if that's now possible. I do have access to the run command, so I wonder should I proceed with the previous plan, copying my copy of the cmd, etc, or is there another avenue?

Sach2, last post I immediately went to your MG profile and YOU WERE READING MY POST! I wish to thank you for that. That makes the virtual real. Truly amazing commitment. Gratified is such a small word here...

 

I am on my way out so I can't work with you right now.

Two things to try:
1) at the Run command type in control userpasswords which should open up the User accounts window where you should be able to remove your password. [IF it says you don't have a password then I would set one to be sure that if there is some quirk in the system that you at least know what the password is]

2) You could try a system restore to a time before the problem occurred. I would try going back to an extra day before if there is a point available. Start>type in rstrui.exe

3) I don't know what program you used to backup your registry but if it is a recent backup you could try restoring that. [Wait, I just read you are referring to a CCleaner backup which is not a full backup. Ccleaner only backs up the keys it is changing so this is not an option]

 

Thank you very much. My backup program is cranking away now and I'm optimistic. Thank you. I'm going to like you - but I love it! MG is still the best! I hope you have wonderful evening. Again-

 

Let me know how you get on.

If the backup/restore is successful we should double-check that you have both cmd.exe and sethc.exe in the correct place and working.

Also you should double check that you can get into the Safe Mode Administrator account without a password.

 

Ccleaner is not a real registry backup!!

Sach2 -

Thanks for your help and effort on my behalf. I finally had to do the recovery thing due to my registry backup snafu. Thus the subject change. I'm not proud of making the error, but shame would haunt me if didn't note the peril for all people everywhere.

The reason my standard backup failed was so embarrassing I can't talk about it until I find someone else to blame!

I did learn a lot behind this event. Backup, backup, backup!!

I greatly appreciate your personal assistance, and MG always makes me say:

 

Sorry to hear you had to do a recovery.

A system restore point should have sufficed if one was available. (Tweaking the registry can be dangerous you should create a restore point before going in. System Restore should be enough most of the time.) Or do like me and leave well enough alone.

****
CCleaner's question "do you want to make a registry backup" is misleading. I used the program for over a year before actually opening a backup and realizing that it was just a tiny file containing the keys CCleaner had recently changed. It should be worded a bit more clearly so we users don't jump to conclusions and think we have a pile of full registry backups.

I think ERUNT is the program people use to do full registry backups but I've never used it.

 

I use ERUNT on a XP computer and it has saved me once. You can set it up to do automatic backups of the registry. But, the big advantage is you can restore the registry even if you cannot boot into XP or safe mode. Just boot to a BARTPE and navigate to the C:\WINDOWS\ERDNT directory and double click the ERDNT.exe file in one of the dated folders that has your registry backup. Not sure about Windows 7 though. I think there are some issues like UAC that have to be addressed.

 

Good People! Thank you for your help in this mess. Everything is back to what passes for normal with XP. As far as tweaking goes, I'm afraid I'm already relatively addicted to the vagaries of XP, which is sort of like an addicted relative, so we get along relatively good. And virtually fearless now knowing I can come crawling back through the detritus of vapor to Majorgeeks where respite and succor always await, not to mention plenty more toys. I promise from this point on to stick to a single process at a time and to really get my poop in a group before I click OK.

In this instance I was mainly betrayed by the registry backup snafu. Fortunately I've already learned from MG to keep my goodies partitioned off, and recovery was slow but sure. My "C" drive was traveling light, to quote a MG comment.

I've certainly kept a log of my recovery process this time (long neglected detail) for the next tweak, improved my backup repetoire, refined my iso process, acquired password lore, found out about BartPE, and found real compassion. I may have missed a few things but that's why I have to say it again, MajorGeeks people-