Help Resetting Passwords on XP

I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
can see C and D drives and all files are there.

Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?

Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.

XP Home Or Pro?

XP Home.. Start System in safe mode, Use Administrator Account, Goto
Control Panel, User Accounts and Reset the passwords for accounts.

XP Pro.. See www.lostpassword.com

To have access to USB devices is DosMode you must add the USB drivers to
your boot disk.

Regards

John


"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43b7f006.7678609@news.east.cox.net...
>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
> any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
> was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
> can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>
> Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>
> Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
> USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>

Hi Mark,

If it logged in, then the password was accepted - this isn't the problem and
clobbering them isn't going to help. This most likely is:
http://rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Blazefind

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43b7f006.7678609@news.east.cox.net...
>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
> any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
> was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
> can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>
> Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>
> Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
> USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>

It's XP Home, and I guess I wasn't clear enough.

My wife was doing windows updates, then the machine asked to reboot.
She clicked "ok", and when it rebooted it brought up the usename and
password window. When she typed in her account and password, it would
log in, and then immediately save settings and logout, ending up back
at the login window. All accounts on this machine do this. You type
your password, up comes your personal backround for a sec, then it
saves setting and logs you out.

We got an XP Home Upgrade CD (I have no idea which computer it belongs
to as we have five in the house). I was able to get the System Restore
Console up from "boot from CD", and then login with "no password". Now
we can "see" our files on C and D, but we cannot copy or access them.

What should we do now? Are we completely screwed because windows
update screwed up our password file? Or, is there something else we
should try from the System Restore Console?

Thanks...

On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:09:53 GMT, markxyz59@cox.net (Mark) wrote:

>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
>any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
>was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
>can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>
>Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>
>Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
>USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>

Right, this is typical of the Blazefind issue mentioned in the article I
linked to. Your passwords and accounts *are* being recognized and accepted,
it's the userinit value that is screwed up.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43b7ff03.11515359@news.east.cox.net...
> It's XP Home, and I guess I wasn't clear enough.
>
> My wife was doing windows updates, then the machine asked to reboot.
> She clicked "ok", and when it rebooted it brought up the usename and
> password window. When she typed in her account and password, it would
> log in, and then immediately save settings and logout, ending up back
> at the login window. All accounts on this machine do this. You type
> your password, up comes your personal backround for a sec, then it
> saves setting and logs you out.
>
> We got an XP Home Upgrade CD (I have no idea which computer it belongs
> to as we have five in the house). I was able to get the System Restore
> Console up from "boot from CD", and then login with "no password". Now
> we can "see" our files on C and D, but we cannot copy or access them.
>
> What should we do now? Are we completely screwed because windows
> update screwed up our password file? Or, is there something else we
> should try from the System Restore Console?
>
> Thanks...
>
> On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:09:53 GMT, markxyz59@cox.net (Mark) wrote:
>
>>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
>>any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
>>was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
>>can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>>
>>Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>>
>>Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
>>USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>>
>

Hi
Try doing a system restore from the command prompt.

1.. Restart the computer.

2.. As the computer restarts, begin pressing the F8 key until the Windows
Advanced Options Menu screen appears.

3.. On the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen, use the arrow keys to
select Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and then press the ENTER key.

4.. On the Please select the operating system to start screen, select the
Microsoft Windows XP operating system, and then press ENTER.

5.. At the login screen, log on as the administrator or a user who has
administrator rights.

6.. At the command prompt, type: c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe.
Press ENTER.
"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43b7f006.7678609@news.east.cox.net...
>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
> any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
> was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
> can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>
> Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>
> Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
> USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>

Hi Rick,

But why would it happen during windows update? My wife had firewalls
and AVG antivirus, and she's not prone to DL'ing strange files and
visiting nefarious websites - at least as far I know

I'll see if I can look at those files using the Rovery Console....

Regards,

Mark

On Sun, 1 Jan 2006 11:40:59 -0500, "Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers"
<rick@mvps.org> wrote:

>Right, this is typical of the Blazefind issue mentioned in the article I
>linked to. Your passwords and accounts *are* being recognized and accepted,
>it's the userinit value that is screwed up.
>
>--
>Best of Luck,
>
>Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>
>"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:43b7ff03.11515359@news.east.cox.net...
>> It's XP Home, and I guess I wasn't clear enough.
>>
>> My wife was doing windows updates, then the machine asked to reboot.
>> She clicked "ok", and when it rebooted it brought up the usename and
>> password window. When she typed in her account and password, it would
>> log in, and then immediately save settings and logout, ending up back
>> at the login window. All accounts on this machine do this. You type
>> your password, up comes your personal backround for a sec, then it
>> saves setting and logs you out.
>>
>> We got an XP Home Upgrade CD (I have no idea which computer it belongs
>> to as we have five in the house). I was able to get the System Restore
>> Console up from "boot from CD", and then login with "no password". Now
>> we can "see" our files on C and D, but we cannot copy or access them.
>>
>> What should we do now? Are we completely screwed because windows
>> update screwed up our password file? Or, is there something else we
>> should try from the System Restore Console?
>>
>> Thanks...
>>
>> On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:09:53 GMT, markxyz59@cox.net (Mark) wrote:
>>
>>>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
>>>any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
>>>was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
>>>can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>>>
>>>Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>>>
>>>Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
>>>USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>>>
>>
>
>

Since you started a new thread, you probably didn't see or read my reply!!
How about logging into safe mode option menu and
1) Last Known Good Configuration OR
2) Regular Safe mode and running system restore?
3) If not regular safe mode, then safe mode w/command prompt only?

See if "Administrator" account works?
The "Administrator" account password is usually blank (ie no password)!

Once in Safe mode you can repair the other her user login!!

Well, I'm surprised. You are following both threads!!
So why start a new, though?

"Mark" wrote:

> I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
> any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
> was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
> can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>
> Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>
> Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
> USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>
>

Why would it happen due to one of the updates? Perhaps one of the updates
was the malicious software removal tool and it did its job in removing the
nasty, but the reference to it in the userinit value is still there.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
news:43b80e82.15482078@news.east.cox.net...
> Hi Rick,
>
> But why would it happen during windows update? My wife had firewalls
> and AVG antivirus, and she's not prone to DL'ing strange files and
> visiting nefarious websites - at least as far I know
>
> I'll see if I can look at those files using the Rovery Console....
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark
>
> On Sun, 1 Jan 2006 11:40:59 -0500, "Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers"
> <rick@mvps.org> wrote:
>
>>Right, this is typical of the Blazefind issue mentioned in the article I
>>linked to. Your passwords and accounts *are* being recognized and
>>accepted,
>>it's the userinit value that is screwed up.
>>
>>--
>>Best of Luck,
>>
>>Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>>Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
>>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>>Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>>
>>"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
>>news:43b7ff03.11515359@news.east.cox.net...
>>> It's XP Home, and I guess I wasn't clear enough.
>>>
>>> My wife was doing windows updates, then the machine asked to reboot.
>>> She clicked "ok", and when it rebooted it brought up the usename and
>>> password window. When she typed in her account and password, it would
>>> log in, and then immediately save settings and logout, ending up back
>>> at the login window. All accounts on this machine do this. You type
>>> your password, up comes your personal backround for a sec, then it
>>> saves setting and logs you out.
>>>
>>> We got an XP Home Upgrade CD (I have no idea which computer it belongs
>>> to as we have five in the house). I was able to get the System Restore
>>> Console up from "boot from CD", and then login with "no password". Now
>>> we can "see" our files on C and D, but we cannot copy or access them.
>>>
>>> What should we do now? Are we completely screwed because windows
>>> update screwed up our password file? Or, is there something else we
>>> should try from the System Restore Console?
>>>
>>> Thanks...
>>>
>>> On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 15:09:53 GMT, markxyz59@cox.net (Mark) wrote:
>>>
>>>>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
>>>>any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
>>>>was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
>>>>can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>>>>
>>>>Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>>>>
>>>>Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
>>>>USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

Hi John,

I've done the FIXMBR using the XP Home CD Recovery Console.

Then I pulled out the CD and tried to boot regularly, but I still get
the same thing: password accepted, correct background picture
displayed, saving settings, logging off. Argh!

I tired booting to Safe Mode Command Prompt, and it hangs while
installing drivers...

....\Mup.sys
....\agp440.sys
....\iomdisk.sys
HANGS HERE FOREVER (though disk light is ON!)

Any more ideas? I can sense that we're close!

Regards,

Mark

On Sun, 1 Jan 2006 16:44:30 -0000, "John"
<johnlee2509@btopenworld.com> wrote:

>Hi
>Try doing a system restore from the command prompt.
>
> 1.. Restart the computer.
>
> 2.. As the computer restarts, begin pressing the F8 key until the Windows
>Advanced Options Menu screen appears.
>
> 3.. On the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen, use the arrow keys to
>select Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and then press the ENTER key.
>
> 4.. On the Please select the operating system to start screen, select the
>Microsoft Windows XP operating system, and then press ENTER.
>
> 5.. At the login screen, log on as the administrator or a user who has
>administrator rights.
>
> 6.. At the command prompt, type: c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe.
>Press ENTER.
>"Mark" <markxyz59@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:43b7f006.7678609@news.east.cox.net...
>>I posted earlier about Windows Updates screwing up and not accepting
>> any passwords (it would login and then quickly log out). Good News: I
>> was able to get the Recovery Console to give us access to the disk. We
>> can see C and D drives and all files are there.
>>
>> Is there a way to clobber/reset passwords from the command prompt?
>>
>> Our first instinct was to stick a USB Drive in and copy stuff, but the
>> USB drivers don't appear to be there on the recovery console.
>>
>
>