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General discussion

Log In

Nov 26, 2003 12:42AM PST

EMachine with XP Home
I have a friend who bought a new computer from Best Buy last December when they came to Florida. It was working fine when they left to return to Michigan in April. They have returned and on powering up the first thing is a windows log on screen asking for a users name and password. This did not come up before they left. All attempts at a password have failed. I know the work around for 98 but is there a work around for XP??

Discussion is locked

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Re:Log In
Nov 26, 2003 12:56AM PST

Have they tried entering user as: administrator
and leave the password blank.

This should logon as the hiffen aAdministrator.

If that works then go to User Accounts and click on their user and check if there is any password if so delete the password and it should auto-logon during boot.

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Re:Re:Log In
Nov 26, 2003 1:35AM PST

Sorry David but your suggestion did not work.
Received the following message"Unable to log you on because of an account restriction"
Any other ideas?

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Re:Re:Re:Log In
Nov 26, 2003 2:51AM PST

That works only with XP Pro!

For Hone Edition try on startup press F8 and see if you can get into Safe Mode which will need the Administrator & P/W.

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What you don't want to read. But should.
Nov 26, 2003 2:52AM PST

If the machine can't be logged in from SAFE MODE under any account then you may have a damaged OS. Damage will not be repairable since booting the XP CD will prompt for the Administrator password and you may not have that.

(REMEMBER that long posting about not having a single account?)

There are THREE exits here. Choose which one you feel is best for you.

1. Pay the toll and get back in. http://www.lostpassword.com has a tool that lets you back in.

2. Wipe it all out and start over. This would be a great test of your backups that you've been making. A simple DOS bootdisk from http://www.bootdisk.com and DELPART.EXE from same site can wipe the drive so you can start over.

3. Get a new hard disk and start over. When all is nearly re-installed, power down and put the old drive on the second IDE channel on its own. Boot up and use the Files And Settings Transfer wizard to reclaim what you can. This might be the lowest pain method.

Wishing you the best of luck,

Bob

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Final results
Nov 29, 2003 11:10AM PST

They found the sales slip and it contained the pass word that Best Buy had used to set up the machine. It worked and all is well. Thainks to those who offered suggestions.