Re: Users Are Gone, Can't Login

x-no-archive: yes
On Sat, 3 Dec 2005 07:01:02 -0800, "stan"
<stan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>the safe mode approach also just gets me back to the same screen that asks
>for me to begin by clicking the user name. There are no icons to click nor
>input boxes to input the admin password on this screen.
>Let me get to the point. This is my daughter's desktop that after a few
>months of use at college, she switched to a laptop. I have already extracted
>all worthwhile docs from the system. I also have all the shipped software
>and documentation to the system. I am donating this system to a foreign
>student but I wanted to restore to the original ship default. Unfortunately
>I did not have early restore points to choose from. Also I understand this
>system was build just prior to the adoption of a symantec factory default
>restore functionality (circa 7/04). As such I am preapred to just format the
>disk and go from there. But as I attempted to so do, I was getting error
>message that said the volume was otherwise in use and I cud not force a
>dismount?) This is when I disabled user profiles to see if this was the
>obstacle.
>Bottom line is I just want to get back to as close to original factory
>default from the compromised state I am at today.
>tnx for for all advise in advance.

I think your best bet-- if you have one-- if you don't, I am sure
others in here can direct you...

your best bet may be to use an old DOS Windows 98 install disk (3.5)

Use it to boot to, then fdisk and format.

I've seen VERY few issues-- other than a bad 3.5 diskette drive-- that
would stop an fdisk and format.

I have found after some 30 years in the computer industry, that if I
watch the clock, after doing this and that and t'other, it is quite
often the fastest and most economical (least amount of head hair
pulled), since I keep my machine backed up, if I haven't gotten my
situation resolved in about 3 hours,

I F o r m a t !!

I mentioned this philosophy to my buddy, a computer engineer with his
own store, awhile back. He said, "Tallahassee, you should be fdisking
and reformatting your system every 3 - 6 months SOP! ANYWAY!!"


I don't know about you guys, but I am VERY anal about my machine. As
the Beatles put it, I like a "clean machine."

If that light over there isn't winking just right, if this ginga isn't
warbling just the way I want it to, if I can't fix it in about 30
minutes,

I F o r m a t !!

I get tired of formatting every other month.

But I get even MORE tired of a machine that doesn't do what I want it
to do the FIRST time!


I got into the briefest of arguments with my engineer buddy, who asked
me why I insisted on fdisking every time.

I asked Bruce, "Bruce, can you think of an thing you can't accomplish
with a format that would require fdisking?"

Bruce thought a minute. "Yes, there are several things an fdisk
achieves that a format alone won't do."

I said, "then for the 5 extra minutes it takes, I like to "wipe the
slate clean" and start fresh EVERY time."

Bruce, who's been an engineer since he was in diapers, said, "Tal, you
just taught me something! Thanks! I'm going to start doing that!"


And-- by the way-- for those of you who have not run into the concept
of the "invisible crash" yet, it is an old computer "devil" (for lack
of a better term), for you to be right in the middle of something, and
-- wa la-- that __________ (fill in the function) isn't working!

Maybe it's a key that died. Maybe a window won't move. Maybe a sound
you are supposed to get you don't get.

And you're thinking "it has to go back to the shop."

Nope!

You likely have had an "invisible crash." Everything looks normal to
the naked eye, but things you KNOW your machine is supposed to do, it
suddenly isn't doing.

Now the paranoid approach is to reach for the "Start" button (the one
device I consider the most USELESS device on my PC).

The RATIONAL, QUICK approach is to

force a system boot.

Hit the off switch, or hit RESET.

The RESET button is there for a reason.

It's a FAST "quick restart".

If you aren't back to scratch in a couple of minutes, do a Cold Boot.
(turn machine off. Count to 30. Turn machine on.)


Happy New Year!


Talahassee!




>
>"mikesg" wrote:
>
>>
>> It should not matter if it is XP Pro or Home, because it sounds like the
>> users have either been disabled in the SYSTEM settings, or they have
>> been deleted, or possibly the SAM file was changed by a virus or a
>> user.
>>
>> as Dixonian69 began stating, try this:
>>
>> Shut the computer down,
>> Start it up again, and hit the F8 key repeatedly, right when the power
>> comes on... press it once every second or so until the black screen
>> comes up with the options. Using your arrow keys, select "Safe Mode"
>> first in this attempt, and then when it boots it may pass the user
>> login screen, or it may ask for Administrator's Password. Try doing
>> this without any password (Unless you specified an Administrator
>> password at some point) and see if it lets you in. You should be able
>> to repair or restore the computer to an earlier time, but this will get
>> you in. If the administrator account does have a password (If your
>> blank password fails) you will need a tool to blank the admin
>> password.***sounds like this is your case Stan, because you are not
>> entering the correct password Try a blank password (no characters)
>> first***
>>
>> You can use a boot disk like ERD commander, or a program called
>> ASTRUMI..(you will need to burn either ISO to a disk) which is a linux
>> disk that will allow you to "BLANK" the admin password and then try to
>> login with no password again in safe mode.
>>
>> If all else fails, you can use a sam file from another XP home/pro
>> system with similar user accounts installed on it. (I have not tried
>> this but others have had somewhat successful attempts).
>>
>> If you DO get in by the admin attempt, try to enable the user accounts
>> again, or simply create a new one not the same as any of the last
>> users.
>>
>> Navigate to the C:\Documents and Settings\ and see if your usernames
>> are still on their folders. You should be able to enable the accounts
>> again, or create NEW accounts with the SAME IDENTICAL usernames IF the
>> folders are still there. (I have not tried this either)
>>
>> In any case, getting to a desktop is your main objective. If you still
>> fail then I would suggest either 1. Using another XP machine, plug your
>> hard disk in as secondary (use the jumper on the drive to set as either
>> "Slave" or "CS"(Cable Select) and from there you will more than likely
>> be able to recover all your important files.
>>
>>
>> --
>> mikesg
>> Posted via http://ms-os.com Forum to Usenet gateway
>>
>>

.