XP home - No User Accounts

[Leztek]

Hello all...

I have an XP Home machine on my bench. When the machine boots up it stops at the login screen and no user names appear. I pressed CTRL ALT DEL and use the administartor login with no password. It says user access is denied by local policy (or somethng like that).

I can login to the recovery console with the administrator with no passord fine?

I popped the drive into another machine and scanned for viruses... none found. I ran it through chkdsk and no major issues?

Anyone run into this before. Ideas suggestions..

I am guessing a virus or spyware of some sort?

Thanks

 

[MHCG]

Boot to safe mode, login as administrator create an admin user account.

 

[Pc Fixed Right]

in safe mode start-->Run type "control userpasswords2" check whatever accounts appear for "user must enter passwords etc..." check it on hit apply restart

 

[Cristos]

Can you log into windows as the admin? I don't beleive this to be a virus or malicious software. When did this first occur and did you make any changes to the registry?

 

[Leztek]

The issue is I cannot log in as anyone...

Not even to safe mode...

If I press ctr alt del twice and use the classic login with admin and no password, I get the error you cannot login in interactivley on this computer... which I know is in group policy.

At this point I cannot login in at all?

Thanks

 

[MHCG]

connect it to the network and edit the group policy remotely.

 

[thecoldone06]

connect it to the network and edit the group policy remotely.

If its a local group policy on the machine, I didn't think you could edit that remotely. learn something new everyday.

 

[MHCG]

Sure you can. Open MMC add in the group policy snap in. When it asks you to select a group policy object click browse instead of allowing it to select the local computer. Browse to the computer or type in the IP address. I've done this before. Granted it was on computers in an Active Directory domain, but it should work the same for workgroups.

 

[Leztek]

Well... I do not have an XP domain handy... I def not going to take the risk of taking into the office and connected to my work domain.

Is there anyway to run a repair install over it?

Thanks

 

[thecoldone06]

Laztek: Yes you can install over it but thats a little extreme. If you have a laptop or another computer just create a small workgroup network with a crossover cable between the two.

MHCG: Yes your right. I didn't think about that option. Good call.

 

[MHCG]

Well... I do not have an XP domain handy... I def not going to take the risk of taking into the office and connected to my work domain.

Is there anyway to run a repair install over it?

Thanks

Doesn't have to be in a domain, workgroup should be fine.

 

[Leztek]

OK..

my bad I though I needed a full blown Domain, not just a workgroup. I will try it tonight...

Thanks for all the help... You guys rock!

 

[Leztek]

Just thought of something... How can I add the machine that I am having issues to the workgroup, if I cannot log into it at all?

Thanks again...

Jeff

 

[thecoldone06]

Just thought of something... How can I add the machine that I am having issues to the workgroup, if I cannot log into it at all?

Thanks again...

Jeff

That is very true. I'm not sure if this would work or not but if you use the UBCD4Win CD (if you have one) you might be able to go to start >> run >> enter secpol.msc and see if you can edit the security policy that way. Turn off the login interactively option.

 

[stevenamills]

A couple of things to consider -

1. When you're using UBCDWin, have you tried a registry rollback. This has saved me more than once.

2. Could you have userinit problems - either the file or registry entry.

Just some things to try.

steve

 

[Leztek]

Steve...

Could you give me further instructions on how to do those two things...

Thanks

 

[stevenamills]

Steve...

Could you give me further instructions on how to do those two things...

Thanks

Sure - there's a program in UBCDWin called RegResWiz - basically, it restores the registry which has been saved in a restore point. I've had good luck with it, but I'm sure you know all the usual warnings.....

My other thought was to replace userinit.exe with a known good copy and create the basic userinit registry entry. That may have a shot.

Good luck.....

steve

 

[Leztek]

Need a little more help...

Does anyone know where I can get a ubcd4win iso.

I am trying to build one and I keep getting errors?

Thanks all...

 

[Leztek]

OK guys...I was finally able to create a UBCD4Win...

Now i restored the registy... no luck...

Checked for Viruses and Spyware no luck?

I can use secpol is not available on XP pro?

Does anyone know how edit the security policies? Is it in the registry?

Thanks