The Problem goes like this: My home PC "Hp (XE4400?)" laptop worked just fine earlier today, but when I tried to use it later, It keeps asking password to my account and guest account (which is now enabled, but hasn't been before this)! I dont have a password in my account, and I have always kept guest account "disabled". Also tried to log in as an "administrator" without password, like it should be but cant do that either.. So now I can't log into my computer! What's wrong? Popup msg after failed login says something like "Can't log you to a domain or computer or something sometthing..." anybody can solve this problem please?
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Xp Home suddenly started asking account passwords? 1
- Thread starter BitFight
- Start date
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1
- #2
Perhaps your setup of not having passwords has allowed a third person to tamper with your computer in your absence?
You haven't accidentally swapped laptops have you?
Try Safe Mode and see if you can enter the Administrator account with your blank password.
This article is not as hopeful as it sounds but have a read anyway.
321305 - How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your Password Expires
There are many sites that can help you further with lost or forgotten passwords (Google for instance) but this site for security and ethical reasons does not support that policy. Sorry about that, but if we can help in any other way please try us again.
You haven't accidentally swapped laptops have you?
Try Safe Mode and see if you can enter the Administrator account with your blank password.
This article is not as hopeful as it sounds but have a read anyway.
321305 - How to Log On to Windows XP If You Forget Your Password or Your Password Expires
There are many sites that can help you further with lost or forgotten passwords (Google for instance) but this site for security and ethical reasons does not support that policy. Sorry about that, but if we can help in any other way please try us again.
- Thread starter
- #3
Anything is possible but it would not be in a virus, worm or trojan's interest to lock you out of your own computer unless that was the intention of the hacker.
These have nothing to do with your original problem but you may find them useful if you ever get back in to your laptop.
At the moment the inbuilt firewall will protect your computer from incoming hacks, it will not (yet) prevent anything that does get in phoning home.
A good site for XP's firewall is -
There are plenty of firewalls around (many are freeware). This may help you further.
Depending on what firewall you end up with you may require a third party program to block "pop ups". A separate virus scanner (and Trojan or Worm scanner) will be required as firewalls don't check files on your computer for virus or other infection, they just stop programs from phoning home.
Most nasties enter your computer via email attachments or downloads. A google search will find many possibilities for scanners, again some virus scanners are freeware, many are not.
A couple of freeware anti spyware programs are advisable.
Spybot
Ad-aware
They will check your computer for spyware and adware.
These following sites are general security sites.
Beginners Guides: Spyware Protection and Removal
This is an 8 page article but worth the read.
Here's one from CERT, the Carnegie-Mellon Software Engineering Institute.
Some security ideas for you.
Set your surfing user up as a Limited User so they can't do damage to your system.
Microsoft TechNet Security - Columns
These have nothing to do with your original problem but you may find them useful if you ever get back in to your laptop.
At the moment the inbuilt firewall will protect your computer from incoming hacks, it will not (yet) prevent anything that does get in phoning home.
A good site for XP's firewall is -
There are plenty of firewalls around (many are freeware). This may help you further.
Depending on what firewall you end up with you may require a third party program to block "pop ups". A separate virus scanner (and Trojan or Worm scanner) will be required as firewalls don't check files on your computer for virus or other infection, they just stop programs from phoning home.
Most nasties enter your computer via email attachments or downloads. A google search will find many possibilities for scanners, again some virus scanners are freeware, many are not.
A couple of freeware anti spyware programs are advisable.
Spybot
Ad-aware
They will check your computer for spyware and adware.
These following sites are general security sites.
Beginners Guides: Spyware Protection and Removal
This is an 8 page article but worth the read.
Here's one from CERT, the Carnegie-Mellon Software Engineering Institute.
Some security ideas for you.
Set your surfing user up as a Limited User so they can't do damage to your system.
Microsoft TechNet Security - Columns
- Thread starter
- #5
UPDATE ABOUT MY PROBLEM!
Yesterday I realized that this problem i have is not related to passwords of any kind, It is just that after Logon Screen i have black screen and a popup message; "the specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted"! Looks for me like something important is lost or missing or..? I have this handy booting floppy that i can use to view/change users passwords and it shows that all of my accounts have a blank password, so this problem is not about passwords. What the h**l this could be then??
I've tried Safemodes and all related stuff byt they won't work. Any new ideas??
Yesterday I realized that this problem i have is not related to passwords of any kind, It is just that after Logon Screen i have black screen and a popup message; "the specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted"! Looks for me like something important is lost or missing or..? I have this handy booting floppy that i can use to view/change users passwords and it shows that all of my accounts have a blank password, so this problem is not about passwords. What the h**l this could be then??
I've tried Safemodes and all related stuff byt they won't work. Any new ideas??
Were you using your laptop away from home or at work and came home with settings that only work from your away place but not at home?
256083 - Error Message: The Specified Domain Either Does Not Exist or Could Not Be Contacted
298656 - Event ID 1054 Is Logged in the Application Event Log
256083 - Error Message: The Specified Domain Either Does Not Exist or Could Not Be Contacted
298656 - Event ID 1054 Is Logged in the Application Event Log
- Thread starter
- #7
Yup, i've read all of those articles before. The computer is only in home use and has never been part of any domain or AD or anything. Operating system is Windows XP HOME and if I understood right, You can't even join a domain with XP Home edition (?) This is getting really weird. Of course this problem could be "solved".., with "Recovery CD":s and installing WIN again but..
You said you can't do much in Safe Mode too, I was wondering if on the way into Safe Mode did it offer you the option to use System Restore?
It sounds like your Registry may have become corrupted.
Can you load the Recovery Console?
HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)
If your OEM????? Recovery Disk doesn't support that option you may be ably to load it from another XP or 2000 CD or from this link.
If you cannot start your computer, you can run the Recovery Console from the Microsoft Windows XP startup disks (or the Windows XP CD-ROM). This article describes how to perform this task of creating floppies so you can load the Recovery Console via the options at the beginning of XP Setup, you do not have to do the setup of XP after using the Recovery Console. You will only be using the Recovery Console option to repair your current installation.
310994 - Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks
You will have some access if you can load the XP Recovery Console onto the machine.
If you get it loaded try this. An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.
If by the time you get down here you are ready to throw up your hands in despair (and the laptop out the window), this might be your best solution (not throwing the laptop) but this article.
You could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)
And if that fails it might be reformat and reinstall time.
It sounds like your Registry may have become corrupted.
Can you load the Recovery Console?
HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)
If your OEM????? Recovery Disk doesn't support that option you may be ably to load it from another XP or 2000 CD or from this link.
If you cannot start your computer, you can run the Recovery Console from the Microsoft Windows XP startup disks (or the Windows XP CD-ROM). This article describes how to perform this task of creating floppies so you can load the Recovery Console via the options at the beginning of XP Setup, you do not have to do the setup of XP after using the Recovery Console. You will only be using the Recovery Console option to repair your current installation.
310994 - Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks
You will have some access if you can load the XP Recovery Console onto the machine.
If you get it loaded try this. An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.
If by the time you get down here you are ready to throw up your hands in despair (and the laptop out the window), this might be your best solution (not throwing the laptop) but this article.
You could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)
And if that fails it might be reformat and reinstall time.
- Thread starter
- #9
Ok, thank you linney. I think the easiest solution is to reinstall whole s**t again.. The thing is just that i don't have those Recovery CD:s here right now.. They are at my girlfriend's home, 300 kilometers away from here, hmm.. Have to wait my next visit there.
- Thread starter
- #10
Sorry you have to do that, I hope it was not just some silly switch or similar hardware setting on your laptop that got accidentally knocked to make it think it had to connect to a domain.
To help with any updates after you reinstall, Microsoft have released several rollup packages of recent updates and also a free CD with all the security and Service Pack updates current until the end of October 2003.
826939 - Update Rollup 1 for Windows XP Is Available
Kernel rollup:
To help with any updates after you reinstall, Microsoft have released several rollup packages of recent updates and also a free CD with all the security and Service Pack updates current until the end of October 2003.
826939 - Update Rollup 1 for Windows XP Is Available
Kernel rollup:
- Status
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