xp recovery console password problem

[jakeisstoked]

hi,
i have the worst problem (well maybe not THE worst), but anyway, i really need to get into recovery console to reestore my kernel32.dll, this HAS to be done to get my graphics card to boot with my pc, but windows xp recovery console says my administrator password is wring, but i know my passwords, so i boot into safe my and sure enough i log onto administrator with the same password i always use, then i change the password to blank, but still i cant get into the recovery console, i only have two accounts on my computer, both, now have blank passwords, how the hell can i get into the recovery console?
thanks if you have any clues.
jake

 

[bcastner]

Just to be sure, in XP do a Start, Run, control userpasswords2 and uncheck to use passwords. Then when Recovery Console asks for a password just hit enter.

 

[bcastner]

A quick second thought, if what you need to do is replace a file that you believe is corrupt you can do this through MSCONFIG without the recovery console.

I would feel better if you could say why you think your graphics card installation screwed up the kernel32.dll. It just doesn't sound right as a solution to the problem of getting your graphics card to work.

Finally, in the interest of completeness, you can use the group policy snap-in gpedit.msc from the Run line to remove any password restrictions on the recovery console. It is a local policy setting and can be removed.

 

[jakeisstoked]

thanks for your responses, but i still have a problem, turning of the passwords really got me into a fix, my computer just said "starting windows" or whatever infinitly, it took me ages before i tried alt-tabbing, and behind the blue screen was a "unable to log you on because of an account restriction", it was trying to log me on as an administrator, it was only luck i tried it.

oh and about my video card, its a pretty rare compatibility issue, wheere the computer wont boot after you stick it in "radeon 9000 with XP, its in the ms knowladge base", thr kernel32.dll needs to be replaced before the comuter starts up (because when i put the card in xp wont boot full stop) so recovery console is the only way.

 

[bcastner]

jake,

If your computer has an ASUS motherboard with Intel onboard graphics that cannot be disabled in BIOS, and you are trying to use the Radeon 9000 PCI adapter, you are likely to find that it cannot be made to work.

 

[jakeisstoked]

woah my last reply had a heap of typoes. sorry, i should have mentioned that its an agp, i do have an asus motherbaord and when a graphics card is in the agp slot, the onbaord graphics are disabled automatically, i have had agp graphics cards in there before and they have worked fine, and i know the card works cause ive tried it in another pcs, and i know the card works onmy pc because,it booted ONCE before the kernel32.dll was damaged. i think im at a loss here *sigh*, thanks for your help though.

 

[wolluf]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q308402

may be of use.

 

[jakeisstoked]

thanks wolluf, i installed the fix but sadly it didn't help. i think i found what *may* be causing the problem, i have an old account file on my computer that used to be an administrator, i deleted it a long time ago, the account isnt there, but theres still a file in documents and settings that not even the administrator can open, caould this be causeing the trouble?

 

[linney]

Try this (after backing up registry key)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole

Change the value "SecurityLevel" to 00000000 and see if you can get in.

As for that old Admin folder try this.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (Q308421)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/21.asp

 

[jakeisstoked]

damn, it seems whenever i try a solution i find that my problem gets worse and worse. thanks for your info linney, i can now view/delete the old account file, but i havn't yet. when i looked at the permissions for that folder for the first time, only one unknown user had permissions for it, it was just listed as a SID number. and all of the sub files and folders had no permissions set at all, strange.

i tried searching the registry for the SID address and i found on entry, that seems to be a backup of some sort, but im really reluctant to delete it. oh well, back to pulling my hair out.

 

[pritska]

Hey, I am experiencing the SAME darn problem with my sony vaio laptop. I was wondering where to get the fix that microsoft talks about as I can't get it from the knowledge base page, apparently i have to pay for it or something!!!

 

[linney]

You should find information about Security Identifiers (SID's) in the Help and Support Program. It should provide details of what user type the number refers to.

I wish to correct the registry fix I mentioned above about the Recovery Console password, the value should be changed from 00000000 to 00000001 to bypass password.

312149 - HOW TO: Enable Administrator to Log On Automatically in Recovery Console

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312149&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Also a security fault in XP allows you to use a Windows 2000 CD to bypass passwords into the Recovery Console of XP.

http://forums.zdnet.com/group/zd.Se.../@article@mark@38527?EXP=ALL&VWM=&ROS=&OC=300

pritska,

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q308402

I think this only applies if you haven't installed SP1.