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XP Gurus - Logon issue !


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Got on my mom's computer today to help her do some window's updates. Got them all DL'ed and installed. Restarted and we come to the logon screen.

 

Let me backup: she had some issues with viruses and just crap that clogged her computer. It was totally erased, cleaned and formatted then the OS (XP Pro) was put back on. This was about 2 weeks ago. We put on AVG AntiVirus, Spybot and Ad-aware. This thing should be squeeky clean.

 

Anyways, I couldn't remember the NEW password that she just put on for the new install. I put one in then another. Not sure but probably tried 5 times, then I got the right one from her like I should've done in the first place. Well, I put the right one in, and ....

 

the screen goes black with an error message window.. it says something like

 

"The program entered a command, but the command length is incorrect. Please contact your system administrator."

 

Now, it only did this WHEN the right password was entered. If I purposely entered the wrong password (to see what it'd do) it would just show the little bubble about the password being incorrect. I can't imagine this thing having a mental virus breakdown 2 weeks after a total reformat and all, with it being cleaned and monitored really well.

 

So, WTF? Does it have a password timeout if I incorrectly enter the password a certain number of times? Is there a way to get around this logon? WTF?

 

Thanks fellas,

Scott

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Got on my mom's computer today to help her do some window's updates.  Got them all DL'ed and installed.  Restarted and we come to the logon screen.

 

Let me backup:  she had some issues with viruses and just crap that clogged her computer.  It was totally erased, cleaned and formatted then the OS (XP Pro) was put back on.  This was about 2 weeks ago.  We put on AVG AntiVirus, Spybot and Ad-aware.  This thing should be squeeky clean.

 

Anyways, I couldn't remember the NEW password that she just put on for the new install.  I put one in then another.  Not sure but probably tried 5 times, then I got the right one from her like I should've done in the first place.  Well, I put the right one in, and ....

 

the screen goes black with an error message window.. it says something like

 

"The program entered a command, but the command length is incorrect.  Please contact your system administrator."

 

Now, it only did this WHEN the right password was entered.  If I purposely entered the wrong password (to see what it'd do) it would just show the little bubble about the password being incorrect.  I can't imagine this thing having a mental virus breakdown 2 weeks after a total reformat and all, with it being cleaned and monitored really well. 

 

So, WTF?  Does it have a password timeout if I incorrectly enter the password a certain number of times?  Is there a way to get around this logon?  WTF?

 

Thanks fellas,

Scott

349707[/snapback]

Microsoft generally locks up an account after three failed logon attempts. You need an admin to unlock it. You iwill probably have to resetup the computer, but when you add users, make sure to add one extra as an admin. This will give you the backdoor to fix what just happened.

 

Can you logon as admin?

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WTF, how do I do that? I know I can hit CTRL+ALT+DEL in the logon to get to... is it the admin logon screen or what? All she his is her user set up. There isn't an Admin user to login under.....

 

What a PITA her computer is. It's always getting f'ed up and screwey. Perfect example as to why I'm now on a Mac. :evil:

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If you're seeing the fancy little icons to log into hit ctrl alt del. You can type the word administrator for the login name and probably "password" for the password. I think some use administrator for the password too. This is if you didn't change the admin login after installing xp. Then you can right click on my computer, click manage, go to users and fix the password for her login.

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If you're seeing the fancy little icons to log into hit ctrl alt del. You can type the word administrator for the login name and probably "password" for the password. I think some use administrator for the password too. This is if you didn't change the admin login after installing xp. Then you can right click on my computer, click manage, go to users and fix the password for her login.

350105[/snapback]

 

:clap:

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  • 4 weeks later...
Did you ever get into that pc

362966[/snapback]

one of the first questions XP asks you during the install is what you want the administrator password to be. ask her for the password she chose for the administrator account. it doesn't default to password or administrator. if she can't remember, you'll need something like ERD Commander, or just re-install the operating system

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