microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin

Nepatsfan

Thanks for this but fortunately it was nothing quite so drastic.

I changed the login screen to classic mode and typed in the username and
password. That revealed that NumLock was on, even though the LED suggested
it was off. Switching NumLock off (which activated the LED !!) allowed me
to enter the username and password which were OK.

I still don't know whats going on with the NumLock key but at least we can
log into the laptop using a workaround.

Regards
"Nepatsfan" wrote in message
news:uqOyragiIHA.4376@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "ROWAN" wrote in message
> news:DE25963D-E27D-48B7-BDFE-D5B592ED505F@microsoft.com...
>> Our family laptop seems to have a corrupted password file. On boot up,
>> we have tried logging into every account but it is not accepting the
>> password. Caps Lock is not switched on. We do not have a boot or recover
>> disc. Any suggestions? As a last resort, I guess we could reinstall the
>> OS but I'd rather not. I can get a copy of a boot disc from a friend if
>> necessary.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Rowan
>
>
> You can try logging on with the built-in Administrator account and going
> to Control Panel -> User Accounts to change the password. How you log on
> with the Administrator account depends on what version of XP you have
> installed on your computer.
>
> XP Home Edition
>
> To logon with the built-in Administrator account in XP Home Edition you
> have to restart the computer and boot into Safe Mode.
> To start in Safe Mode, reboot your computer and
> start tapping the F8 key as soon as you see anything displayed
> on the screen.
> Keep hitting F8 until the Advanced Startup
> Options menu appears.
> Use the up and down arrow keys on your
> keyboard to select Safe Mode.
> Hit Enter.
> Click on the Administrator icon.
> Unless you changed it, the password should be blank.
>
> XP Professional
> Restart your computer.
> If the Welcome screen is displayed, hit the Ctrl + Alt + Del key
> combination twice.
> This should bring up the Log on to Windows dialog.
> Enter Administrator in the User Name box.
> If you set up a password for this account, enter it now. Otherwise, leave
> the password box blank.
>
> If you're still locked out of your computer, take a look at these web
> sites for information on creating a bootable CD that will let you reset
> passwords.
>
> Offline NT Password & Registry Editor
> http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
>
> Ultimate Boot CD for Windows®
> http://www.ubcd4win.com/howto.htm
>
> Note: If order to repair or reinstall your copy of XP, you would need to
> use a CD that matches in version and type your current installation.
> Bottom line, you can't just use any XP installation CD.
>
> Good luck
>
> Nepatsfan
>