Computer Help? Please? *sob*

[AmyDeLune]

Okey doke. I am a computer technophyte so I will try to be as clear as possible...

I'm running Windows XP SP2 Home Edition, on an HP Notebook laptop.

Yes, I know "GET A MAC"...:eyes: send me a big bag'O'money and I will. :P

When I turn on the computer, after all the regular splash screens I get the Logon page. It tells me to click my user name to Login. The problem is,there is no user name!!!

I have attempted to load in SAFE Mode (pressing F8), only to have the same problem there. There is no name for me to click to Login.

Any suggestions?
I really just want to save my photos and some documents, if I have to reformat the drive, so be it, but I really need to save those files...:cry:

Thank You!!!:loveya:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. You need to set up an account for yourself...

I did this, with help, and I'm damned if I remember how I did it...

Sorry...

Do you have an instruction book?

I'd start there, if you don't get any real help here...

I'm so sorry...

:hug:

[AmyDeLune]

3. Thank you

I've found info for setting up user and administrator accounts, but you have to be able to get into Windoze to access it. The instruction book tells me to get more information from the Help Menu...in...Windows...(you see my problem here?) Nothing like circular logic...:crazy: :silly:

Thank You!:loveya: :hug:

[lligrd]

2. Does It Have A Place To Type In A Logon Name

My hp came with HP_Administrator as the default and I still use it with no password.

[AmyDeLune]

4. Nope! It's blank where the user name and icon usually are

No empty box or flashing cursor. The only "clickable" thing there is the "turn off computer" button. I'm stumped...

Thanks! :hug:

[lligrd]

5. What Happens If You Use Contrl Alt Delete?

[AmyDeLune]

6. I haven't tried that yet...

but I suppose it won't make anything worse at this point...(off to push buttons, back in a minute)

Thanks again! :)

[AmyDeLune]

7. Okay, that did Something...

It brought up a box for me to type my password in...the only problem is I never had a password...:shrug: and it's not going to let me in till I give it one...:crazy:

The user name is "owner"...

Thank You!!! :loveya: :hug:

[lligrd]

8. Try It Without A Password

If that doesn't work try HP_Administrator as the username and no password.

[AmyDeLune]

13. Okay, I'll give that a shot! n/t :-)

[some guy]

9. something to try

click START
click CONTROL PANEL
click USER ACCOUNTS

see if you have any user accounts set up.

there should be at least one.

[lligrd]

10. I Don't Believe She Can Get To The User Accounts

Can't get past the User Logon screen. You need to be logged on a an admin to change or add user accounts.

[some guy]

11. maybe not

I had a similar problem when I bought this pc. It had XP-SP2 installed, but I can't remember how I got past the problem. I think I may have taken it back to the store to get the accounts they had created removed.

:shrug:

[lligrd]

12. Hope That Is Not Required

What a pain in the behind.

[AmyDeLune]

15. lligrd is correct! I can't get to the Start menu, it won't let me past Login

Thanks though, when *crosses fingers & toes* I get back into the program I'm going to check that out.

Thanks! :hug:

[lligrd]

14. Guessing You Either Got In

or threw the laptop through the window.

[AmyDeLune]

16. About to try the admin login...

Then I'll let the opossums have it!:P *sigh* not really...stooopid Windoze...

Thanks! :hug:

[AmyDeLune]

17. *sigh* That didn't work either...

I'm going to try to get hold of the local Computer Genius Guy tomorrow and see if he can fix it.

Thanks for all your help!:loveya: :hug: :thumbsup: The situation doesn't look quite so hopelss now.

[lligrd]

18. Good Luck - Some Passwords You Might Try

with the hp_administrator or simply administrator logon are: administrator, admin, admin123, password? and password. Also try administrator logon and blank password.

Is this a brand new machine or did it have a previous owner?

[AmyDeLune]

21. One previous owner (they gave it to me for free)

It was freshly reformatted and had been given a clean bill of health by Circuit City (pre-buy out) at the time, which was over a year ago.
Windoze downloaded 4 security updates yesterday and that was when the trouble started...grrrr...(so secure, no one can get in!):crazy:

I tried a variety of possible passwords, but none of them took. I'm going to double check with the folks I got the computer from, but I'm 99.9% positive that they didn't enter a password.

Thanks!

[Inchworm]

19. Why am I thinking PWL?

I'm no pro.. if all else fails there is a way to delete all passwords :D

:hug:

Good Luck!

:hi:

[lligrd]

20. Worth A Try If It Had A Previous Owner

Do a file search for *.pwl. She might also try a file search for password*.*.

[Inchworm]

22. I am afraid to say such things

but thats what I'd have done :)

:hi:

[AmyDeLune]

25. Is there a way to do a file search from where I'm stuck?

If there's a way to get in and do it, the local Computer Genius Guy should be able to do it. He went through and deleted Norton SystemWorks from this machine (my Mom's) line by line without losing a single old e-mail of jpeg file.

I know zilch about programming, so I'm a'skeert to go in and start messing with file names...:scared:

[lligrd]

29. Am Thinking Your Guru Is A Good Idea

You can get in but not through safe start and making a mistake could be do more harm than good. The best bet is restoring the machine to before the windows update by using F10 (at least on my hp)and using the windows restore. Not even sure that will work if you can't log in. The other way is to use the F8 and choose an option that lets you get to the files before you log on to windows. I vote for the guru.

[AmyDeLune]

23. That sounds like fun *evil grin*

err...what's PWL?

Thank You!:hug:

[Inchworm]

24. well.. depending on your confidence level

and the chance stuff hasnt changed since I last had to do what you are doing...

Once you get in computer, do a search for *.pwl (star dot pwl) and change ALL the PWLs to PWL2 or something. Me.. I'd just delete them, but Im insane.

Then after ou delete, reboot. It should ask for password.. leave blank and continue. All paswords are in PWL files so you are brand new.

Dont let me break your computer from miles away though. I'm adept enough at that when I'm in the same room with them. :)

G'luck

:)

[AmyDeLune]

26. Thanks!

I'm still not able to Login though, so I guess I won't get to see the Blue Screen of Death tonight.:7

Thank you!:hug:

[Inchworm]

27. does f-8 let you in safe mode?

I think you said no, but are there other options?

Oh, and you are posting from a diff computer obviously huh?

:)

[AmyDeLune]

28. Nope, can't get in that way either.

I'm posting on my Mom's old Windoze 98 model.:)

If I press F2 during startup, I can (theoretically) get into the BIOS, but I don't know what they are, much less what to do with them if I can get to them so I haven't done that yet.

:)

[BlueJazz]

30. If you have a friend who has a computer it's very easy to save your ...

.."stuff".

I won't go any further until you answer

[AmyDeLune]

32. *ears prick up* Really...? *hopeful puppy look*

Oh, please, please, please do tell...:thumbsup: :loveya:

[BlueJazz]

35. Well....They have to have a Desktop Computer....

You take your hard-drive out of yours...Don't be scared..it's easy as pie...
They are usually located either in the front or side of your laptop... accessible by 2-3 screws.
They are a little smaller than a cig. pack and 1/2 as thin.

take your hard-drive to another computer...set it up where his/her dvd was..
(take the cable from their dvd or CD drive and plug it in to your hard-drive....you'll need an adapter.. (Compusa)

I know this sounds like a lot of stuff so let me know if you want to go any further. :)

[AmyDeLune]

37. It sounds waaay better than what I've got now (a locked computer :-(

Please, continue!:yourock: :hug:

[BlueJazz]

40. When you get it hooked up to the other computer you can just...

...run Windows explorer and copy any files you want to save to the Desktop computer.
After that, use the Desktop Computer to format your drive.
Put your drive back in your computer and install the XP...

You can put your "Saved Stuff" on to a CD and then back to yours..

I know this all sounds a little "Techy"..but it's really not that hard to do.
IF you don't have the XP on a disk ..Email me..

[AmyDeLune]

43. Thank You Very Very Much!!!

If all else fails, I can at least save my irreplaceable stuff.
:loveya:Thank You!!! :loveya:

The folks who gave me the computer gave me all the original software too, as well as back-ups for the periferals, so I'm good there, thanks again! :hug:

[Lethe]

31. I haven't tried this, but it looks like it might work:

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

It says it works with Win XP SP2. You make a boot disk or boot cd with the files on the website, then boot to it instead of windows. Then supposedly you can run a program that will let you alter any valid local user/pass on the system.

Good Luck!

[AmyDeLune]

33. Thank You!

I will check this out!:loveya: :hug:

[qanda]

34. There's a DU Computer Support Group

And they could probably offer some extra assistance. Here's the link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

[AmyDeLune]

36. Thanks!

I'm headed there next!:loveya: :hi:

[seemunkee]

38. I installed some updates last night and my wife couldn't log in this AM

I wonder if there is a problem with the updates from yesterday.
I'll have to check my machine out when I get home today.

[AmyDeLune]

39. That's what I'm thinking...

Good Luck!:hug:

[Kali]

41. oooo I am glad I did NOT instal them yet.

I was going to recommend the DU computer forum too, but somebody already did.

Off to see what is happening there.

[seemunkee]

42. Got into mine without problems

There was an empty box on the screen and I hit enter. Probably agreed to let them spy on me or something but it went to the login screen right without any problems.

[AmyDeLune]

44. Hmmm... I didn't get an empty box...

maybe that was the problem...:tinfoilhat:

Glad your machine's okay. :)

[AmyDeLune]

45. Shamelessly kicking in hope of more advice...

:)
Computer Guru has been e-mailed but I've not had a reply yet...