Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geek Speak => Topic started by: rosalind dna on 22/08/2008 16:53:00
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Earlier today, I left my XP Computer on and when I had returned to it then I
was "locked" out of my own PC. I was asked to type in the account P/W but
I don't have it.
I have searched the workings of my PC carefully, My computer, control Panel bits, even the device manager, but nothing.
When it had locked me out then the taskbar had vanished with browsers, files,
icons so all I could see was my Monitor's wallpaper.
Yesterday I had changed ISPs from BT to Virgin Media, which has disabled the
Windows AV but that I can sort out somehow
How can I fix this to stop it occuring again?
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Go into USER ACCOUNTS from the control panel and click on "CHANGE THE WAY USERS LOG ON OR OFF"
On the next screen that appears make sure there is a tick in the "USE THE WELCOME SCREEN" tick box and then click apply
I believe the way its done could differ depending on if you have the windows SP3 update installed or not but if they do differ the options to turn off the password is still available from the control panel and then user accounts
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Micky I have looked at all of the things that you've suggested
and that tick is there also the PC locked itself again after I'd
eaten a meal, but I pressed the Enter Key and it's seemed to have sorted the problem out.
sure it's not too techy.
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Go into power options from control panel and change the settings in there to home /office, also make sure everything is set to never
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Right click somewhere on a clear area of desktop and select Properties. When the Display Properties dialog opens, click on the Screen Saver tab and then click on Power... When the Power Options Properties dialog opens, click on Advanced and check the the Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby is unticked.
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Micky and LeeE thanks for your advice, I have done the exact bits of good advice that you've both given me.
I have put the Power options to "never" and unticked the "computer
resumes from standby" so it shouldn't ask me for a P/W again.
Anyway I have learnt lots of useful tips too.
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I had left the PC to do something in the kitchen just now and
again it went onto standby with my own photo for screensaver working but yet again I was asked for the account's P/W although
I have unticked it and it says "never"
This photo may help to explain a bit of the problem and I wonder if it's to
do with the new ISP Virgin Media.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi33.tinypic.com%2Fr0ytzp.jpg&hash=31161c2741bed7e20694bacc7a36f409)
Why has it happened again/
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Are your cookies enabled?
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Are your cookies enabled?
Yes I think so but what exactly should I do otherwise?
Go to Tools on IE then internet options etc
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I am not sure, but There must be away to change your user name and password..Is there a forgot my password tab.. LOL.. wish there was...
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I can go into my systems file then preferences and click "about me"(the user)and then click change password and its that simple.. But that is my system.
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My user name is just my real name so that's a bit difficult to change. LOL
Where is the systems file? In the control panel?
Or could I just put the PC on "hibernate" instead so that this P/W account problem doesn't happen?
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That might work! The hibernate mode..
Yes, Usually in there or even look in my computer, you can search for system tools etc and could change your password.. Mine is at the lower left hand corner.. but mine is a lenox system.. sorry about the spelling! Yours is probably in the control panel!
I hope you can fix it!
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ok and I will look as I said in the initial post that mine is an XP PC.
Do you think that one of the possibilites for this happening is because of the new ISP, Virgin media? just a thought
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Hi rosalind
What is the password for Windows user login or another program or app on your PC.
Can you show me a pic of the password box so i know exactly what weare dealing with
Possible if it had the option to allow only those with a password to access the internet.
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Micky this photo might help to explain this problem but sorry I couldn't stop the flash from my digital camera reflecting off the monitor screen even
with the lights off.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi38.tinypic.com%2F5upwna.jpg&hash=bcf643a1dbc368673bee873f1c3bab27)
It is for the Windows login password but it's only done this since yesterday and never before since I've had this PC since last June.
I could try and email Windows for the password. But could another reason/cause be that since I got this cable ISP be that a virus thing emerged. I do hope not.
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I could be wrong but i think that login box comes up if windows belives you are part of a network and YES is probably a direct result of the vigin media cd not being configured correctly when it was loaded onto your pc.
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I could be wrong but i think that login box comes up if windows belives you are part of a network.
Micky that is a possibility but it sounds strange. As we know
that I am not a network.
Would it help if I made the time before the screensaver worked as a longer time than I've got it set at now 10 minutes?
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yes and with the monitor your using you do not need to use a screen saver so you could turn it off completly
Also some screensavers will give you the choice to resume with a password or without a password.
so click on the settings for the screen saver and see whats in their.
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I had left the PC to do something in the kitchen just now and
again it went onto standby with my own photo for screensaver working but yet again I was asked for the account's P/W although
I have unticked it and it says "never"
This photo may help to explain a bit of the problem and I wonder if it's to
do with the new ISP Virgin Media.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi33.tinypic.com%2Fr0ytzp.jpg&hash=31161c2741bed7e20694bacc7a36f409)
Why has it happened again/
I just looked at the picture you shown for the screen saver and next to the wait 15 minutes box their is a tick box that says on resume passsword protect ,try unticking it [;D]. if that fails click on the settings tab.
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Micky I did untick that tab for password protect also the other
related tabs are all unticked, I hope that this finally does help.
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there are several peices of software to reset the passwords for xp not sure If Im allowed to hand it out here but if necessary I can provide an iso bootable cd rom image which can do this Gabe2k2@hotmail.com
check yr pc fo spyware Ive detailed the antispyware I use in the thread " What type of Free Anti-Spyware do you know of? "
My documents and other folders can be reaccessed by enabling the security tab option under properties on the folder if its not there see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/264733 or simply download filesecpatch from http://www.rt-sw.de/en/freeware/freeware.html
and if its the screensaver password you have lost then I simply recomand disabling it!
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Thanks but I have already sorted that problem out with help from ukmicky and Karen
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Tonight I was "locked" out of my PC again but I just used the
computer mouse to click on my name for my account and that as I'd mentioned
last year did the same.
But the PC did it twice in less than 10 minutes this evening.
I don't know why but all of the "right boxes" are ticked.
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I often think you are on a hiding to nothing trying to repair damaged software, it is often quicker in the long run to reformat and reload (after saving any valuable data of course).
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Some relatively simple things you can do.
Try to go back to a earlier 'restore point' before this trouble started.
Read through this page http://www.windows-help-central.com/windows-xp-system-restore.html
After you read it through and feel you get it, just follow the instructions. They recommend you to back up at times, but I've never had problems with using restore points.
It just worked.
Or you could try to reinstall Windows XP but keeping your files etc.
Read this first -" Windows 2000 and XP CDs "- It's in the middle of that page approximately :) at.
http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2109p156id111652.htm
And "Press r for a repair reinstall"
But try 'restore points' first and be sure to choose a date when you didn't have this problem with your computer. The only disadvantage I've seen is that you may have to reinstall some third party software that you already have installed once as that 'restore point' will be a exact copy of how your computer looked then.
But on the other hand it could also be that third party software that F*s it up:)
If so you will notice (hopefully) what program that 'screws' it, pardon my language :)
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Some relatively simple things you can do.
Try to go back to a earlier 'restore point' before this trouble started.
Read through this page http://www.windows-help-central.com/windows-xp-system-restore.html
After you read it through and feel you get it, just follow the instructions. They recommend you to back up at times, but I've never had problems with using restore points.
It just worked.
Or you could try to reinstall Windows XP but keeping your files etc.
Read this first -" Windows 2000 and XP CDs "- It's in the middle of that page approximately :) at.
http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2109p156id111652.htm
And "Press r for a repair reinstall"
But try 'restore points' first and be sure to choose a date when you didn't have this problem with your computer. The only disadvantage I've seen is that you may have to reinstall some third party software that you already have installed once as that 'restore point' will be a exact copy of how your computer looked then.
But on the other hand it could also be that third party software that F*s it up:)
If so you will notice (hopefully) what program that scews it up, pardon my language here :)
yor_on Thanks for your advice only this problem with my XP computer
"Locking" me out of my compouter started on 8 August 2008
so is it bit too far back technically speaking for a "restore point"
which I have never tried to do ever before.
And of course I'd be very worried at losing all of my files, document, photos and favourites/bookmarks also my other things as well.
Including the Anti-Virus' Firewall and the Anti-spyware software.
Although I know that I can find the "restore point" by going to the
"start menu">>>>Control Panel>>>>"Perfomance & Maintenance" then System Restore if that's the right one.
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Yep that's the one:)
Hold on here, did you read the link?
That's what you should do before, there you will see how to come to 'restore'.
I have a Swedish Windows so the translations is not the same.
Restore point just back your computer to that date you choose, so, if you had a period, say three weeks ago, when your computer 'just worked' then you back it to somewhere near that choosing one of the dates, and let windows restart. There should be more than one restore point if you open the program and look. The anti virus etc you should have installed as one of the first things when you got the Operative System XP (I hope:) so that shouldn't be a worry. Take a look and see, if you don't like the dates you see choose cancel/no or hit that 'x' at uppermost right corner of your open 'window', wherein that program 'rests' so to speak, to close it down. Don't worry, it won't explode. You need to tell it to start before anything can happen.
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This is the correct way to go...
Click start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore
I tried to look for your variant in the control panel, but I'm not sure what that name may be in Swedish, and I dont go that way myself, but the name is correct though, so?
But use my way to be sure, please :)
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Ok now I see, you went into 'administrative tools' right?
Whats called 'System and Maintenance' in Windows Vista.
That was a first for me going that way to 'system restore'.
But that's what I like with Windows (intuitive), did you find it by 'playing' or did someone tip you off?
You should be careful with going that way, it's pretty 'low level' and you can do some strange things to your computer by 'playing around' and testing in 'administrative tools'.
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Yep that's the one:)
Hold on here, did you read the link?
That's what you should do before, there you will see how to come to 'restore'.
I have a Swedish Windows so the translations is not the same.
Restore point just back your computer to that date you choose, so, if you had a period, say three weeks ago, when your computer 'just worked' then you back it to somewhere near that choosing one of the dates, and let windows restart. There should be more than one restore point if you open the program and look. The anti virus etc you should have installed as one of the first things when you got the Operative System XP (I hope:) so that shouldn't be a worry. Take a look and see, if you don't like the dates you see choose cancel/no or hit that 'x' at uppermost right corner of your open 'window', wherein that program 'rests' so to speak, to close it down. Don't worry, it won't explode. You need to tell it to start before anything can happen.
Yes I did read the links twice and one thing that concerned me is that the first one, is not to do with Microsoft's Windows site and I've got a Windows XP PC that I got in June 07.
No yor_on I didn't think that my PC would explode, well I hope not. But I have got a lot of data regarding my genelogical researches over the past year and I do not wish to lose them.
This is the correct way to go...
Click start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore
I tried to look for your variant in the control panel, but I'm not sure what that name may be in Swedish, and I dont go that way myself, but the name is correct though, so?
But use my way to be sure, please :)
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Ok now I see, you went into 'administrative tools' right?
Whats called 'System and Maintenance' in Windows Vista.
That was a first for me going that way to 'system restore'.
But that's what I like with Windows (intuitive), did you find it by 'playing' or did someone tip you off?
You should be careful with going that way, it's pretty 'low level' and you can do some strange things to your computer by 'playing around' and testing in 'administrative tools'.
I was told on this thread by UKMicky what to do also because I'm someone with a curious nature, who likes to try to sort things out for herself and that's what I always do before I ask for help.
Also I am very careful when it comes to anything technical regarding my PC really.
I will try to sort out the Swedish - English via Google's translation service if I can later.
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That is in fact the best way to learn, to play around :)
As long as you remember to never 'click' on anything with an 'ok' on it, or similar.
Well, not before you're sure what that 'ok' will do that is::))
As for it being a 'proper' Windows help page, if you're doubtful.
Well, it is :) Even if it's not on a Microsoft server. I won't say 'trust me on this'
Take a look here 'http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084' And compare.
What you will find after playing around is that sometimes the advice/solution won't be found there, even though it probably exist 'somewhere' on one of those pages. Sometimes though that will be the only place you will find a solution, ah well.
There is no need to translate into Swedish Rosalind, it will only drive you mad :)
If you have a DVD R/W player you can back your research up before doing this, although the 'restore' in XP haven't destroyed my file system yet so I shouldn't worry to much about that. But burn a CD/DVD and test that your windows can read it back before to be sure. that function is 'built in' in XP, but it's best to have a third part burning program for it. Good luck Rosalind.
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That is in fact the best way to learn, to play around :)
As long as you remember to never 'click' on anything with an 'ok' on it, or similar.
Well, not before you're sure what that 'ok' will do that is::))
As for it being a 'proper' Windows help page, if you're doubtful.
Well, it is :) Even if it's not on a Microsoft server. I won't say 'trust me on this'
Take a look here 'http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084' And compare.
What you will find after playing around is that sometimes the advice/solution won't be found there, even though it probably exist 'somewhere' on one of those pages. Sometimes though that will be the only place you will find a solution, ah well.
There is no need to translate into Swedish Rosalind, it will only drive you mad :)
If you have a DVD R/W player you can back your research up before doing this, although the 'restore' in XP haven't destroyed my file system yet so I shouldn't worry to much about that. But burn a CD/DVD and test that your windows can read it back before to be sure. that function is 'built in' in XP, but it's best to have a third part burning program for it. Good luck Rosalind.
yor_on thanks for your advice I will try out some of this System Restore advice after I've given it some thought though, that's cautious me speaking.
I never click on anything saying "ok" unless I have cause to do so or am resetting something.
Otherwise I either click on "cancel" or on "X" to close whatever,
Alright I won't translate this into Swedish as yes it might take too long,