re: Can't get by password dialog at startup
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 3:23 am
Windows Me Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by Jack Gulley
(5917 messages posted)
Try using the TAB key as that should get you to the Cancel box.
You also have the option of booting into Safe Mode by holding the F8 or Ctrl key
after powering up the system before the initial Windows ME splash screen is displayed.
In Safe Mode, low screen resolution, you should be able to do some fixes.
But as you have the Startup diskette (and must know a little bit about using DOS
commands), then that would be the best way to go. Boot from it and switch to the
C:\Windows folder and do a DIR C:\Windows\*.PWL and this will show you the
Network Logon user password files. Just delete all of the these *.PWL files. This
will remove all passwords. (I suspect the system got a Virus/Worm/Trojan on it that
will have to be found and fixed.)
Then from the DOS prompt do a restore of the Registry from the day or morning
before the changes were made. Run SCANREG /restore and it will bring up a
small window that will show the last five system registry backups taken. Scroll its
window up and down (its too small) and select the one with the date and time of that
day it was messed up if the time is before they started, or select the day before.
When this is done, remove the DOS diskette and reboot the system. It should come
up with the desktop restored to before they started. The Network Logon password prompt
will come up and you do NOT have to enter a user ID and password and it will not
ask for one again, or set a new one if you wish.
If you still have problems with it, try running a good Virus scan.
As a last resort you can try running a System Restore if it is enabled and had
a System Restore Checkpoint set before all this. Check in Start - Programs - Accessories
- System Tools - System Restore and proceed and it will show you any recent Check
Points it has saved. That might take some time to run. Do not use one that over several
weeks old.
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