Log-In User Accounts Missing

Question

Please understand I am not very 'computer savvy' in terms of technical language, so it would be very much appreciated if advice was given as simply as possible. I have a Dell Windows XP. I went to use it, but then noticed my sister was logged on (her account name said 3 programs were running). I was originally going to turn it off anyways (just to make things run faster for when I would use it), so I logged onto her user, x-ed out her programs, then turned it off from her user (Start>Turn Off>Turn Off). It shut down, I turned it off with the power switch, then turned it back on (with the power switch again). Nothing out of the ordinary. However, when the computer loaded up the screen where it should have listed all of the computer's user accounts with their icons, there was nothing. All that's there is the blue screen with the Turn Off Computer option in the bottom-left corner, the Microsoft Windows XP logo on the left-hand of the screen, a vertical white bar down the middle (all of these normal), and nothing on the right-hand side where all of the user accounts should be listed. I cannot logon; all I can do is turn it off again. I have tried restarting, turning it off and back on, starting in Safe Mode; nothing. I have absolutely no idea what caused this, nor how to fix it. I am praying this is not another virus, since we just had the computer wiped last week (for about the fourth time in 6 months). I don't see how it possibly could even be a virus when all I did was turn it off and back on. My sister reported no problems for when she was using it only minutes ago. Thanks for any help you can offer. (PS: If this is in the wrong place, could you send me a message letting me know where you are moving it? Thanks)

BertKK · Answer

Hi,

At the welcome screen do a Ctrl+alt+del twice.
This will bring up the "Log On to Windows" box.
Type in the User Name and Password if there was one, if not leave it blank and press enter.

Did this allow you into the account?

If you don't have anti virus software installed, install one now! You will find suggestions on the following link.

Virus and Spyware removal and prevention steps:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/body_spyware.html

Mac90 · Answer

@BertKK wrote:
Hi,

At the welcome screen do a Ctrl+alt+del twice.
This will bring up the "Log On to Windows" box.
Type in the User Name and Password if there was one, if not leave it blank and press enter.

Did this allow you into the account?

If you don't have anti virus software installed, install one now! You will find suggestions on the following link.

Virus and Spyware removal and prevention steps:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/body_spyware.html

Actually, I did try this already. I typed in my username and password, but it just said it was wrong. We have tried the usernames of everyone with an account on the computer, but none of theirs works either. It just doesn't make sense...How could our username/password information no longer work all of sudden?

Any other ideas?

Mac90 · Answer

@BertKK wrote:
As a user name type in Administrator and leave the password blank (this is assuming one was used), then press enter. This should log you onto the hidden admin account. This should allow you access to all accounts.

Well, I just tried it (with the "Administrator" username and no password), but it still won't let me on.

PS: I do have an antivirus (Sophos Antivirus), but if this is being caused by a virus, wouldn't it have been telling me before I shut it down the first time?

BertKK · Answer

As a user name type in Administrator and leave the password blank (this is assuming one was used), then press enter. This should log you onto the hidden admin account. This should allow you access to all accounts.

BertKK · Answer

Ok, reboot, hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to black to get the Menu and take Safe Mode. That should then at 'Welcome' include an icon for 'Administrator' if not hit CTL-ALT-DEL twice to get a logon dialog, enter the explicit name Administrator and assume that password is null, press Enter. From that, Go to Start - Run and type the following command then press enter.

control userpasswords2

Are you able to logon?

Mac90 · Answer

@BertKK wrote:
Ok, reboot, hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to black to get the Menu and take Safe Mode. That should then at 'Welcome' include an icon for 'Administrator' if not hit CTL-ALT-DEL twice to get a logon dialog, enter the explicit name Administrator and assume that password is null, press Enter. From that, Go to Start - Run and type the following command then press enter.

control userpasswords2

Are you able to logon?

Just tried, also didn't work. (No Administrator icon appeared, nor did it accept it as a login name after bringing up the box.)

Also, if this helps at all, this is the message it keep giving me every time I try to login through the Ctrl+Alt+Delete(x2) method:
"The system could not log you on. Make sure your User and domain are correct, then type your password again. Letters in passwords must be typed using the correct case."

BertKK · Answer

@Mac90 wrote:

@BertKK wrote:
Ok, reboot, hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to black to get the Menu and take Safe Mode. That should then at 'Welcome' include an icon for 'Administrator' if not hit CTL-ALT-DEL twice to get a logon dialog, enter the explicit name Administrator and assume that password is null, press Enter. From that, Go to Start - Run and type the following command then press enter.

control userpasswords2

Are you able to logon?

Just tried, also didn't work. (No Administrator icon appeared, nor did it accept it as a login name after bringing up the box.)

Also, if this helps at all, this is the message it keep giving me every time I try to login through the Ctrl+Alt+Delete(x2) method:
"The system could not log you on. Make sure your User and domain are correct, then type your password again. Letters in passwords must be typed using the correct case."

It look like there was a password set for the Admin account. Without access to an admin account there's not much that can be done. Can't even run System Restore.

Here are some steps to take when a password lost.
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/lostpass.htm

Windows General

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