"Nate" <Nate@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4630B7EF-1DD9-4727-B991-70C17F06D383@microsoft.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am dealing with a real headscratcher. A client gave me their computer
> because they could not log on. They put their login info:
username/password,
> it looked like it was doing some machination then went back to the login
> prompt.
>
> Hmm. I tried logging in with the Admin account (which apparently had no
> password), and same thing. I then booted to safe mode, but still no luck.
I
> could not get past the login prompt.
>
> I took out the disk and put it in another machine and was able to see all
> the appropriate files are there. Ran antivirus scans/etc, cleaned
everything
> out, but still not luck.
>
> I even tried to do a boot from CD/Repair, but the start said it could not
> find a disk. Strange because it is a SATA disk and is recognized at boot.
The
> OS does boot to the login prompt.
>
> ???? I am stumped.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Nate

The problem is well known and is often caused by some disk
manipulation software. The solution depens on your setup: It
is simple if the machine is networked and if you know the password
for its admin account, and less simple but still manageable if you
have some other WinXP/2000 PC available. Which one is it?